What was John Azeling Steadman’s rating at the time of the 1938 Woods Hole lifesaving action that saved two lives?

• A. RM3
• B. RM2
• C. RM1
• D. GM3

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is understanding Coast Guard enlisted ratings and what they tell us about a person’s role at a lifesaving station in 1930s America. RM stands for Radioman, the crew member responsible for radio communications at the station. The number after the rating (3, 2, or 1) indicates seniority within that rating, with RM3 being a third-class radioman—an entry-level to junior position compared to RM2 or RM1, who are more senior.

During the 1938 Woods Hole lifesaving action, the radioman would have been the one handling radio contact and coordinating messages with other stations and vessels to support the rescue. The documented rating for John Azeling Steadman at that time is Radioman Third Class, which lines up with him serving in the communications role during the rescue. The other options reflect different ratings or roles (for example, GM3 would denote a Gunner’s Mate, a different specialty entirely), or a higher radioman rank than what was recorded for that event. So Radioman Third Class is the best answer because it matches both the role and the historical record for that specific incident.