Captain George Evans McCabe, United States Coast Guard, was born in Baltimore, Md., on July 6, 1899. He attended Baltimore public schools for five years and then transferred to the McDonogh School, McDonogh, Md., where he was graduated from high school in June, 1918. Enlisting in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force in October of 1918, he was placed on inactive duty the following December and received an honorable discharge from the Forces in July 1919.
Appointed a cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard on July 17, 1919, he received a commission as Ensign on June 5, 1922. His first assignment was to the Cutter Manning, Norfolk, Va. Detached from this ship in March 1924, he was assigned to the West Coast, serving on Bering Sea Patrol duty aboard the Cutters Haida and Algonquin until October 1926.
Returning to the East, he was assigned to the Destroyer Ammen, New York, N.Y., as executive officer. In September 1927, he was transferred to the Destroyer Cassin, New London, Conn., also as executive officer, and then served in the same capacity on the Destroyer Shaw, New London, from October 1928 to August 1929. His next assignment was that of communications officer on the staff of the Commander of the Destroyer Force. Detached from his duty in December 1930, he became commanding officer of the Cutter Apache, Baltimore, Md.
In March 1933, he reported for duty as assistant to the Inspector, Eastern Area, Norfolk, Va., and in November of the following year was transferred to Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. where he served successively as assistant budget officer, public relations officer and a member of the permanent board. Upon termination of this assignment in October 1938, he was placed on duty at Hoffman Island, N.Y., in connection with establishing a Maritime Service training station. In September of that year he was designated superintendent of this training station and enrolling officer for the Maritime Service. In January 1942, he assumed command of the S.S. New York at Hoffman Island, and was detached the same month for duty in connection with outfitting the Coast Guard Training Station at Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, N.Y.
From March to September 1942, he again served at Coast Guard Headquarters and then became commanding officer of the Cutter Ingham on convoy escort duty. Detached from the Ingham in January 1943, he reported to the Commandant, 12th Naval District, San Francisco, Calif., and served as convoy commander, Western Sea Frontier, from March to July of that year. The following September, he returned to the Atlantic Coast where he reported to the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., for duty in connection with converting and outfitting the USS Centaurus (AKA-17). When this ship was commissioned he became the commanding officer and served aboard it in the Pacific. The Centaurus participated under Captain McCabe's command in the amphibious attacks on Kwajalein, Aitape, and Peleliu, and the transport division of which the Centaurus was a part received a letter of commendation from the Army for its work in those actions. In December, 1944, he returned to Coast Guard Headquarters for duty under the Chairman of the Merchant Marine Council, and the following month reported for duty as Captain of the Port, Baltimore, Md., and Commander, Baltimore Section.
In August 1946, Captain McCabe was ordered to Tokyo for special duty under the Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific. With a detachment of seven Coast Guard officers and seven Coast Guard enlisted men, Captain McCabe proceeded to Korea to became Advisor to the Korean Coast Guard. Through the work of his detachment, Koreans were trained in the handling and maintenance of small cutters, and the Korean Coast Guard was established on an operating basis. In a letter of appreciation, Commodore Sohn Wan, head of the Korean Coast Guard, conveyed to the Commandant, USCG, his appreciation of the excellent performance of duty of Captain McCabe and the men under his command that made possible the establishment of an active organization.
Captain McCabe was ordered home on March 13, 1947, to be commander of the Baltimore Section, 5th Coast Guard District. He served there until November 1948, when he was ordered to New Orleans, La., as Chief of Staff, 8th Coast guard District. He then was assigned Commander, 7th Coast Guard District, Miami, Fla., in January 1950, and retired from that position March 1, 1954.
After receiving a commission as Ensign on June 5, 1922, he was subsequently promoted in rank as follows: Lieutenant (jg), June 5, 1925; Lieutenant, July 1, 1926; Lieutenant Commander, June 5, 1930; commander, May 1, 1941; and Captain, December 1, 1942.
Campaign medals awarded Captain McCabe include World War I and World War II Victory, American Defense Service, American Area, European-African-Middle Eastern Areas with one engagement star, Asiatic-Pacific Area with five engagement stars, American Occupation and Expert Rifle. He is a member of the Boston Club, New Orleans, La., Sons of the American Revolution, Washington, D.C., AF&AM #165, Baltimore, Md.,; National Sojourners, Chapter 7, Baltimore; VFW Post #10,000, Baltimore, and Miles River Yacht Club, St. Michaels, Md.
Captain McCabe married the former Edith Grace F. of Baltimore, on September 2, 1922. They have a son, George Evans McCabe, Jr., and a daughter, Nancy Fairbanks McCabe.