Madaket Millie

One of the Coast Guard’s most peculiar, and patriotic volunteers was Nantucket Island’s legendary Mildred Carpenter Jewett, affectionately known as “Madaket Millie,” (1907-1990).

Millie, who was abandoned by her mother at the age of six months, was raised by her fisherman father and her grandmother. She learned at a young age to shuck oysters and be self-sufficient.

But Millie grew up to become a Nantucket Island and Coast Guard legend, and an unfaltering friend to those in need, both animal and human.

She cared deeply for and served alongside the Coast Guardsmen at the US. Life-Saving Service for more than 75 years.

During WWII, Millie was enlisted to become a volunteer dog trainer for the Coastal Defense Specialists (a branch of the U.S. Coast Guard) because of her innate ability with animals. In order to keep her puppies well fed and healthy during the war period, she sacrificed her own scarce meat rations to the dogs. Millie was also known to the locals as the refuge for sick and injured animals… swans, dogs, seagulls, a three-legged kitten, and even a human or two! The Coast Guardsmen swore she was soft to the core….this despite a hardened exterior that lifted a 283-pound driftwood log, killed a 300-pound menacing shark with a pitchfork and drove away a mail order husband — twice!

Millie’s contributions to the war effort went beyond training dogs and her beach patrols that kept a sharp lookout for ships in trouble and German U-Boats.  On one occasion, she towed a live mine away from shore to a US Navy minesweeper in deeper water. On January 3, 1947, the 400-foot Panamanian steamer Kotor ran aground in a heavy fog off Madaket.  The master of the vessel, completely disoriented in fog, had misdirected rescuers to a location 40 miles away, where a massive search was underway. Millie spotted the Kotor’s masthead lights where they didn’t belong near the beach, immediately alerted the Coast Guard and organized the local recovery effort.  She quickly led lifesavers and salvers to the grounding site.

Just two years later, she assisted the charter fishing vessel Constance when it became swamped.  Millie dispatched and coordinated the response of all people in the Madaket area who could help.

In 1952, the Coast Guard gave her the honorary title Warrant Bosun, W-1, in the regular Coast Guard.

In 1965 Millie was promoted to the rank of W-4, Honorary, and bestowed the title “Commanding Officer, West End Command.”

On April 25, 1967, Millie’s vigilance was rewarded when she spotted a crippled US Air Force EC-121H  “Warning Star” aircraft on fire, crossing over the island at 100 feet of altitude. Millie immediately pinpointed the crash site and alerted rescuers, who saved the plane’s navigator and sole survivor, Lieutenant Joseph Guenet.

Madaket Millie died March 1, 1990 at the age of 82, after a long battle with a brain tumor. She refused needed medical treatment, opting to spend her final days near the people, animals and places she loved most.  She was not alone in her final days.

Millie assisted the Coast Guard in one capacity or another for more than 78 years. 

Mildred Carpenter Jewett

WE SALUTE YOU!!!