FAMILY

Capt. Jernee’s childhood was not an easy one.  At age 10 his father left home and his mother sent him to live with his grandfather in Margate, NJ.   At 15 he ran away from his grandfather’s Margate home and signed on as cabin boy on an old – time sailing ship and later as a crewman on one of the many merchant vessels working the coastline at the turn of the century.  For three years Jernee sailed from town to town delivering lumber, produce and a variety of merchandise until a ship he was serving on as first mate has heavily damaged in a storm and pulled into Jacksonville, Florida.

So, he left the ship and decided to pursue a safer job ashore.

His first onshore job was an early indication of the Capt. Jernee’s resourceful ability to tackle just about anything and see it through successfully.  Despite only having a minimal 8th grade education, he got a job in Jacksonville working for the Chief Engineer in the Public Works department.  He’d have lunch with some of the other engineers, and he wouldn’t have the foggiest idea what they were talking about.  But he could outwork and out-produce them.

 It has been reported that one day the Chief Engineer had Jernee stringing a new telephone line.  He was working at the top of a pole and saw two attractive ladies approaching.  He whistled at them and they stopped and looked up.  And that is how he met his wife, Rose “Pearl” Wilber. 

Pearl was a quiet “Southern girl” from Princess Anne County in Virginia.  Pearl was a complete opposite of Jack.  Jack could be impulsive and outspoken and Pearl would just say “Now you just calm down Jack”. 

Pearl had always wanted to marry a Northern man. So, they married February 2, 1913 and shortly thereafter they returned to Margate City, NJ.   Perhaps this was prompted by the impending addition to the family in the form of their first daughter, Beatrice Elma, who was born Nov 24, 1913.

In October of 1916 while still living in Margate, Jernee enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard.  The Coast Guard had only been formed in January of 1915 which merged the Revenue Service, United States Live-Saving Service and the Lighthouse Services into one.

Jernee saw in the Coast Guard the answer to both his financial needs and a place to use his well-honed maritime abilities.  So, he enlisted.  The Coast Guard must have suited him well because Jack reenlisted in 1917 and by this time, he had moved his family to 417 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City where Jack and Pearl had their second daughter, Marjorie Ellen, July 17, 1917.

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While in the Coast Guard, Jernee added to his knowledge of the sea, rescue boat operations and additional skills such as surf boat rescue and lifesaving skills. When gasoline engine boats were introduced into the USCG, Jernee was sent to Baltimore to be trained in operating and repairing these new boats.

As the rescue boats became motorized, no more rowing (pulling) crews were needed.  In later years Jernee would say that he always preferred to have a rowing crew during a rescue rather than a motorized boat because you could always count on the rowing crew in a rough surf and rescue but not on a motorized boat.  

The USCG reduction in manpower due to technology and downsizing after WWI caused Jernee to look elsewhere for a job that would pay enough to support his growing family as daughter number three, Jeanne Jacqueline, was born December 1919.

Fortunately, early in 1920, Jernee was offered a job with the Ocean City Police Dept.  So, in February 1920, Jernee requested a discharge from the Coast Guard, with an excellent record having achieved the position of Masters of Arms of Coast Guard Station (#126), a top rank for a crew member. 

On the first day of March 1920 Jernee began his employment as an Ocean City Policeman.  And shortly thereafter on March 15, 1920, Jernee was asked by the Mayor of Ocean City to take on the job of Captain of the Lifeguard.  A city job where he received a good stipend for that part of the country with a pension.

Jack and Pearl’s family continued to grow with the birth of their first son, Jack, Jr, born Nov.1924, another daughter, Rosemarie, born Jan 1927 and another son, Andre Lee, born Mar 1933. By this time the Jernee family had moved to a larger home at 462 Wesley Ave.

All the Jernee children: Bea, Marje, Jeanne, Jack, Jr., Rosemarie and Andy 

were all graduates of Ocean City High School which is some sort of record

for an Ocean City family because for 32 continuous years 

at least one of the Jernee children was attending the Ocean City schools.

-Beatrice started in first grade in 1919 and was graduated from OCHS in 1931. 

-Marjorie began in 1922 and was graduated in 1934

-Jeanne began in 1924 and was graduated in 1936 

-Jack, Jr. entered school in 1929 and was graduated in 1941. 

-Rosemarie began school in 1932 and was graduated in 1944 

-Andy began in 1939 and was graduated in 1951.