The official blog of the U.S. Coast Guard
MLE2 Anthony M. Ross, United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard has a long history of military working animals. During World War II, horses and dogs were used operationally. Early in the war, German spies landed on East Coast beaches and enemy subs were sighted on East and West coasts. These incidents led
John Moseley, Historian, Coast Guard Aviation Association In 1980, cocaine was not yet on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) radar screen. At the time, the DEA focused on heroin. This focus changed quickly. During the mid-1980s and 1990s, 60 percent of the world’s coca crop was grown in Peru. Most of that coca was processed
Paul H. Johnson, Librarian, Coast Guard Academy (retired) This Department in closing its official connection with Captain Faunce is happy to express to you its satisfaction at the prompt, energetic and able manner in which he has conducted his command whilst in its service. Navy Secretary Isaac Toucey to Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb, April
Cmdr. Neil E. Hurley, United States Coast Guard (retired) It is a sad fact of medical history from the 1880’s that many people who suffered from broken arms or legs were treated with amputation. At the time, there simply were no antibiotics or complex surgeries that could save a limb and, as a consequence, the
Special Agent Keith J. Bassolino, United States Coast Guard Reserve When Alexander Hamilton established the “system of cutters” in 1790, the fleet was charged with enforcing U.S. customs laws, requiring revenue cutters to stop ships and board them. However, Hamilton’s cutters needed a way to identify themselves as federal vessels. Congress failed to appropriate funds
CWO Kurt N. Fredrickson, United States Coast Guard Public Affairs [Editor’s note: This article by PA1 Kurt Fredrickson originally appeared in a 2007 issue of Coast Guard Magazine. It has been updated for re-publication by PACAREA Historian, Dr. David Rosen] Our crew saved four people that night . . . and then my crew saved
J. Edwin Nieves, M.D., Public Affairs Officer, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division 6, Flotilla 63 Born in the Canary Islands in 1862, Don (Mr.) Domingo Suarez y Rosa was part of the largest migratory wave of immigrants from the Canaries to Puerto Rico in the late 19th century. On March 6, 1887, after completing a rigorous
Cmdr. William A. McKinstry, United States Coast Guard Born in Morro Castle, Puerto Rico, on February 17, 1903, Henry Frederick Garcia would become a trailblazer in the history of the Coast Guard. Garcia came from a prominent military family. His father had a career in the U.S. Army and his younger brother would retire as
William Thiesen, Historian, Coast Guard Atlantic Area If you are subjected to miserable discomforts, or even if you suffer, it must be regarded as all right and simply a part of life; like sailors, you must never dwell too much on the dangers or sufferings, lest others question your courage. Lt. David Jarvis, Overland Expedition
William H. Thiesen, Historian, Coast Guard Atlantic Area To the officers of the Greenland Patrol vessels: This is your command. Your first command. Your first great chance. It is hard, responsible, vital duty. War duty. Don’t fail your country or your ship or me. Rear Admiral Edward “Iceberg” Smith, 1944 In 1944, Coast Guard Rear