Feb. 8, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 100 years ago—Coast Guard opens Air Station #1 at Morehead City

HS-2L amphibian taxying from the ramp and into sheltered waters in preparation for take-off. (Coast Guard Aviation Association)" data-image-description="HS-2L amphibian taxying from the ramp and into sheltered waters in preparation for take-off. (Coast Guard Aviation Association)"

Feb. 8, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Bootleggers beware-Prohibition Law Enforcement 100 years ago

A Boston rum runner loaded with liquor after apprehension by the Coast Guard. (Boston Public Library)" data-image-description="A Boston rum runner loaded with liquor after apprehension by the Coast Guard. (Boston Public Library)"

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Leyte liberation—Merry Christmas from the General and the dead of LST-66

Photo of LST-66 anchored in the San Francisco Bay after her return from the war. The black and white image shows the effects of the kamikaze attack on her aft starboard side. (U.S. Coast Guard Collection)" data-image-description="Photo of LST-66 anchored in the San Francisco Bay after her return from the war. The black and white image shows the

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: C.W. Lawrence—tamer of America’s maritime frontier and first PACAREA cutter

Painting of Captain Ottinger and crewmembers from the Lawrence putting down the mutiny on board the Challenge. (Coast Guard Collection)" data-image-description="Painting of Captain Ottinger and crewmembers from the Lawrence putting down the mutiny on board the Challenge. (Coast Guard Collection)"

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: RM3 Floyd Wilvers—Coast Guard destroyer escort veteran

A collection of Coast Guard memorabilia that is displayed on a shelf in Mr. Wilvers’ home. (MST2 Jeffrey McConnell, USCG)" data-image-description="A collection of Coast Guard memorabilia that is displayed on a shelf in Mr. Wilvers’ home. (MST2 Jeffrey McConnell, USCG)"

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Buffalo’s “White Hurricane” and the final hours of Light Vessel 82

Goodbye Nellie. Ship is breaking up fast. Williams.-Capt. Hugh Williams, hatch cover of Light Vessel 82, November 10, 1913In mid-November 1913, not long after a deadly storm struck Lake Erie, a fisherman came across a wooden hatch cover that drifted ashore near Buffalo. Inscribed on the hatch was the message quoted above–the last words of a dead

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 40th anniversary of Blackthorn—lost but not forgotten

One of forty 180-foot buoy tenders built during World War II, Blackthorn (WLB-391) was commissioned on March 27, 1944.The principal job of a buoy tender is to service aids-to-navigation. However, as with all Coast Guard craft, buoy tenders are often diverted to other missions like the Blackthorn early in its career. During its first few months in

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 75th anniversary of Serpens—Coast Guard’s worst loss of life

I felt and saw two flashes after which only the bow of the ship was visible. The rest had disintegrated and the bow sank soon afterwards.-Lt. Cmdr. Perry Stinson (USCG), Commanding Officer, USS SerpensThe quote above refers to the Coast Guard-manned USS Serpens (AK-97). On January 29, 1945, 75 years ago, a catastrophic explosion destroyed the

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 140 years ago–FRC hero William Chadwick and the fight for the George Taulane

Rare vintage photograph of William Chadwick, heroic Gold Lifesaving Medal keeper of the Green Island Lifesaving Station, after his retirement from active service. (Courtesy of Morton Bell)" data-image-description="Rare vintage photograph of William Chadwick, heroic Gold Lifesaving Medal keeper of the Green Island Lifesaving Station, after his

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Oliver Henry—warrior, leader, minority trailblazer and FRC namesake

. . . through his relentless pursuit to serve the Coast Guard as a skilled petty officer aboard CGC Northland during World War II, [Oliver Henry] successfully moved from the wardroom as a steward to the engine room as a motor machinist mate.               -Master Chief Petty Officer the Coast Guard Vince Patton, 1999In the U.S. Coast Guard, there