Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: The Ensign—Coast Guard’s brand identity since 1799!

Depiction of the War of 1812 Battle of Gloucester Point showing the ensign flying from the mizzen of Revenue Cutter Surveyor on June 12, 1813. (Coast Guard Collection)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.

Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Keeper Miles—working with a disability in the 1800s

Illustration of a man with prosthetic leg climbing a ladder. (A.A. Marks Company 1888)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 injured

Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Operation “Jester”–Coast Guard counterdrug ops in Peru

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 into a cocaine base and flown to Colombia to make cocaine for shipment to the

Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: A Coastie’s best friend—80 years of Coast Guard canines!

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 to the establishment of Coast Guard beach patrols and, by August 1942, the

Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Native Americans in the Coast Guard—Semper Paratus since 1815

In 1815, the lighthouse keeper at Gay Head Light, Martha’s Vineyard, hired members of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe as assistants. The keeper recommended these men as the best workers available to support lighthouse operations. Since then, Native Americans from a variety of tribal nations have participated in the Coast Guard and its predecessor

Feb. 1, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Cutterman John Faunce—distinguished officer of the Revenue Cutter Service

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 26, 1859

Jan. 28, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. John Currier–Harmon Trophy honoree and the rescue of Scalloper Terry T

The rescue of 10 from the Terry T.

Jan. 21, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Coast Guard pioneers the marine radio over 100 years ago!

Learn how radio became a basic part of a maritime communications.

Jan. 14, 2022

The Long Blue Line: “Men against the Sea”—anatomy of a Coast Guard cutter lost at sea

[This essay is adapted from the non-fiction book chapter “Men against the Sea,” Sea, Surf and Hell: The U.S. Coast Guard in World War II (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1945), 72-78.]The Coast Guard patrol craft Wilcox was lost off the Mid-Atlantic coast Sept. 30, 1943. The following account is taken from the statement made by its commanding officer, Lt.

Jan. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Captain Handy—savior of the Coast Guard Reserve!

Learn about Capt. Handy's rich career saving the Coast Guard Reserve.