April 19, 2024

Joe Gerczak’s service and sacrifice from Philly to New Guinea

LST-66 ended the war as the most-decorated LST serving in the Coast Guard.

April 12, 2024

Dobbins and Knapp — Frontier mariners, naval officers, and Revenue Cutter masters

The revolving-door saga of Dobbins versus Knapp ... a pendulum of political spoils.

March 29, 2024

Joseph Napier — Heroic Surfman, Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient and FRC namesake

For his heroism, Napier received the first Gold Lifesaving Medal issued by the U.S. Life-Saving Service, forerunner of the modern Coast Guard.

March 22, 2024

Bernard “Bernie” Webber and the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history

Divine intervention, dead reckoning and plain luck have all been trumpeted as ways Bernie’s crew found the Pendleton that night.

March 15, 2024

Edith Munro — leader, mentor, SPAR and Medal of Honor hero mother

Edith Munro took the oath to join the SPARS two hours after accepting the Medal of Honor for her son Douglas Munro.

March 8, 2024

Dorothy Stratton — Wartime Coast Guard trailblazer and SPAR Leader

Capt. Stratton had the unique distinction of serving her country through three of the women’s branches of U.S. Armed Forces and became the director of the newly formed Coast Guard Women's Reserve, SPARS.

March 1, 2024

Isaac Mayo — Surfman, Gold Life-Saving Medal recipient and FRC namesake

On Nov. 10, 1879, Congress awarded Mayo the Gold Life Saving Medal for his bravery and successful actions leading the crew of volunteer surfmen in the rescue of the four survivors off the wreck of the Sarah J. Fort.

Feb. 23, 2024

Bobby Wilks — distinguished aviator, mentor, and minority trailblazer

“I was in awe of him, as not only he was the first senior ranking African American officer at that time, but also an aviator. He shared with me the challenges, which he was quick to call them opportunities, that he took full advantage of that mapped out his successful Coast Guard career.” - MCPOCG Vincent W. Patton (Ret.)

Feb. 16, 2024

Lewis Wescott—the lost grave of a heroic Pea Island lifesaver

A discovery uncovers the whereabouts of a Pea Island Keeper, one whose last resting place was lost for more than 70 years.

Feb. 9, 2024

Melvin Williams Jr. — An African American Coast Guardsman’s aviation story

Melvin Williams Jr. was the first African American to make chief as an Aviation Survivalman and then as a Chief Warrant Officer.

Image Gallery

13 - 17 of 17 results
"Crew of the Patrol Boat CG-237. 4-14-[19]26."
Original caption reads: "A Board of Coast Guard Officers convened by Admiral F. C. Billard to...
Commandant (RADM F.C. Billard) and administrative staff, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, October 27,...
A photograph of U.S. Coast Guard Base 4 in New London, CT, circa late 1920s (scan provided courtesy...
A photo of Coast Guard Destroyer (CG-23) TUCKER, date unknown.

U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
2703 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20593-7031


U.S. Coast Guard Museum
Coast Guard Academy - Waesche Hall
15 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320-8100

Contacting us:  U.S.C.G. Historian's Office