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

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 75 years ago—Service trailblazer and FRC namesake Olivia Hooker took the oath

She is to be admired for her initiative and courage. Solely on the basis of qualifications, Miss Hooker is one of the outstanding young women ever accepted for the SPARs and it is a pleasure to recommend her.               -Lt. Margaret Tighe (SPAR Recruiter, 1945)In wartime, men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard have fought for the freedoms we

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 75 years ago—the Coast Guard lands on bloody Iwo

1945. PhoM3c. John Papsun. (Coast Guard)Dr. Robert M. Browning, Historian, U.S. Coast Guard retiredThe American flag was raised on top of Mt. Suribachi. Many a life was lost trying to get to the top of that mountain.-Diary of Carpenters Mate 3rd class Leno DiRosario,LST-795, February 23, 1945In the quote above, CM3 Leno DiRosario recounted in the

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: WHEO-701 and oceanography, Coast Guard’s lost mission

In 1969, the crowning glory of nearly a century of Coast Guard oceanographic research was to arrive when Congress authorized construction of the largest and most advanced oceanographic vessel in the world.The 399-foot high-endurance oceanographic vessel WHEO-701 was to have set sail in 1972. It would have replaced the Coast Guard cutter Evergreen,

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: 10th anniversary of Deepwater Horizon and the Coast Guard’s spill response mission

Coast Guard photograph showing surface oil and vessels engaged in controlled burns in aftermath of the oil spill. (U.S. Coast Guard)" data-image-description="Coast Guard photograph showing surface oil and vessels engaged in controlled burns in aftermath of the oil spill. (U.S. Coast Guard)"

Feb. 7, 2022

The Long Blue Line: The last stand—Coast Guard operations at Okinawa 75 years ago

In late March 1945, nearly 1,300 ships of the Allied forces of America, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada assembled to support the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific War–the invasion of Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands.Map showing the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa and nearby Kerama Retto. (U.S. Coast Guard)"