THE LONG BLUE LINE

The "Heritage Class" of Offshore Patrol Cutters will meet the evolving challenges of today, while recalling the original vision of the Coast Guard founder, and founding father Alexander Hamilton.

Jul 21 2021

The Long Blue Line: America’s “First Fleet”

The "Heritage Class" of Offshore Patrol Cutters will meet the evolving challenges of today, while recalling the original vision of the Coast Guard founder, and founding father Alexander Hamilton.
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Coast Guard SPARS marching in formation as part of Honolulu’s V-J (Victory over Japan) Day Parade. (Photo: Courtesy of family) At least six women from Oklahoma’s tribal nations served in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserves (“SPARS”) during World War II, bringing honor to their Nation and their Tribes.

Oct 29 2021

The Long Blue Line: “Sooner Squadron”

Coast Guard SPARS marching in formation as part of Honolulu’s V-J (Victory over Japan) Day Parade. (Photo: Courtesy of family) At least six women from Oklahoma’s tribal nations served in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserves (“SPARS”) during World...
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The Original Joker, Cesar Romer, was a star in Hollywood, but just a regular guy in the Coast Guard.

Sep 24 2021

The Long Blue Line: The Original Joker, Cesar...

The Original Joker, Cesar Romer, was a star in Hollywood, but just a regular guy in the Coast Guard.
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The GITMO Lighthouse: Standing the watch for 120 years, and still Semper Paratus! (Photo) Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kristin Antonides of Port Security Unit 309 paints the quarters building in her spare time.

Oct 05 2021

The Long Blue Line: GITMO Lighthouse

The GITMO Lighthouse: Standing the watch for 120 years, and still Semper Paratus! (Photo) Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kristin Antonides of Port Security Unit 309 paints the quarters building in her spare time.
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Through recent digitization efforts at the National Archives by NOAA, muster rolls documenting service of African American sailors, including US Revenue Cutterman, are available online for all with internet access.

Jun 14 2021

TLBL: Glimpses through a mustered...

Through recent digitization efforts at the National Archives by NOAA, muster rolls documenting service of African American sailors, including US Revenue Cutterman, are available online for all with internet access.
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Prohibition was a hard unremitting war with few rewards. But the Coast Guard lead by RADM Fredrick Billard (Commandant 1924 -32 and pictured left) leveraged new technology to meet the challenge.

Nov 19 2021

The Long Blue Line: Prohibition Tech

Prohibition was a hard unremitting war with few rewards. But the Coast Guard lead by RADM Frederick Billard (Commandant 1924 -32 and pictured left) leveraged new technology to meet the challenge.
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Tag: WWII

High resolution photograph of Danmark in 1945 under a full spread of canvas. (U.S. Coast Guard)

July 30, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Danmark—the friend-ship between Denmark and the Coast Guard

How did a ship without a nation become a training platform for the U.S. Coast Guard?

Menhaden fishing vessel W.T. James prior to World War I and conversion to the naval minesweeper, USS James. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

July 23, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Last of the Coast Guard fishing fleet— Hurricane San Calixto and the loss of EM Dow

During World War I and World War II, the Menhaden fishing fleet became a ready reserve for the Navy and Coast Guard.

Official Coast Guard Public Affairs photo of Seaman 1st Class Eugene Edwin Oxley of Stilesville, Indiana. (U.S. Coast Guard)

June 4, 2021

The Long Blue line: “Lucky Ox”—surviving the killing fields of D-Day

Operation “Overlord” led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and end of the Second World War in Europe. "Lucky Ox" being one of the Coast Guard heroes of the operation.

Unit 21 commanding officer Ensign Vera Hamerschlag holds her puppy outside of the LORAN station she was in charge of in 1944. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

March 12, 2021

The Long Blue Line: In their words: A busy year for the SPARS that operated LORAN Station Unit 21 in 1944

Hear from the women who ran Unit 21 during World War II.

March 5, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Japanese “Good Luck” Flag captured in the Battle of Eniwetok

Most Good Luck Flags date from before or during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II from 1937 to 1945.

2. Ensign Harvey Russell after graduating from the Reserve officer Training Course. (Photo courtesy of the Russell Family)

Feb. 19, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. Harvey Russell--African-American trailblazer in the U.S. Sea Services

Celebrating African American Heritage with the second African American who attended officer candidate school.

8. Lt.j.g. Joseph Jenkins on the bridge late in World War II. (photo courtesy of the Jenkins Family)

Feb. 11, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. Joseph Jenkins—first African American commissioned officer in the 20th century

Celebrating African American Heritage Month - the Coast Guard's first African American commissioned officer

Dec. 31, 2020

The Long Blue Line: USS Wakefield—the Coast Guard’s “B & L Ferry” 75 years ago

In World War II, the USS Wakefield (AP-21) served as a fast troop transport whose role was to deliver military personnel and supplies to the war front.

Nov. 11, 2020

The Long Blue Line: “Into the Jaws of Death”—SM2 John Roberts and LCI-93 at Omaha Beach

“We were sitting ducks and the Germans clearly had us in their sights,” Steward’s Mate 2nd Class John Noble Roberts, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

Nov. 11, 2020

The Long Blue Line: “Into the Jaws of Death”—SM2 John Roberts and LCI-93 at Omaha Beach

“We were sitting ducks and the Germans clearly had us in their sights,” Steward’s Mate 2nd Class John Noble Roberts, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

Image Gallery

Thumbnails List

Unknown

CGD 24 Wainwright Unknown port; photo taken from quarterdeck of unnamed USCG cutter. Boston? Photo...

At Sea

USCG patrol boats during Prohibition

Headquarters USCG Destroyer Force

"Coast Guard Destroyer Downes (From a Painting by the Destroyer Force Bugle Staff Artist, Marius...

Headquarters

"Ensign Roland making end run, Coast Guard-Marine game, Washington, D.C., 1929." Scanned from...

Headquarters

"1929 - Coast Guard Football Team - 1929. Back Row: -Lieut. Baker, Coast and Manager; Wineke,...

At Sea

A photo of Coast Guard Destroyer CONYNGHAM on patrol during Prohibition.

Unknown

Coast Guard Destroyer's baseball team (no date).

Aboard USCGD Beale

Hand-written caption on reverse of photo reads: "Officers and crew of CGC Beale (Navy destroyer...

Aboard CGC Snohomish

Hand-written caption on reverse of photo reads: "R R Waesche Sr., CGC Snohomish, Port Angeles, or...

USCGD Beal

"BEALE (CG-9) (Of the old U.S. Coast Guard Destroyer Force - 1924-1930) An early 20th century...

At Sea

"Engineroom Force of the Coast Guard Cutter PONTCHARTRAIN. 3-5-29 (1)." CCG Scrapbook (CG...

Unknown

Copy photo found in the CG Historian's Office Special Collections Archive in the "Uniforms" folder....

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