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: TLBL

Faded photograph of double Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient Frederick Hatch wearing his U.S. Lighthouse keeper’s uniform with the Gold Medal. (Coast Guard Collection)

March 19, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Cleveland hero, FRC namesake, double Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient Frederick Hatch, Part II.

His story begins on a dark and stormy night, with harbor tugs losing control of a lumber-laden schooner with civilians aboard.

Color picture of a Gold Lifesaving Medal. (Coast Guard Collection)

March 18, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Cleveland hero, cutter namesake, double Gold Lifesaving Medal recipient Frederick Hatch

Part I. His Gold Medal as Surfman

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.

A group of SPARs pose for a photograph during World War II.

March 8, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Over 230 years of women in the Coast Guard—America’s diversity trailblazers!

Celebrating International Women's Day, here is a historical overview of women in the Coast Guard.

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.

Chart showing location of District 5 within Atlantic Area and the states within its boundaries. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Feb. 26, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Coast Guard's Fifth District—Home of Founders, Firsts and Flight for over 230 years!

Coast Guard men, women and assets associated with the Fifth District began playing a vital role in Coast Guard history the year the Constitution was signed.

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

Jan. 22, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lost at Sea—the origins of our SAR mission

How did we get from Alexander Hamilton's Revenue Cutter Service to the modern day U.S. Coast Guard?

Jan. 15, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Minots—loss of the deadly “Lover’s Light” 170 years ago!

It shines "one, four, three" in the waters off Boston. Here's the story of Minot's Light.

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