William Thiesen
C.W. Lawrence, Tamer of America’s Maritime Frontier
"When it is remembered that you have been in a harbor where from five to six hundred vessels were riding at anchor—in t...
Christmas 1944: The Liberation of Leyte
"People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soi...
Early African-American Service: First to Serve, First to Sacrifice
African Americans comprise the longest serving minority in the United States Coast Guard. They were the first to serve and, in man...
Joseph Toahty, Pawnee Warrior of Guadalcanal
I am very pleased to forward a Purple Heart Medal and Certificate to you for service at Guadalcanal in August of 1942. Men such as...
The U.S. Coast Guard's First Ice Ships and Icebreakers
During the Age of Sail, the seasonal pattern of icebound winters froze-in merchant vessels and reduced the wintertime demand for r...
Jack Cullen, Nazi Spies and the Founding of the USCG Beach Patrol
"His keen presence of mind and discerning judgment in a grave emergency undoubtedly prevented the successful culmination of h...
The Cutter Bear and the Arctic Expedition to Save 265 Whalers
"If you are subjected to miserable discomforts, or even if you suffer, it must be regarded as all right and simply a part of...
The USCG's Environmental Mission 30 Years After Exxon Valdez
Thirty years ago on Good Friday, March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez steamed into a reef at 12 knots, opening eight of her...
The Yankee Clipper: The U.S. Coast Guard's Last Battle Before WWII
Hitting the East Coast over 80 years ago, the Great New England Hurricane was one of the most destructive storms to strike anywher...
William Flores, Hero of the Cutter Blackthorn
That quiet young man that I was impressed with from the first time I met him will forever be a hero in my eyes. I have never forgo...