William H. Thiesen
The USCG's First Superstorm: The Great Galveston Hurricane
In early September of 1900, a hurricane of massive force struck the Gulf Coast west of Galveston, Texas. The Great Galveston Hurri...
New Cutter Named for WWII Veteran Who Served for 65 Years
In September 2018, Master Chief Melvin Kealoha Bell (USCG, ret'd) crossed the bar at the age of 98. He was a patriot whose dis...
The First Coast Guard Academy: The Training Ship Chase
In 1875, while serving in Alaska on board the U.S. Revenue Cutter Rush, distinguished cutter captain John Henriques received order...
The Combat Cutter Pickering
After refitting late in the summer of 1800, the master and crew of revenue cutter USS Pickering boarded their vessel at Newca...
Celebrating the U.S. Coast Guard's 228th Anniversary
“You can kick this old service around, tear it to pieces, scream from the house-tops that it is worthless, ought to be aboli...
LEDETs ? 35 Years of Law Enforcement Missions
In the late 20th century, international environmental, economic and political developments created new missions for the Coast Guar...
The U.S. Coast Guard's Role in the Vietnam War
The U.S. Coast Guard played a vital role in the Vietnam War, but the service’s combat operations in South East Asia remain u...
Cold-Water Rescues in the Battle of the Atlantic
“By the way, Admiral [Edward “Iceberg”] Smith recently commended the Escanaba, its officers and men, for brillia...
USS Serpens: The Coast Guard?s Greatest Loss
“I felt and saw two flashes after which only the bow of the ship was visible. The rest had disintegrated and the bow sank so...