Looks like the Coast guard may be involved in a situation where a ship loaded with people claiming to be refugees of an oppressive regime sail about from port to port and they are repeatedly refused entry.

This recalls an incident in 1939 that damaged the Coast Guard’s image in the eyes of many, the voyage of the motor vessel St Louis carrying 937 mostly Jewish refugees seeking asylum from the Nazis. The story was made into a movie, “Voyage of the Damned,” in 1976.

The Coast Guard historian’s take on the incident, which seems to show our bad press was not justified is here.