Photo credit: Tim1965, View of the west side of the the USS Serpens Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery near Arlington, Virginia, in the United States. The ship exploded on January 29, 1945, while anchored off Laguna Beach at the island of Guadalcanal.
Yesterday marked the anniversary of the loss of the Blackthorn, today it is the 68th anniversary of the loss of the USS Serpens (AK-97) that resulted in the loss of 196 Coast Guardsmen plus 57 Army stevedores. This was the largest loss of life in a single incident in the history of the service. The names are here.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Pingback: Loss of the Leopold, 9 March 1944 | Chuck Hill's CG Blog
Pingback: Coast Guard and CG Manned Vessels Lost in World War II | Chuck Hill's CG Blog
It’s Lunga Beach, not Laguna Beach. My uncle was on the ship.
Pingback: ALCOAST 268/18 – AUG 2018 SOLICITATION FOR CUTTER NAMING SUGGESTIONS | Chuck Hill's CG Blog
Chuck. My father was on the USS SERPENS. READ MY BLOG ON the CG LONG BLUE LINE. ALSO ON THE COAST GUARD COMBAT VETERANS ASSOCIATIONS WINTER QUARTERDECK LOG ON THE SINKING OF THE USS SERPENS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER A BOOK WITH THE HELP OF DOUGLAS CAMPBELL ON THIS WHOLE COVER UP TO DENY THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL TO THE 250 THAT WENT DOWN WITH THE SERPENS 29 JAN 1945
Please keep me posted on your process regarding the sinking of the USS Serpens. My uncle was killed that horrible day. His name was Robert J. Smith. he was my mom’s only brother. My email is groganiam1@verizon.net
Thank you
Shari Grogan
Pingback: What Really Happened to the Serpens? | Chuck Hill's CG Blog
Marking the 75th anniversary of the loss of Serpens and her crew. https://compass.coastguard.blog/2020/01/30/the-long-blue-line-75th-anniversary-of-serpens-coast-guards-worst-loss-of-life/
Another article. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/uss-serpens-coverup/?fbclid=IwAR3J6m5Dk8U4GXs3SOGdSJ3eGofWvQLe4KbZp4MwAnIghU3AMqfKcQDraaA
Pingback: “Marines Commemorate 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal” –Seapower | Chuck Hill's CG Blog