Based on the Coast Guard Historian’s timeline, https://www.history.uscg.mil/research/chronology/
With inspiration from Mike Kelso

USLHT Azalea, 31 December 1891, United States Lighthouse Service Tenders; National Archives photo

1905  “To evaluate its use in lighthouse work, radio equipment was installed experimentally on Nantucket Lightship in August of 1901.  On December 10, 1905, while riding out a severe gale, Lightship No. 58 on the Nantucket Shoals Station sprang a serious leak.  There being no recognized radio distress signal at that time, the operator could only repeatedly spell out the word “help”.  Although no reply was received Newport Navy station (radio) intercepted the call and passed it on to the proper authorities.  The lightship tender Azalea was dispatched to the assistance of Lightship No. 58, and upon arrival at the scene passed a towline.  The long tow to a safe harbor began, but after a few hours it was quite evident that Lightship No. 58 was sinking.  Azalea took off her crew of thirteen men only minutes before she sank.  This pioneer use of radio had indeed proved Its worth in rescue operations.”

1941  Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable sits moored to the pier during a Heritage Recognition Ceremony in Virginia Beach, Virginia, April 9, 2024. The Heritage Recognition Ceremony celebrated the Dependable, its current and past crew members, and its accomplishments, before it was placed in commission, special status. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Nick Ameen)

1981  A Coast Guard HH-52A landed on CGC Dependable’s flight deck, marking the 5,000th helicopter landing on board the cutter.  According to Coast Guard aviation records, this was the most helicopter landings ever recorded on board a cutter.  The landing occurred off Dauphin Island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Original caption: “Gitmo airfield converted for 10,000 migrants”

1993  Secretary of Transportation Andrew H. Card, Jr., awarded the military members of the Coast Guard the Humanitarian Service Medal and the civilian employees the Coast Guard Public Service Commendation for their services during the Haitian migrant crisis from October 1991 through November 1992.  During that period, a flotilla of over 27 Coast Guard cutters rescued 35,000 Haitian migrants from hundreds of overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels.