This Day in Coast Guard History, May 22

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

May 22

1920  An Act of Congress, which provided a system of general retirement for the civil employees of the US Government effective August 21, 1920, benefited those employees of the Lighthouse Service who were not covered by the retirement law of June 20, 1918, which provided retirement for certain classes of employees in the Lighthouse Service.

1926  An Act of Congress extended the benefits of the Public Health Service to apply to light keepers located at isolated points, who previously had been unable to avail themselves of such benefits, and made provisions for medical supplies and hospital services for the crews of the vessels of the Lighthouse Service, including the detail of medical officers.

USCGC Mendota (WHEC-69) at Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 1966. Photo credit: MM3 Robert Withers, USCG (Ret.)

1959  Two US Air Force jets collided near Ocean Station ECHO, patrolled at that time by the CGC Mendota.  A U.S. Air Force weather plane spotted both pilots in the water and, within two hours of collision, the Mendota rescued them.

Five white 311-foot cutters of Coast Guard Squadron Three, assigned to support Operation MARKET TIME tied up alongside Navy repair ship USS Jason (AR-8) at Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines, 4 August 1967. From inboard to outboard:
USCGC Half Moon (WHEC-378);
USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380);
USCGC Gresham (WHEC-387);
USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381) and
USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382)
U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office. Photo by CDR Richard Morse, USCG, Commanding Officer USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381)

1967  CGC Barataria conducted the first fire-support mission for the newly created Coast Guard Squadron Three in Vietnam.  This force initially consisted of five Coast Guard 311-footers used to support Market Time operations.

Leave a comment