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

June 16

1880  An Act of Congress (21 Stat. L., 259, 263) provided that “masters of light-house tenders shall have police powers in matters pertaining to government property and smuggling.”

The Alva Cape (left) and Texaco Massachusetts afire with rescue craft and a US Coast Guard HH-52 Seaguard overhead. Original pic is courtesy of the NY Daily News

1966  The tanker Alva Cape and tanker Texaco Massachusetts collided in New York Harbor near Third Coast Guard District Headquarters on Governor’s Island.  Thirty-three crewmen perished in the ensuing explosion.  Coast Guard units responded and the rescue effort garnered significant national media attention.

With post-fire inspections revealing that the ships internal structure was severely compromised by heat damage and multiple explosions, the Alva Cape’s owners informed the Captain of the Port of New York on July 1st they were no longer pursuing the salvage of the ship or any cargo remaining on board. With the ship still partially laden with Naptha and now posing a real threat of sinking in the harbor, the ship was ordered towed to sea and scuttled to prevent any further loss of life or damage. Taken under tow by the tug Terry Moran on the morning of June 2nd, the Alva Cape was towed some 110 miles offshore to waters 1,200 fathoms deep and was set adrift in the vicinity of the US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WPG-36), which sent over 50 rounds into the derelict tanker and sank her at position 38°55′ N., 72°20.1’W on July 3rd, 1966.

1974 Romana Borrego (Dubinka) became the first known Hispanic-American woman to enlist in the active duty Coast Guard. On 1 Aug 1988 Borrego earned promotion to YNC, becoming first Hispanic-American woman service member to advance to E-7. And on 1 Oct 1998, Borrego earned promotion to YNCS and was the first Hispanic-American woman to reach E8.

Coast Guard Cutter Spencer approaches the pier at Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore. Spencer was scheduled to spend fifteen months in SLEP but in the event spent twenty months, leaving the Coast Guard Yard on March 8, 2025 U.S. Coast Guard photo.

2015 CGC Spencer returned to Boston after a 55-day patrol in the North Atlantic.  While conducting a law enforcement inspection aboard the commercial F/V Heritage, on June 6, Spencer’s rescue and assistance team fought and helped extinguish a fire ablaze in their galley.  Also during the patrol, Spencer responded to a distress call from the S/V Alien I, 300 nautical miles offshore.  After steaming through the night, Spencer arrived on scene, rescued the couple onboard, and placed the vessel in tow.  Spencer towed the vessel for 300 miles and delivered Alien I and her passengers safely to Coast Guard Station Woods Hole three days later.  After breaking the tow, Spencer resumed normal operations in the North Atlantic which is primarily living marine resource protection.  During its patrol, the cutter’s crew conducted law enforcement operations including 51 commercial fishing vessel inspections, day and night time helicopter operations, and live gunnery fire.  The crew conducted hours of training in damage control, weapons handling, navigation and seamanship, medical casualty, and engineering casualty response.  Additionally, Spencer was the Coast Guard’s flag ship and largest cutter participant in New York Fleet Week 2015, giving tours to more than 4,800 people and supporting 13 Fleet Week community events.  This patrol directly followed an 89-day dry-dock at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland.