Author Archives: Chuck Hill

This Day in Coast Guard History, June 5

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

June 5

1794  The Third Congress authorized an additional 10 revenue cutters and gave the Treasury Department the responsibility for lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and piers.

1912  Senator Charles E. Townsend of Michigan introduced a bill to consolidate Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard.  The bill became law on January 28, 1915.

Thomasania Montgomery

1975  ENS Thomasania Montgomery and ENS Linda Rodriguez graduated from Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, Yorktown, VA, thereby becoming the first African-American female commissioned officers in the Coast Guard.

“USCGC Storis departs on maiden voyage” –USCG News

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Pascagoula, MISS – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here from a top view while underway, June 3, 2025. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. Photos courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore.

Below is a USCG news release. There are a couple of interesting details in this release.

First the statement that, “Storis is commanded by Capt. Keith M. Ropella who currently serves as chief of cutter forces at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C….” This seems to suggest that Captain Rosella is commanding a ship from his desk in CG HQ. I have heard of something similar, the CO of the CG Yard is nominally CO of the cutters that are stored at the Yard that are “in commission, special.”

Second, “The vessel is manned with a hybrid crew consisting of military cuttermen and civilian mariners.” I don’t know if the Coast Guard has ever done this, but this seems to similar to the way the Navy mans their Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ships. Will Storis normally be manned this way?

I have a complaint about this news release. The opening paragraph says, “The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21)…departed on its maiden voyage to safeguard U.S. sovereign interests in the Arctic and conduct Coast Guard missions.” It departed Pascagoula Mississippi; I don’t think it is going to the Arctic. I think it is in transit to Seattle.  Why didn’t they just say that? That would explain the unusual command and manning or is the Coast Guard going to depart from its usual operating procedures?

June 4, 2025

USCGC Storis departs on maiden voyage

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21), the Coast Guard’s first polar icebreaker acquired in more than 25 years, departed on its maiden voyage to safeguard U.S. sovereign interests in the Arctic and conduct Coast Guard missions.

Storis’ departure marks an early milestone in the Service’s transformation through Force Design 2028 (FD2028), which includes reforming Coast Guard acquisitions to rapidly deploy capabilities to execute the Coast Guard’s missions.

The motor vessel Aiviq, acquired Dec. 20, 2024, from an Edison Chouest Offshore subsidiary, was renamed Storis following modifications to enhance communications and self-defense capabilities. The vessel will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic and support Coast Guard missions while the service awaits the delivery of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) class. The Coast Guard will continue evaluating the cutter’s condition and requirements to achieve full operational capability.

Storis is commanded by Capt. Keith M. Ropella who currently serves as chief of cutter forces at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., and previously commanded Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10), from July 2022 to July 2024.

The vessel is manned with a hybrid crew consisting of military cuttermen and civilian mariners. This is the second vessel in Coast Guard history to bear the name Storis. The original Storis, known as the “Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast,” had a storied history conducting 64 years of icebreaking operations in Alaska and the Arctic before being decommissioned in 2007.

Storis will be commissioned this August in Juneau, Alaska, which will eventually be the vessel’s permanent homeport. Until the necessary shore infrastructure improvements are completed in Juneau, Storis will be temporarily berthed in Seattle, Washington, with the Service’s two other polar icebreakers.

The acquisition was made possible through the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and fiscal year 2024 appropriations. It does not affect the ongoing procurement of PSCs and is not part of the PSC program of record.

The Coast Guard operates the United States’ fleet of icebreakers to assure access to the polar regions to protect U.S. sovereignty. To fulfill this mission and meet operational needs in the polar regions, the Coast Guard requires a fleet of eight to nine polar icebreakers. In support of the President’s intent to acquire at least 40 new icebreakers, the Coast Guard is working to replace, modernize and grow its aging fleet of icebreakers, which currently includes 3 polar icebreakers, 21 domestic icebreakers and 16 ice-capable buoy tenders. As the United States’ third polar icebreaker, Storis will provide near-term operational presence and support national security as a bridging strategy until the full complement of PSCs is delivered.

Announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 21, FD 2028 is a blueprint to transform the Coast Guard into a stronger, more ready and capable fighting force. This initiative will include campaigns focused on people, organization, contracting and acquisition, and technology. You can read more about FD 2028 here: Force Design 2028.

This Day in Coast Guard History, June 4

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

June 4

USS Asterion bow after collision with SS Kokoku Maru

1963  USS Asterion and SS Kokoku Maru collided in a heavy fog 40 miles west of San Francisco, killing one crewman of the latter ship and injuring three others. The Coast Guard cutters Magnolia, Comanche, Avoyel, and patrol boat CG-95311, as well as two commercial tugs, converged on the scene.  Comanche and Magnolia successfully removed all 43 survivors from the disabled Kokoku Maru, all of whom were subsequently delivered safely ashore. Although Asterion was able to proceed under its own power, the Japanese ship had to be towed by the commercial tugs to San Francisco.  When the bilge pumps on one of the tugs failed, Coast Guard aircraft dropped emergency pumping equipment to control the flooding.  The two tugs then successfully towed the Kokoku Maru into San Francisco harbor.

USCGC Avoyel (WMEC-150) passing Naval Station Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island while out bound from San Francisco Bay heading back to her homeport of Eureka, CA. Bay in 1959.

USCGC Comanche (WMEC-202) underway in San Francisco Bay, 16 November 1971.
US Coast Guard photos.

USCG ELD,Explosives Loading Detachment, Vietnam

1966  Coast Guard Explosive Loading Detachments (ELDs) 1 & 2 arrived in South Vietnam and were assigned to U.S. Army logistics commands.

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)

2023 CGC Dependable (WMEC 626) returned to its home port in Virginia Beach on Sunday, 4 June 2023, following a 42-day patrol in the Florida Straits and Windward Passage. Dependable’s crew contributed to the interdiction, care and repatriation of over 300 migrants while patrolling the Seventh Coast Guard District’s area of responsibility in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry and Homeland Security Taskforce — Southeast. While operating in the Florida Straits, Dependable was supported by multiple Coast Guard air assets to interdict two known drug smugglers in the vicinity of the Old Bahama Channel. Dependable’s small boat crew stopped the vessel and embarked the smugglers. Over 1,100 pounds of contraband was recovered, making this the first drug bust for the cutter in more than three years. Throughout the patrol, Dependable also collaborated with numerous other Coast Guard and partner assets, including a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment embarked on the Navy ship USS Little Rock. “The crew has been training to conduct migrant interdiction operations since July 2022,” said LCDR Dana Prefer, Dependable’s executive officer. “In preparation for the recent uptick in maritime migration ventures, we worked hard to qualify over 50 crew members to provide security and care for the migrants embarked aboard the cutter. All the training and preparation paid off as it was truly a team effort to interdict, process, and care for the well-being of migrants throughout our patrol.”

This Day in Coast Guard History, June 2 / 3

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

June 2

1882  At 1600 in the afternoon of 2 June 1882 a young man named John Kramer, twenty-two years of age, fell off the harbor pier at Kenosha, Wisconsin, while fishing. His cries for help were heard by Surfman Mahoney of Station 13, Eleventh District, who ran to his aid and found him clinging to the pier, but just on the point of letting go, being unable to maintain his hold longer. The stout surfman had a hard time to get him up on the pier, which was six feet high from the water, but stuck to the work and succeeded, saving the young man’s life.

June 3

1882  At 8 in the morning, the three-masted schooner J.P. Decamdres, bound for Milwaukee with a cargo of cord-wood and railroad ties, stranded about one mile north of the life-saving station at the entrance to Milwaukee Harbor (No. 15, Eleventh District) and became a total wreck.  Her crew of six men and a passenger were rescued by the lifesaving crew.

“Convoy WS-12: A Vought SB2U Vindicator scout bomber from USS Ranger (CV-4) flies anti-submarine patrol over the convoy, while it was en route to Cape Town, South Africa, 27 November 1941. The convoy appears to be making a formation turn from column to line abreast. Two-stack transports in the first row are USS West Point (AP-23) — left –; USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and USS Wakefield (AP-21). Heavy cruisers, on the right side of the first row and middle of the second, are USS Vincennes (CA-44) and USS Quincy (CA-39). Single-stack transports in the second row are USS Leonard Wood (AP-25) and USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26).”

1941  President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order making 2,100 US Coast Guard officers and men available to man four transports, USS Leonard Wood, Hunter Liggett, Joseph T. Dickman, and Wakefield, along with 22 other ships manned by US Navy personnel.

US Coast Guard manned Attack Transport USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) underway 28 April 1944. Source Robert Hurst

USS Hunter Liggett (APA-14) c1944

USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) underway in April 1942. Her camouflage is Measure 32R.
US Navy photo #: NH 99278 from the collections of the Naval Historand Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.

The U.S. Navy troop transport USS Wakefield (AP-21) off the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts (USA), in March 1944. Wakefield had been completely rebuilt at Boston after a large onboard fire in September 1942.

1982  USS Farragut towed two vessels seized by the Coast Guard to San Juan, Puerto Rico, marking the first time that a Navy ship took an active role in law enforcement and the interdiction of drug smuggling in the Caribbean.

The U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG-37) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 2 July 1982.

This Day in Coast Guard History, June 1

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

June 1

Spectacle Reef Lighthouse

1874  The light was first lit at Spectacle Reef Lighthouse, located on a limestone reef at the northern end of Lake Huron, near the Straits of Mackinac, ten miles from land.  The structure of this lighthouse was similar to that of Minots Ledge, and its construction was “a notable engineering work.”

USCGC Manitou (WYT-60) Operating in the Arctic Ice, during World War II. Note her ice-breaking bow. Photo was taken in Greenland. Catalog #: 26-G-3497

The wooden fishing trawler Belmont was acquired for service for a fee of $2,122 to serve under charter by the Navy “for Coast Guard use as a vessel of the Greenland Patrol.” After conversion, including the addition of two small depth charge tracks and minimal anti-aircraft armament, she was commissioned as a vessel of the Coast Guard on 19 June 1942 and renamed Natsek.

1941  The Navy organized the South Greenland Patrol.  It consisted of three cutters and a Navy vessel.

Callao (IX-205) as the armed German Naval Auxiliary vessel Externsteine off Greenland after being captured by the Coast Guard in October 1944. US Coast photo

1946  The Coast Guard returned to operation under the Treasury Department after the end of World War II.

Memorial Duty 2025. In honor of Memorial Day, #TCCM recruits and permanent party held a wreath laying ceremony at the #USCG Enlisted Memorial. Today especially, we reflect on the service and sacrifice of all American military personnel who died in the performance of their military duties, and to pay tribute to these heroes and to honor the family members they left behind.

1948  The Coast Guard Training Center at Cape May, New Jersey, was established as a receiving center for the initial classification, outfitting, and indoctrination of recruits.  The primary reason for this move from the training station at Mayport, Florida, which was then be decommissioned, was to locate more centrally the Service’s facilities for handling recruits.

Adm. Linda Fagan relieves Adm. Karl Schultz as the 27th commandant of the Coast Guard during a change of command ceremony at Coast Guard headquarters June 1, 2022. Fagan is the first woman service chief of any U.S. military service. U.S. COAST GUARD / Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Magee

2022  ADM Linda L. Fagan is sworn in by POTUS, as the 27th Commandant of the United States, first woman leader of the Coast Guard, and first female uniformed lead of a US Military Service.

This Day in Coast Guard History, May 31

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

May 31

1947  Authority of the U.S. Coast Guard for the establishment and disestablishment of prohibited, restricted, and anchorage areas, conferred by the Espionage Act (50 U.S.C. 191) and Proclamation No. 2412 of June 27, 1940 was terminated by Proclamation No. 2732, signed by the President on this date.

1948  The Coast Guard assumed command of the former Navy base at Cape May, New Jersey, and formally established its east coast recruit training center there the next day.

1963  The Commandant authorized the disestablishment of Light Station Alcatraz, California.

Jack Dempsey (center) wearing a U.S. Coast Guard Commander uniform, watches two seamen loading twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns, circa 1942 to 1944. USCG Photo

1983  Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey passed away at the age of 87.  He served in the Coast Guard during World War II and achieved the rank of commander.

1988  The first search and rescue agreement with the Soviet Union was signed at a summit in Moscow.  The agreement set a general line, or boundary, separating SAR regions and provided for exchange visits to SAR coordination centers in both countries, joint SAR exercises, and regular communication checks. (Not the same thing but interesting.)

USCGC Fir (WLM 212), ex-USCGC Fir (WAGL 212), Commissioned USCGC Fir (WAGL 212) 1 October 1940 at Seattle, WA.

1988  CGC Fir became the oldest cutter in commission after CGC Ingham was decommissioned this day in 1988.

The Coast Guard cutter Boutwell,’ foreground, is seen escorting the Liberian-flagged vessel ‘Command’ Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998, in international waters. AP Photo by US Coast Guard

2009  USCGC Boutwell arrived in the port of Tubruq, Libya, during its around-the-world cruise, becoming the first U.S. military ship to visit Libya in more than 40 years.

2013  Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay, the Coast Guard command responsible for operations from the California-Oregon border south to the Mendocino-Sonoma county line, was renamed Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay during a formal ceremony.

Response Boat Medium (RB-M)–Video

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Stumbled across the video above. It is extremely well done. It is very insightful including some good graphics.

Obviously the crew members were loving what they were doing. Looked like they were having fun and were proud of what they were doing.

The video would make a good intro for any future RB-M crew members. It could also be a recruiting video.

We could do worse than have this guy create a series of 30 minute TV programs just going around from station to station talking about the equipment and to the crew members about what they do. It would have the same kind of appeal as the very successful low budget program “Dirty Jobs.”

The amazing maneuverability also made me want to see jet drives on our bigger vessels.

 

This Day in Coast Guard History, May 29 / 30

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

May 29

USCGC Dallas

1995  A request from the Commander in Chief of Naval Forces Europe led to the deployment of CGC Dallas, under the command of Captain Joseph Jones, USCG, to the Mediterranean.  Dallas departed Governors Island on May 29, 1995 and visited ports throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea, including Istanbul and Samsun in Turkey; Durres, Albania; Varna, Bulgaria; Constanta, Romania; Koper, Slovenia; Taranto, Italy; and Bizerte, Tunisia.  The crew trained with naval and coast guard forces in each country.  She deployed for a few days with the Sixth Fleet and served as a plane guard for the USS Theodore Roosevelt.  The crew was also able to coordinate schedules with six NATO and non-NATO nations to conduct boardings.  She returned to the U.S. in August and arrived at Governors Island on August 28, 1995.

May 30

Morris Island (vicinity), South Carolina. Ruins of Charleston lighthouse
cropped Shows an observation tower built on the lighthouse ruins cropped. Haas & Peale, photographer.

1767  The Charleston Lighthouse was built on Morris Island, South Carolina.  The first stone of the tower was laid on this date.

1996  The 8th and 2nd Coast Guard Districts were combined to form the new 8th Coast Guard District.

Cutter Yocona towing environmental bouy (EB-16) off of San Diego underway for deployment. May 19,1975.

1996  CGC Yocona was decommissioned in Kodiak, Alaska.  Yocona had been in Coast Guard service since 1946.

First U.S. Coast Guard-Sponsored Medical Student Graduates from Uniformed Services University

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USU graduated its first U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored medical student, Elise Bobczynski. (Photo credit: Tom Balfour, USU)

Uniformed Services University News reports,

In a historic milestone, USU graduated its first U.S. Coast Guard-sponsored medical student. Ensign Elise Bobczynski was commissioned as a physician into the Coast Guard by Rear Adm. Paul Jung, the Coast Guard’s Chief Medical Officer. Her graduation marked a significant step in the Service’s effort to expand its organic medical capabilities and address the growing need for uniformed physicians.

This is great, that the Coast Guard should have its own commissioned full time Coast Guard doctors rather than relying on Public Health Service, doctors on loan from other services, or contracted civilians.

I have a personal interest in this in that my daughter also graduated from the Uniformed Services University, became a Navy flight surgeon, served two tours in Iraq with a Marine helicopter squadron doing casualty evacuation. Uniformed Services University is a great opportunity.

I have to thank “librarydoc” for bringing this to my attention. He (or she) referenced the link in a comment on an earlier post, but it was stuck in the moderation queue and I did not recognize it until today, sorry it took so long.

This Day in Coast Guard History, May 28

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

May 28

A painting by Peter Rindlisbacher of the Cutter James Madison capturing the British merchantman Shamrock. Credit: Coast Guard Collection

1813  Revenue Cutterman John Bearbere died of pneumonia while being held as a Prisoner of War by the British after his cutter, James Madison, was captured by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Barbadoes near Savannah, Georgia on November 24, 1812 during the War of 1812.  He was one of five crewmen captured aboard the cutter who died in captivity.  James Madison had only recently captured and seized the 300-ton, six-gun British brig Shamrock in July 1812.

USCGC Icarus (WPC-110) arriving at Charleston Navy Yard with prisoners of war from the U-boat U-352, 10 May 1942, US Navy photo

1938  CGC Icarus, patrol boats CG-176 and CG-135 as well as motor lifeboats from stations Rockaway Point and Sandy Hook responded to a distress call after the collision of two vessels, the SS Acadia and SS Mandalay, in New York Harbor.  The Coast Guard vessels safely transported to New York City all 325 passengers and crew from the Mandalay which sank soon after the collision.

1947  The Coast Guard announced the disestablishment of all U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Details in foreign ports.  During World War II, a total of 36 foreign Merchant Marine Details had been activated for the purpose of performing “on-the-spot” services in connection with the preventive aspects of safety of life and property of the US Merchant Marine.  These functions reverted to the continental U.S. ports in which there were located U.S. Marine Inspection Offices.  The Merchant Marine Details disestablished were located in the following ports: Antwerp, Belgium; Bremerhaven, Germany; London, England; Cardiff, Wales; Le Havre, France; Marseille, France; Naples, Italy; Piraeus, Greece; Shanghai, China; Manila, Philippine Islands; and Trieste, Venezia Giulia.

1984  The first Marine Safety Information System (MSIS) module was deployed Coast Guard-wide.  The Port Safety Module replaced the Interim MSIS system, first established when the Port and Tanker Safety Act of 1978 was passed, to provide field units with vessel histories.  The replacement module was vital in the day-to-day execution of Port Safety and Marine Violation functions.