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Tag: World War II

Photograph of a Sicilian fishermen preparing to return to sea describing to Lt. Pell the challenges of fishing in Italian waters. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Cmdr. Clay Pell)

Sept. 6, 2024

Celebrating the Coast Guard’s role in liberating Rome during World War II

The wartime missions demanded a rapid expansion of Coast Guard manpower. On Dec. 7, 1941, Coast Guard personnel totaled about 29,000. By June 30, 1944, the ranks had swelled to over 175,000.

Coast Guard enlistment photograph of Joseph R. Toahty at age 21. (National Archives) A faded image of marines landing on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. The marines landing on Guadalcanal far outnumbered the unprepared Japanese troops and civilian airfield workers on the island, so the enemy fled for the cover of Guadalcanal’s jungle interior. (U.S. Navy)

Aug. 23, 2024

Guadalcanal — Pawnee warrior strikes the first blow beside Doug Munro

Joseph Robert Toahty became the first Pawnee Indian to go to sea, the first Native American to participate in a U.S. naval offensive operation, and first Native American to set foot in enemy territory.

The original enlistment photograph for Robert Grattan Ward, later Silver Star Medal recipient for action on D-Day. (U.S. Coast Guard) With cargo nets dropped and LCVPs in position, the Joseph Dickman disembarks troops for amphibious landing. (U.S. Coast Guard)

June 28, 2024

Coxswain for all invasions — Robert Ward and the Joseph T. Dickman at D-Day

The story of D-Day hero, Silver Star Medal recipient and FRC namesake Robert Ward.

An 83-footer making the Channel crossing with other vessels just before the D-Day landings. (U.S. Coast Guard)

June 21, 2024

Jack Hamlin — Boatswain, rescue swimmer, and savior of D-Day

CG-23 and other rescue cutters performed heroically against the weather and the odds. Jack estimated his boat saved around 50 lives that day.

Black and white photo of Seaman John “Jack” DeNunzio in dress blues. (Coast Guard Collection) A rare color photo of Flotilla Ten on the River Dart, England, preparing for the landings on D-Day. (Coast Guard Collection)

June 14, 2024

D-Day hero Jack DeNunzio and LCI-94 at Normandy

Jack DeNunzio’s final breath would be forever recorded for posterity by a Coast Guard photographer and a world-renowned Life Magazine combat photographer.

Rare photograph of landing craft from the Samuel Chase landing the first wave of troops on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Frank DeVita may have manned one of these landing craft. (National Archives)

May 31, 2024

“Love your Freedom, because that’s what we fought for” — D-Day Gunner’s Mate Frank DeVita

“There’s a cemetery right above Omaha Beach with 9,400 dead GIs. I go there every year and I cry, and I cry. They made the biggest sacrifice. They gave their lives so that we have freedom today.” - Frank DeVita

Posed photograph early in the war of Joseph Gerczak in his dress blues uniform. (Courtesy of the Gerczak family) Photo showing LST-66’s bow doors open to debark troops to the beach. (Navsource.org)

April 19, 2024

Joe Gerczak’s service and sacrifice from Philly to New Guinea

LST-66 ended the war as the most-decorated LST serving in the Coast Guard.

Edith Munro in her dress blue uniform strolling the grounds at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. (U.S. Coast Guard)

March 15, 2024

Edith Munro — leader, mentor, SPAR and Medal of Honor hero mother

Edith Munro took the oath to join the SPARS two hours after accepting the Medal of Honor for her son Douglas Munro.

Two men pose together at parade rest in front of a U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Team building.

Jan. 5, 2024

The World War II Beach Patrol in Jacksonville Beach

Coast Guard Headquarters authorized the institution of beach patrols in all areas adjacent to the coast. The patrol members came to be known colloquially as “sand pounders.” By August of 1942, the first patrols with dogs were instituted.

5 photos of various CG members and boats compiled into a graphical representation of the events. Text on the bottom of the photo says "The Long Blue Line"

Oct. 27, 2023

The Long Blue Line: William Trump — Coast Guard hero of D-Day

The Coast Guard-manned LCI(L)s, or landing crafts, were 158-feet long and 23-feet wide and were the smallest sea-going amphibious crafts involved in the invasion.