My Coast Guard News

Coast Guard SPARS marching in formation as part of Honolulu’s V-J (Victory over Japan) Day Parade. (Courtesy of family)

Nov. 5, 2021

The Long Blue Line: “Sooner Squadron”—First Native American Women to enlist in the Coast Guard

At least six women from Oklahoma’s tribal nations served in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserves (“SPARS”) during World War II. They enlisted for the same reasons as other American women and performed the same duties, yet newspaper reporters sensationalized their stories with popular culture stereotypes. These SPARS allowed male Coast Guardsmen

Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for protecting our freedom and our liberty. Thank you #veterans.

Nov. 5, 2021

More than 230 years of service: Veterans Day reminds us of the sacrifices of those who have remained Semper Paratus

Take time to learn more in ‘The Long Blue Line’

After its service as a VOA floating transmitter, Courier became Coast Guard reserve training ship, stationed at Training Center Yorktown. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Oct. 29, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Cold War Cutter Courier—“Valiant fighter in the cause of freedom”

I am speaking to you today from a ship. It is a special kind of ship, and it will perform a very special mission. This vessel will not be armed with guns, or with any instruments of destruction. But it will be a valiant fighter in the cause of freedom. It will carry a precious cargo--and that cargo is truth. ~ President Harry S Truman, U.S. Coast

Posed professional photograph of Tampa’s captain, Charles Satterlee, taken in London in April 1918, just a few months before the loss of the Tampa. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Oct. 22, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Satterlee—the last full measure of devotion

Captain Satterlee was a particularly competent and efficient officer and made a record of which the best might well be proud. “Official Record of Charles Satterlee,” Coast Guard Personnel Office, October 18, 1918Charles Satterlee was born in Essex, Connecticut, in 1875. His naval career began after completing the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service’s

Photograph of Radarman Sy Siegel with shipmates aboard the Aquarius. (Courtesy of Siegel Family)

Oct. 15, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Pacific War veteran Sy Siegel, 101 years strong and still Semper Paratus!

Sy Siegel is one of many distinguished combat veterans of the long blue line.

Circa 1940 photograph showing keepers quarters and “U.S. Coast Guard” painted on the side of the storage shed. (Photo courtesy of the Guantanamo Public Memory Project)

Oct. 8, 2021

The Long Blue Line: GITMO Lighthouse standing the watch for 120 years, still Semper Paratus!

It has been 121 years since the Guantanamo Lighthouse was built, remaining Semper Paratus thanks to numerous Coast Guard members who have preserved this unique piece of Coast Guard history.

World War II underway photo of the Coast Guard-manned USS Durant (DE-389) sporting its haze gray paint scheme. (U.S. Navy)

Oct. 5, 2021

The Long Blue Line: USS Durant—Coast Guard and Navy warship of World War II and Cold War

Surprisingly, in the Coast Guard’s 230-year history, the service has operated very few purpose-built naval warships. However, during World War II, Coast Guardsmen operated a number of smaller classes of warships, including sub chasers, patrol gunboats, patrol craft, patrol frigates, and destroyer escorts. The USS Durant (DE-389) was one of several