USCG

USCG Station Rockland, located in Rockland, Maine, has played a crucial role in maritime safety and security along the mid-coast of Maine since its establishment. The station is responsible for search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and environmental protection in the busy Penobscot Bay region. Among its assets, the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat CG65603 has been instrumental in countless rescues, operating in harsh sea conditions characteristic of the area. Over the years, the station and crew of CG65603 have earned recognition for their dedication and professionalism, safeguarding mariners and supporting the Coast Guard’s mission in the North Atlantic.

USCG Station Siuslaw River, located in Florence, Oregon, traces its origins to 1918 when a lifesaving station was first established to assist mariners along the challenging central Oregon coast. Over the decades, the unit transitioned from the United States Life-Saving Service to the modern Coast Guard, adapting to new technologies and expanding its mission set. Today, the station specializes in search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection within the Siuslaw River and its approaches. USCG Station Siuslaw River remains a critical asset for ensuring the safety of recreational boaters, commercial vessels, and the local community.

**USCG SUPCEN BKLYN Military History:** The United States Coast Guard Support Center Brooklyn (USCG SUPCEN BKLYN) was established in Brooklyn, New York, to provide logistical, administrative, and operational support to Coast Guard units in the New York City region. Historically, the center played a critical role during World War II and the Cold War, serving as a hub for maritime operations, port security, and search and rescue coordination. Throughout its years of operation, SUPCEN Brooklyn supported key missions, including disaster response and law enforcement activities along the East Coast. The facility was eventually closed in the 1990s as part of a nationwide Coast Guard reorganization, but its legacy continues in the ongoing missions of Coast Guard units in the New York area.

USCG Willamette Harbor is a United States Coast Guard station located in Portland, Oregon, tasked with patrolling and securing the critical waterways of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Established in the mid-20th century, the unit has played a vital role in search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout its history, USCG Willamette Harbor has supported local and federal agencies in disaster response and maritime safety, particularly during severe weather and flooding events. Today, the station continues to safeguard the region's ports and waterways, ensuring the safety and security of commercial and recreational vessel traffic.

USCGC Tanager (WAVP-385), originally commissioned as USS Tanager (AM-385), was an Admirable-class minesweeper built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was launched in 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater, conducting minesweeping operations to clear naval mines and ensure safe passage for Allied vessels. After the war, she was transferred to the United States Coast Guard in 1947 and redesignated as USCGC Tanager (WAVP-385). In Coast Guard service, she was primarily tasked with weather patrols and search and rescue missions in the Atlantic until her decommissioning in 1959.

USCGC Balsam (WLB-62) was a United States Coast Guard seagoing buoy tender commissioned in 1944. Built as part of the Cactus-class (or A-class) during World War II, Balsam served in the Pacific Theater, performing vital navigational aid, search and rescue, and convoy escort missions. After the war, she continued to serve in various locations, including Alaska and Hawaii, maintaining aids to navigation and supporting law enforcement and environmental missions. Decommissioned in 1976, Balsam was later transferred to the Philippine Navy, where she served as BRP Kalinga (AG-89).

USCGC BERING STRAIT (WHEC-382) was an Owasco-class high endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1945. Originally built for service in World War II, she was completed too late for combat but went on to serve during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the Vietnam War, BERING STRAIT participated in Operation Market Time, conducting coastal patrols, interdiction, and search and rescue missions. The cutter was decommissioned in 1971 and later transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy, where she served as HQ-1 Trần Quang Khải.

USCGC **Cactus** (WLB-270) was a United States Coast Guard sea-going buoy tender belonging to the **Cactus-class** (also known as the 180-foot class), launched in 1942 during World War II. Designed for aids to navigation, search and rescue, and logistics, she served along the U.S. East Coast and in various theaters, including support for wartime convoy operations. After the war, Cactus continued peacetime service, performing maintenance of navigational aids, icebreaking, and law enforcement missions until her decommissioning in 1971. Her hull designation was later changed to **WLB(O)-270** to reflect operational status, a designation used for vessels in reserve or awaiting disposal.

USCGC CAPE GEORGE (WPB-95322) was a 95-foot Cape-class patrol boat commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1959. Named after Cape George in Washington state, she served primarily in law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime patrol missions along the U.S. coastline. During her service, CAPE GEORGE played a significant role in anti-smuggling operations and contributed to the Coast Guard’s efforts in maintaining maritime safety and security. The cutter was decommissioned in 1990 after more than three decades of dedicated service.