USCG

USCG Air Station Brooklyn, NY, was established in 1938 at Floyd Bennett Field, serving as a pivotal United States Coast Guard aviation facility in the New York metropolitan area. The station played a crucial role in search and rescue operations, maritime patrols, and law enforcement missions throughout World War II and the ensuing decades. Its aircraft and crews responded to numerous emergencies along the Atlantic coast, including shipwreck rescues and disaster relief. USCG Air Station Brooklyn remained active until its closure in 1998, when its operations were relocated to USCG Air Station Atlantic City.

USCGC DAUNTLESS (WMEC-624) is a Reliance-class medium endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1968. Throughout its distinguished service, DAUNTLESS has played a critical role in law enforcement, search and rescue, and counter-narcotics missions, notably participating in Operation Able Manner during the 1990s Haitian migration crisis. The cutter is renowned for its significant drug interdiction achievements, including being the first cutter to seize one million pounds of marijuana. Over the decades, USCGC DAUNTLESS has received numerous commendations, reflecting its ongoing commitment to maritime security and humanitarian operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean regions.

USCGC POLAR STAR (WAGB-10) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker commissioned in 1976. Built by Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, the vessel was designed to break through thick Antarctic and Arctic ice, supporting scientific research and resupply missions. POLAR STAR has been the backbone of Operation Deep Freeze, ensuring annual access to the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Over its decades of service, the cutter has faced challenging conditions, undergone multiple overhauls, and remains the Coast Guard’s only active heavy icebreaker as of 2024.

USCGC SUNDEW (WLB-404) was a 180-foot Iris-class seagoing buoy tender constructed for the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, SUNDEW served primarily on the Great Lakes, performing vital aids-to-navigation, icebreaking, and search and rescue missions for over six decades. The cutter also participated in several high-profile rescue operations, including the aftermath of the 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. After a distinguished career, SUNDEW was decommissioned in 2004 and is now preserved as a museum ship in Duluth, Minnesota.

USCGC Taney (WHEC-37) was a Secretary-class Coast Guard cutter commissioned in 1936 and named after Roger B. Taney, the fifth Chief Justice of the United States. Taney is renowned for being the last surviving warship present during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, where she engaged Japanese aircraft from her Honolulu mooring. Throughout World War II, Taney served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, performing convoy escort, anti-submarine, and search and rescue missions. After the war, she continued to serve in various roles—including weather patrol, law enforcement, and search and rescue—until her decommissioning in 1986.

**Absecon** refers to USS Absecon (AVP-23), a United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tender commissioned during World War II. Launched in 1942, Absecon primarily served as a training ship for seaplane pilots and crews at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. She helped train thousands of aviators and supported various fleet exercises throughout the war. After the war, Absecon was decommissioned in 1947 and later transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard, where she continued service as USCGC Absecon (WAVP-374/WHEC-374).

**CG Intelligence & Investigation** is a specialized unit within the Coast Guard responsible for intelligence gathering, analysis, and investigative operations. Originally established to counter smuggling and enforce maritime law, the unit’s mission expanded significantly after the events of September 11, 2001, incorporating counterterrorism and homeland security functions. Over the years, CG Intelligence & Investigation has played a key role in supporting Coast Guard operations by providing actionable intelligence on maritime threats and conducting complex criminal investigations. Today, the unit remains at the forefront of safeguarding national security interests in U.S. waters and beyond.

**Coast Guard Station Grand Isle, LA** is strategically located on Grand Isle, a barrier island in Louisiana. Established in the early 20th century, the station has played a vital role in maritime safety and security along the Gulf of Mexico. Its primary missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection, particularly during hurricane seasons and in response to oil spills. Over the decades, CG Station Grand Isle has become a crucial hub for safeguarding commercial shipping, fisheries, and recreational boating in the region. The unit continues to support both local communities and national interests with dedicated Coast Guard personnel and resources.

LORAN Station Sitkinak was a United States Coast Guard long-range navigation (LORAN) station established during the Cold War era on Sitkinak Island, Alaska. Commissioned in 1961, the station was part of the North Pacific LORAN-C chain, providing critical navigation signals for military and commercial vessels and aircraft operating in the region. Crewed by Coast Guard personnel, Sitkinak played a vital role in supporting maritime and aviation safety throughout the North Pacific, especially during adverse weather and low-visibility conditions. The station operated until its decommissioning in 1977, as advances in satellite navigation technology rendered LORAN-C less essential.