USCG

Loran Station Adak, located on Adak Island in Alaska’s Aleutian chain, was established by the United States Coast Guard during World War II as part of the Long Range Navigation (LORAN) system. Operational from 1943, the station provided critical radio navigation signals to support Allied naval and air operations across the North Pacific, particularly during the Aleutian Campaign against Japanese forces. Following the war, Loran Station Adak remained active through the Cold War, enhancing maritime safety and supporting both military and commercial vessels in the remote region. The station was eventually decommissioned in the late 20th century as satellite-based navigation systems rendered LORAN technology obsolete.

**Military Sealift Office (MSO) Portland, OR** was established to provide logistical and sealift support to military operations along the Pacific Northwest. Originally activated during the Cold War era, the unit coordinated the movement of military cargo and personnel through the Port of Portland, serving as a vital link between West Coast military installations and overseas deployments. Throughout its history, MSO Portland supported major operations and exercises, including deployments to the Pacific Rim and humanitarian missions. The unit has since evolved, integrating advanced technology and logistics practices to enhance operational readiness and efficiency for U.S. military and allied forces.

**SECTOR SAN JUAN** is a military unit that has played a pivotal role in the defense and security of the San Juan region. Established in the early 20th century, it was initially tasked with coastal defense and surveillance due to San Juan's strategic location in the Caribbean. Over time, the unit adapted to evolving threats, participating in both training missions with allied forces and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters. Today, SECTOR SAN JUAN continues to serve as a key element in regional security, focusing on maritime law enforcement, disaster response, and support to civil authorities.

USCG Base Astoria, located in Astoria, Oregon, has served as a key United States Coast Guard installation since its establishment in 1945. Originally built to support World War II operations, the base quickly became a hub for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection missions along the Pacific Northwest coast. Over the decades, USCG Base Astoria has played a vital role in responding to maritime emergencies, supporting aids to navigation, and conducting homeland security operations in the Columbia River and nearby coastal waters. Today, it remains a strategic base, supporting multiple Coast Guard cutters and units dedicated to safeguarding the region's waterways and coastline.

The U.S. Coast Guard's Electronics Engineering Center (EECEN) in Wildwood, New Jersey, traces its roots to World War II, when the site functioned as Naval Air Station Wildwood. Established as a Coast Guard facility in the 1970s, EECEN became the service’s primary center for the research, development, testing, and support of electronic navigation and communication systems. Over the decades, EECEN has played a vital role in advancing the Coast Guard’s technological capabilities, supporting operations from aids to navigation to maritime security. Today, EECEN continues to serve as a critical hub for innovation and technical expertise within the Coast Guard’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence (C5I) community.

USCG Sandy Hook refers to United States Coast Guard units stationed at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, a strategic location at the entrance to New York Harbor. The Coast Guard presence at Sandy Hook dates back to the establishment of the Sandy Hook Life-Saving Station in the mid-19th century, which became part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and later merged into the Coast Guard in 1915. Throughout its history, the unit has played a vital role in maritime search and rescue, law enforcement, and aids to navigation for one of the nation’s busiest waterways. Today, USCG units at Sandy Hook continue to provide critical services ensuring the safety and security of the region’s maritime traffic.

USCGC ALERT (WMEC-630) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1969. Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, ALERT has served in a variety of roles, including search and rescue, law enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, and fisheries patrols, primarily along the Pacific coast. The cutter has participated in numerous high-profile drug interdictions and humanitarian missions throughout its service. ALERT is homeported in Astoria, Oregon, and remains an integral asset to Coast Guard operations in the Pacific Northwest.

USCGC Blackhaw (WLB-390) was a Cactus-class 180-foot seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1944. Initially based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Blackhaw served throughout the Pacific, maintaining aids to navigation, conducting search and rescue missions, and supporting military operations during and after World War II. The cutter continued its vital service during the Cold War, performing law enforcement, icebreaking, and environmental protection duties. After over four decades of distinguished service, Blackhaw was decommissioned in 1993, leaving a legacy of dedication to maritime safety and national security.

USCGC VIGOROUS (WMEC-627) is a Reliance-class medium endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1969. Built at the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio, VIGOROUS has served in a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and homeland security operations along the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Over its decades of service, VIGOROUS has been instrumental in numerous high-profile rescues and major narcotics seizures, contributing significantly to Coast Guard operations. The cutter continues to play a vital role in safeguarding U.S. maritime interests and ensuring maritime safety and security.