USCGC BITTERSWEET

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Branch

U.S. Coast Guard

Members

About USCGC BITTERSWEET

USCGC BITTERSWEET (WAGL-389) was a Cactus-class 180-foot buoy tender built for the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, BITTERSWEET was assigned to aids-to-navigation duties, servicing buoys and performing search and rescue missions along the U.S. East Coast and later the Great Lakes. Throughout her career, she also supported icebreaking operations and responded to maritime emergencies, contributing significantly to safe navigation and maritime safety. BITTERSWEET was decommissioned in 1969 after 25 years of distinguished service.

Unit Members

Kristopher Stober

U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC BITTERSWEETView Profile

Michael Hogan

U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC BITTERSWEETView Profile

Photos

USCG Station San Francisco, CA

USCG Station San Francisco, CA • U.S. Coast Guard • 1989

USCGC Point Brower Homeport San Diego CA

USCGC Point Brower (WPB-82372) • U.S. Coast Guard • 1986

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719)

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) • U.S. Coast Guard • 1982

USCGC Campbell (WHEC-32)

U.S. Coast Guard • 1975

About USCGC BITTERSWEET

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• USCGC Bittersweet (WAGL-389) was a United States Coast Guard buoy tender commissioned in 1944 and served for over three decades. • World War II Service: Bittersweet was built during WWII to help maintain navigational aids crucial for wartime logistics and coastal defense. • Construction: She was constructed by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company in Duluth, Minnesota, a prolific yard for Coast Guard tenders during the 1940s. • Class: Bittersweet was part of the 180-foot Mesquite-class buoy tenders, designed for both buoy maintenance and icebreaking duties. • Homeports: Over her long career, Bittersweet was stationed in multiple locations, including San Francisco, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. • Icebreaking Missions: In addition to setting and maintaining buoys, Bittersweet performed icebreaking duties, clearing harbors and shipping lanes during harsh winters. • Notable Rescue Operations: The vessel participated in several search and rescue operations, saving lives and assisting vessels in distress, a testament to the Coast Guard’s humanitarian mission. • Post-war Service: After WWII, Bittersweet continued aiding navigation, often deploying and servicing buoys along the United States’ vast coastline and supporting peacetime maritime safety. • Decommissioning: USCGC Bittersweet was decommissioned in 1977, marking the end of more than 30 years of honorable service. • Legacy: Bittersweet’s legacy is preserved among the Mesquite-class tenders, remembered for their ruggedness and versatility in Coast Guard history.