USCGC Escanaba WHEC 64

• Namesake: USCGC Escanaba (WHEC-64) was the second Coast Guard cutter named after the city of Escanaba, Michigan, following the heroic legacy of the original cutter sunk in World War II. • Owasco-class Cutter: Escanaba was an Owasco-class high endurance cutter, designed to serve in both wartime and peacetime roles with the versatility to perform search and rescue, law enforcement, and convoy escort duties. • Launched in 1945: The cutter was launched on January 20, 1945, at the Western Pipe & Steel shipyard in San Pedro, California, towards the end of World War II. • Commissioning Delay: Although launched in 1945, Escanaba was not commissioned until March 20, 1946, as the war ended and the immediate need for new cutters decreased. • Great Lakes Service: Despite being ocean-going, Escanaba spent much of her early career on the Great Lakes, engaging in search and rescue operations, ice breaking, and law enforcement. • Cold War Patrols: In the 1950s and 1960s, Escanaba played a role in Cold War defense, performing ocean station patrols, weather reporting, and acting as a guard ship in the Atlantic. • Humanitarian Missions: Throughout her service, Escanaba rescued numerous mariners from peril, including dramatic rescues of stranded sailors and airmen in dangerous weather conditions. • Vietnam War Service: From 1969 to 1970, Escanaba was deployed to Vietnam as part of Operation Market Time, conducting coastal patrols to interdict arms smuggling and support U.S. Navy operations. • Decommissioning: After nearly three decades of service, Escanaba was decommissioned on June 28, 1974, marking the end of her Coast Guard career. • Legacy: Escanaba’s legacy lives on in Coast Guard heritage; her name and dedication to duty continue to be honored by the current USCGC Escanaba (WMEC-907), an active Famous-class cutter.