USCGC IRONWOOD, SANIBEL

**USCGC IRONWOOD (WLB-297)** was a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1944. Initially assigned to the Pacific theater during World War II, IRONWOOD performed vital aids to navigation, logistics, and rescue operations in support of Allied forces. After the war, she continued service in various locations, including Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, conducting law enforcement, search and rescue, and maintaining navigational aids. After more than five decades of service, IRONWOOD was decommissioned in 2000. **USCGC SANIBEL (WPB-1312)** is an Island-class patrol boat commissioned in 1987, named after Sanibel Island, Florida. Based out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, SANIBEL has participated in numerous missions, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and environmental protection along the Atlantic coast. The cutter has also played a role in homeland security operations, drug interdiction, and fisheries enforcement. SANIBEL continues to serve as a vital asset in the Coast Guard’s fleet, demonstrating versatility and readiness in safeguarding U.S. waters.