USCGC MELLON

• USCGC Mellon (WHEC-717) was a high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1968 and named after Andrew W. Mellon, the 49th Secretary of the Treasury. • Vietnam War Service: Mellon was one of several Coast Guard cutters sent to Vietnam, serving under Operation Market Time to interdict the flow of arms and supplies by sea to North Vietnamese forces. • First Missile Firing: In 1990, Mellon became the first Coast Guard cutter to successfully fire a Harpoon anti-ship missile during a test exercise, demonstrating its advanced combat capabilities. • Major Drug Busts: Mellon played a key role in numerous high-profile drug interdictions, including the seizure of over 30,000 pounds of marijuana in a single operation in the late 1970s. • Alaskan Operations: The cutter operated extensively in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, conducting fisheries enforcement, search and rescue, and winter patrols in some of the harshest maritime conditions in the world. • Rescue Missions: Mellon was involved in several dramatic rescue operations, including the 1998 rescue of the crew of the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger in the Bering Sea, saving multiple lives in severe weather. • Refits and Upgrades: Mellon underwent major modernization during the 1980s as part of the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) program, receiving updated sensors, communications, and weapons systems. • International Cooperation: The cutter participated in joint exercises with navies and coast guards of other nations, fostering international cooperation in maritime law enforcement and search and rescue. • Historic Decommissioning: After more than 52 years of service, USCGC Mellon was decommissioned on August 20, 2020, as one of the last of the Hamilton-class cutters. • Legacy: Following decommissioning, Mellon was slated for transfer to the Philippine Navy as part of U.S. military assistance, continuing its service in a new role protecting maritime interests in the Pacific.