USCGC Sweetgum (WLB-309)

• Commissioned in World War II: USCGC Sweetgum (WLB-309) was commissioned on 19 July 1944, serving as part of the U.S. Coast Guard's fleet during the latter years of World War II. • Buoy Tender Class: Sweetgum was a 180-foot Cactus-class (or A-class) seagoing buoy tender, designed to service navigational aids and perform search and rescue operations. • Normandy Invasion Support: Shortly after commissioning, Sweetgum was deployed to support the D-Day landings, helping to establish and maintain navigational aids for the Allied invasion forces in Europe. • Post-War Service: After the war, Sweetgum was stationed in multiple U.S. locations, including Miami, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama, serving as a workhorse for maintaining aids to navigation and conducting search and rescue missions. • Apollo Recovery Mission: In 1962, Sweetgum played a role in the recovery of astronaut Scott Carpenter and his Mercury-Atlas 7 "Aurora 7" space capsule after splashdown in the Atlantic. • Hurricane Relief Efforts: The vessel was frequently involved in emergency relief and recovery operations, including response to hurricanes and other natural disasters along the Gulf Coast. • Longest-serving 180-foot Tender: Sweetgum was among the longest-serving 180-foot buoy tenders, with an operational career that spanned nearly 60 years. • Cuban Refugee Assistance: During the 1980 Mariel boatlift, Sweetgum assisted in the rescue and transport of Cuban refugees fleeing to the United States by sea. • Service in the Caribbean: The ship often operated in the Caribbean, servicing navigational aids throughout the region and supporting law enforcement and drug interdiction missions. • Decommissioning and International Service: Sweetgum was decommissioned from the Coast Guard in 2002 and later transferred to the Honduran Navy, where she continued to serve under the name Gracias a Dios.