USCGC Valiant

• Commissioning: USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) was commissioned on October 3, 1967, and is a Reliance-class medium endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard. • Namesake: She is the second Coast Guard vessel to bear the name "Valiant," which means "possessing or showing courage or determination." • Vietnam War Service: In 1969, Valiant was deployed to South Vietnam as part of Coast Guard Squadron Three, providing naval gunfire support and interdiction of supplies along the coast. • Mariel Boatlift: During the 1980 Mariel boatlift, Valiant was instrumental in rescuing and processing Cuban refugees attempting to reach the United States. • Drug Interdiction: Valiant has been involved in numerous major drug seizures, including the capture of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel in 2019 carrying over 12,000 pounds of cocaine. • Hurricane Response: The cutter has participated in multiple hurricane response missions, including rescue and relief operations after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. • Modernization: Valiant underwent a major modernization at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, in the early 1990s, extending her service life and updating her systems. • Search and Rescue Missions: Throughout her career, Valiant has conducted hundreds of search and rescue missions, saving countless lives at sea. • Homeports: The cutter has been homeported in several locations, including New London, Connecticut; Portsmouth, Virginia; Galveston, Texas; and currently, Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. • Enduring Service: Despite being over 50 years old, USCGC Valiant remains a vital part of the Coast Guard fleet, exemplifying the service’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty.