U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC Sweetgum (WLB-309) was a 180-foot Cactus-class buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Throughout World War II, she performed vital aids-to-navigation duties, search and rescue operations, and logistical support missions, particularly in the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters. After the war, Sweetgum continued her service along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, maintaining navigational buoys and supporting various Coast Guard missions, including icebreaking and disaster relief. Decommissioned in 1990, Sweetgum was later transferred to the Panamanian National Navy, continuing her legacy of maritime service.

USCGC Tahoma (WMEC-908) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1988. Named after Mount Tahoma (an indigenous name for Mount Rainier), the cutter has been homeported in Kittery, Maine. Tahoma has participated in a wide range of missions, including law enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, search and rescue, and homeland security patrols throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean. The vessel has played a significant role in interdicting illegal drug shipments and providing humanitarian assistance during maritime emergencies.

USCGC WALNUT (WLB-205) is a United States Coast Guard seagoing buoy tender of the Juniper class, commissioned in 1997. Originally homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, WALNUT was responsible for maintaining aids to navigation, conducting search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement operations throughout the Pacific region. In 2021, WALNUT was reassigned to Pensacola, Florida, following a major midlife overhaul. The cutter continues to play a vital role in supporting Coast Guard missions in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding waters.

USCGC White Holly (WLM-543) was a 133-foot coastal buoy tender built for the United States Coast Guard during World War II, commissioned in 1944. Initially stationed in San Francisco, White Holly was responsible for maintaining aids to navigation along the Pacific coast and later supported military operations in the Pacific theater. Over her decades of service, she participated in numerous search and rescue missions, logistical support operations, and environmental protection efforts before being decommissioned in 1998. After her Coast Guard service, White Holly found new life as a research and supply vessel supporting scientific expeditions.

USCGC White Pine (WAGL-547) was a buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1944 during World War II. Built to maintain aids to navigation, White Pine operated primarily along the East Coast and in the Caribbean, ensuring the safe passage of military and commercial vessels. Throughout her service, she also participated in search and rescue operations and supported other Coast Guard missions, including law enforcement and icebreaking. White Pine remained in active service until her decommissioning in 1999, marking over five decades of dedicated service to maritime safety and security.

USCGS Beach Haven was a United States Coast Guard Survey vessel that operated primarily along the U.S. East Coast in the early 20th century. Commissioned in the 1910s, Beach Haven was tasked with hydrographic surveying, charting coastal waters, and supporting safe navigation for both military and commercial vessels. During its service, the vessel contributed valuable data to maritime charts, enhancing the safety and efficiency of naval operations and shipping routes. Its work played a significant role in the modernization of coastal navigation systems before being decommissioned in the mid-20th century.

USCGS Matagorda (WPB-1303) was an Island-class patrol boat commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1986. Built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, Louisiana, she was designed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions. Throughout her service, Matagorda operated primarily in coastal waters, performing drug interdiction, migrant operations, and fisheries enforcement. After nearly two decades of service, she was decommissioned and eventually transferred to a foreign navy as part of a security assistance program.

ANT Corpus Christi, TX refers to the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, part of the United States Coast Guard. Established to maintain and service the critical network of buoys, beacons, and other navigation aids in the Gulf Coast region, the unit ensures safe passage for both commercial and military vessels operating in and around Corpus Christi Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway. Over the years, ANT Corpus Christi has played a vital role during hurricanes and maritime emergencies, rapidly restoring navigation infrastructure to support search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime commerce. The unit’s ongoing mission is essential to the safety and efficiency of maritime operations along the South Texas coast.

The ATON Group San Francisco, short for Aids to Navigation Group San Francisco, is a United States Coast Guard unit responsible for maintaining and servicing navigational aids throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding Pacific coastline. Established to ensure maritime safety in one of the nation’s busiest and most challenging waterways, the unit’s history stretches back to the early 20th century when reliable navigation became critical to the region’s commercial and military operations. Over the decades, ATON Group San Francisco has played a vital role during wartime mobilizations, peacetime commerce, and disaster response, continually upgrading its capabilities to include modern electronic and physical navigation systems. Today, the unit’s dedicated crews maintain buoys, beacons, and lights, supporting safe passage for thousands of vessels annually and upholding the Coast Guard’s mission of maritime safety and security.

**Bell Isle, Michigan** (often spelled "Belle Isle") does not have a standing military unit by that exact name, but the location has significant military history. Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, served as a training and encampment site for Michigan volunteer regiments during the American Civil War. Soldiers mustered and drilled on the island before deployment to battlefronts. Although no permanent military unit was garrisoned there, Belle Isle’s role as a muster and training ground contributed to Michigan’s military efforts, especially during the 1860s. Today, the island is best known as a public park, but its military heritage remains an important chapter in Detroit’s history.

Bravo Team was established in 1987 as a specialized infantry unit within the 2nd Battalion, with a primary mission of rapid deployment and direct action operations. Over the years, Bravo Team has participated in numerous key operations, including peacekeeping missions in the Balkans during the 1990s and counterinsurgency efforts in the Middle East after 2001. The team is renowned for its expertise in urban warfare and reconnaissance, often serving on the front lines of critical missions. Today, Bravo Team continues to uphold its legacy of excellence, adaptability, and bravery in both domestic and international operations.

USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, commissioned in 1986. Named after the Battle of Bunker Hill from the American Revolutionary War, the ship served as a multi-role surface combatant, providing air defense, surface warfare, and strike capabilities. Throughout her career, Bunker Hill participated in major operations including Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, offering critical Tomahawk missile strikes and air defense support. After decades of service, she was decommissioned in 2023 as part of the Navy’s modernization efforts.

Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Salem was established in 1935 in Salem, Massachusetts, to provide aerial search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime patrol along the New England coast. Due to increased operational demands and the need for improved facilities, the station was relocated in 1970 to the former Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, becoming Coast Guard Air Detachment (CGAD) Quonset Point. This move enhanced the Coast Guard’s ability to respond to maritime emergencies in the busy waters of Narragansett Bay and southern New England. CGAD Quonset Point continued to operate until the base's closure in 1995, after which its missions and assets were transferred to other units in the region.

The USCGC Bramble (WLB-392) was a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1944. She served during World War II, primarily maintaining navigational aids and conducting search and rescue missions along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean. In 1957, Bramble made history as part of Task Force One during Operation Deep Freeze, successfully completing a circumnavigation of North America via the Northwest Passage alongside USCGC Spar and USCGC Storis. Throughout her long career, Bramble participated in law enforcement, icebreaking, and environmental protection missions until her decommissioning in 2003.

CGC Chippewa was a United States Coast Guard Cutter commissioned in 1904. Originally built for the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, she served primarily on the Great Lakes, performing missions such as icebreaking, law enforcement, and search and rescue. During World War I, CGC Chippewa was transferred to the U.S. Navy, where she continued her patrol and escort duties. After returning to Coast Guard control post-war, she remained active until she was decommissioned in 1935.

USCGC Shearwater is a United States Coast Guard cutter that has served as part of the Coast Guard’s fleet of patrol boats. Commissioned in 1999, Shearwater is a Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat designed for missions such as search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security along the U.S. coastline. Homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, the cutter has participated in numerous operations, including fisheries enforcement and drug interdiction. Over its service, Shearwater has contributed to safeguarding American waters and supporting maritime safety and security.

USCGC Cuyahoga (WIX-157) was a United States Coast Guard training cutter with a notable service history. Originally commissioned in 1927, Cuyahoga served for decades, performing law enforcement, search and rescue, and training missions along the U.S. East Coast. In her later years, she was assigned as a training vessel for officer candidates at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia. Tragically, on October 20, 1978, Cuyahoga sank in the Chesapeake Bay after a collision with the freighter Santa Cruz II, resulting in the loss of eleven crew members. The incident led to significant changes in Coast Guard training and safety protocols.

Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet, located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, traces its origins to the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which established a station in the area in 1883. The station became part of the U.S. Coast Guard after the 1915 merger of the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service. Throughout its history, Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet has played a vital role in search and rescue operations, maritime law enforcement, and hurricane response along the treacherous waters near Cape Hatteras, known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." Today, it continues to safeguard mariners and support the local community, maintaining a proud tradition of service.

Coast Guard Station Jonesport, located in Jonesport, Maine, has played a vital role in maritime safety and security along the Downeast Maine coastline. Established in 1960, the station was built to replace several historic life-saving stations in the region, consolidating their missions of search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection. Over the decades, Coast Guard Station Jonesport has responded to numerous emergencies, including vessel groundings, medical evacuations, and severe weather incidents in the challenging waters of the Gulf of Maine. The station remains a critical asset for the U.S. Coast Guard, supporting both local fishing communities and the broader maritime interests of the United States.

**ESU Kodiak** is a specialized military unit established in the early 2000s to provide rapid response and advanced support for expeditionary operations in harsh environments. Originally formed as part of an elite engineering and security division, the unit gained distinction for its role in Arctic training exercises and humanitarian missions in northern latitudes. ESU Kodiak is renowned for its expertise in cold-weather survival, tactical engineering, and logistical support under extreme conditions. Over the years, the unit has been deployed in joint operations with allied forces, earning commendations for adaptability and mission success in challenging operational theaters.

**Far East Activities** refers to a U.S. military administrative unit active during the post-World War II era, particularly in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Established under the United States Far East Command, its primary mission was to coordinate logistics, administrative support, and base operations for American forces stationed throughout Japan, Korea, and other parts of East Asia. The unit played a crucial role during the early stages of the Korean War, ensuring the rapid deployment and sustainment of combat units. Over time, as the U.S. military presence in the region evolved, Far East Activities was reorganized or absorbed into other commands, reflecting changing strategic priorities in the Pacific theater.

Fort Pierce, originally established in 1838 during the Second Seminole War, served as a strategic military outpost for the United States Army on Florida’s east coast. Named after Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, the fort provided a base for operations against Seminole forces and protected nearby settlers. After the war ended in 1842, the fort was abandoned, but the site continued to play a role in regional development. Today, Fort Pierce is remembered for its pivotal role in early Florida military history and is the namesake for the modern city that grew around its former location.

The International Ice Patrol (IIP) was established in 1914 by an international agreement following the sinking of RMS Titanic to monitor iceberg dangers in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. While the IIP itself is operated primarily by the United States Coast Guard, Argentina has historically participated in international maritime safety efforts, including North Atlantic operations. Argentine naval vessels and personnel have occasionally cooperated with the IIP and other allied partners during joint patrols or exercises, particularly around Newfoundland, a critical region for iceberg monitoring. These joint efforts have enhanced maritime safety and strengthened international collaboration in the monitoring and reporting of ice hazards to protect transatlantic shipping.

Loran Station Tan My was a United States Coast Guard-operated Long Range Navigation (LORAN) station established near the coastal village of Tan My, just north of Huế, Vietnam. Commissioned in 1969 during the Vietnam War, the station played a crucial role in providing accurate navigation signals for U.S. Navy, Air Force, and allied operations in the region, supporting both combat and logistical missions. Staffed by Coast Guard personnel, the remote installation faced frequent threats from Viet Cong forces and required constant vigilance and security measures. Loran Station Tan My operated until the U.S. withdrawal, ceasing operations and being decommissioned in 1972 as American involvement in Vietnam wound down.