U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC Burton Island (WAGB-283) was a Wind-class icebreaker commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1946. Originally built for the U.S. Navy during World War II, she was soon transferred to the Coast Guard and became a vital asset in Arctic and Antarctic operations. Burton Island participated in numerous scientific and supply missions, including Operation Highjump and Operation Deep Freeze, supporting polar exploration and research. After decades of service in challenging polar conditions, the cutter was decommissioned in 1978, leaving a legacy as a pioneering icebreaker in U.S. maritime history.

Support Center Governors Island, NY, traces its military roots to the early days of the United States, as Governors Island served as a strategic defense post in New York Harbor since the Revolutionary War. The island hosted various Army units and commands over the centuries, including Fort Jay and Castle Williams, which played key roles in coastal defense. In the late 20th century, the Support Center was established to consolidate and provide logistical and administrative support for military personnel and operations in the New York City area. The facility continued in this role until 1996, when the Army closed its operations on Governors Island as part of a broader realignment and returned the property to civilian control.

USCGC CHASE (WHEC-718) was a high endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1968. Named after Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, she served for over four decades in missions including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and drug interdiction. Throughout her service, CHASE participated in significant operations such as refugee rescues during the Mariel boatlift and counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. In 2011, she was decommissioned and later transferred to the Nigerian Navy, where she continues to serve as NNS Thunder (F90).

USCGC DILIGENCE (WMEC-616) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1964. As the sixth cutter to bear the name "Diligence," she has served in a variety of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and migrant operations primarily in the Caribbean and Atlantic regions. Over her decades of service, DILIGENCE has played a critical role in interdicting illegal narcotics and rescuing those in distress at sea. Homeported in Wilmington, North Carolina, she remains an essential asset to the Coast Guard’s mission of maritime safety and security.

Air Station San Francisco, established in 1941, is a United States Coast Guard unit strategically located at San Francisco International Airport. Originally commissioned to provide search and rescue coverage along the Pacific coast during World War II, the air station has continually evolved in its mission and equipment. Over the decades, its crews have operated various aircraft, including amphibious planes and helicopters, conducting search and rescue, law enforcement, environmental protection, and disaster response operations. Today, Air Station San Francisco remains a critical hub for Coast Guard aviation on the West Coast, maintaining readiness to respond to maritime emergencies throughout Northern California and beyond.

**District 2** has a distinguished military history rooted in its early establishment as a key defensive sector. Originally organized to safeguard critical infrastructure and supply lines, the unit quickly gained a reputation for discipline and engineering prowess, often being tasked with the construction and fortification of strategic positions. Throughout numerous conflicts, District 2 forces have played vital roles in both frontline combat and logistical support, demonstrating reliability under pressure. Their legacy is marked by a blend of tactical innovation and steadfast service, making District 2 an indispensable component of broader military operations.

USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) was a United States Coast Guard Cutter commissioned in 1936 and served with distinction for over five decades. During World War II, Ingham was a vital convoy escort in the Atlantic, credited with sinking a German U-boat and rescuing hundreds of survivors from torpedoed ships. The cutter also saw service during the Vietnam War, participating in Operation Market Time to interdict enemy supply lines along the coast. Decommissioned in 1988, USCGC Ingham is now preserved as a museum ship in Key West, Florida, honoring her long and storied service.

USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) was a United States Coast Guard icebreaker commissioned in 1944 to facilitate year-round navigation on the Great Lakes during World War II. Built in Toledo, Ohio, she was specifically designed to break thick freshwater ice and ensure the movement of vital war materials. MACKINAW served for over 60 years, playing a critical role in extending the shipping season and providing search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental response capabilities. Decommissioned in 2006, she was replaced by a modern cutter of the same name and now serves as a museum ship in Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Coast Guard Base Gloucester City, NJ, was established during World War II to support maritime operations along the Delaware River and the nearby Atlantic coast. Throughout its history, the base served as a vital logistics and operations hub for search and rescue missions, maritime law enforcement, and aids to navigation. During the mid-20th century, Coast Guard personnel from the base played key roles in responding to shipping accidents and enforcing port security in the Philadelphia-Camden area. The base remained active until its closure in the late 1980s, after which its missions and assets were reassigned to other Coast Guard units in the region.

Coast Guard Station New Orleans, established in 1895, is strategically located along the lower Mississippi River in Louisiana. The unit has played a crucial role in maritime safety, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations in one of the busiest port regions in the United States. Throughout its history, the station has responded to major natural disasters, including hurricanes Katrina and Ida, providing lifesaving assistance and coordinating evacuation efforts. Today, Coast Guard Station New Orleans continues its mission, ensuring the security of the port, protecting the environment, and supporting national defense operations along the Gulf Coast.

USCG Base Boston, located in Boston, Massachusetts, has served as a vital hub for United States Coast Guard operations since its establishment. Originally founded in 1791 as one of the nation's earliest maritime facilities, the base has played key roles in coastal defense, maritime law enforcement, and search and rescue missions throughout its history. During World War II, it supported anti-submarine operations and convoy escorts in the North Atlantic. Today, USCG Base Boston continues to provide logistical, administrative, and operational support to Coast Guard cutters, boats, and personnel throughout the New England region, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to maritime safety and security.

The USCG Yard Curtis Bay, established in 1899 near Baltimore, Maryland, is the United States Coast Guard’s sole shipbuilding and major repair facility. Throughout its history, the Yard has played a critical role in building, overhauling, and maintaining Coast Guard cutters, buoy tenders, and other vessels. During World War II, it dramatically expanded its operations, constructing hundreds of small craft and performing vital repairs for the war effort. Today, the Yard remains an essential logistics and engineering center, supporting Coast Guard missions worldwide with advanced ship maintenance and upgrades.

USCGC CONFIDENCE (WMEC-619) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1966. Built at the United States Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, CONFIDENCE has served in a variety of missions including law enforcement, search and rescue, and drug interdiction operations. Over its decades of service, the cutter has operated extensively in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico, contributing to major drug seizures and migrant interdiction efforts. CONFIDENCE has received multiple awards for its operational excellence and remains an integral part of the Coast Guard’s fleet, homeported in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

USCGC MUNRO

12 members

USCGC MUNRO (WMSL-755) is a Legend-class National Security Cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 2017 and named in honor of Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient. Based out of Alameda, California, the Munro has participated in a wide range of missions, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and national defense operations. The cutter is renowned for its successful drug interdiction deployments, notably seizing over 39,000 pounds of cocaine in a single patrol in 2019. USCGC Munro continues to serve as a vital asset in safeguarding U.S. maritime interests in the Pacific and beyond.

USCGC SHERMAN (WHEC-720) was a high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1968. The Sherman served with distinction in the Vietnam War, conducting naval gunfire support and interdiction missions. Over her decades of service, she participated in numerous drug interdiction operations, migrant rescues, and fisheries enforcement patrols. The cutter was decommissioned in 2018 and later transferred to the Sri Lanka Navy, where she was recommissioned as SLNS Gajabahu.

USCGC SPENCER (WPG-36) was a Treasury-class Coast Guard cutter commissioned in 1937. During World War II, she served with distinction in the Atlantic, escorting convoys and sinking two German U-boats (U-633 and U-175). After the war, SPENCER performed weather patrols, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions. She later served in the Vietnam War before being decommissioned in 1974, earning a reputation as one of the most decorated and versatile cutters in Coast Guard history.

USCGC TAMAROA (WMEC-166) was originally built as the U.S. Navy salvage tug USS Zuni (ATF-95) in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After being transferred to the United States Coast Guard in 1946, she was renamed TAMAROA and performed a wide variety of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, and oceanographic operations. TAMAROA gained national fame in 1991 for her role in the daring rescues during the "Perfect Storm," saving both Air National Guard and civilian crews in treacherous conditions. She remained in service until her decommissioning in 1994, after which she was eventually sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Delaware in 2017.

USCGC Bear (WMEC 901) is a United States Coast Guard Famous-class medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1983. Homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia, Bear has participated in a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, counter-narcotics, and homeland security operations. The cutter played a key role in several high-profile drug interdictions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, seizing thousands of pounds of illegal narcotics. Additionally, Bear has supported humanitarian missions, such as disaster relief efforts following hurricanes and joint exercises with allied naval forces.

USCGC Conifer (WLB-301) was a 180-foot Cactus-class seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Built during World War II, Conifer performed vital navigational aid maintenance, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions along the U.S. West Coast and in Alaska. Throughout her service, she supported operations ranging from wartime convoy escort duties to environmental protection and drug interdiction. After more than five decades of distinguished service, USCGC Conifer was decommissioned in 1996, marking the end of a long and versatile career.

USCGC POLAR SEA (WAGB-11) is a United States Coast Guard heavy icebreaker commissioned in 1977. Built in Seattle, Washington, POLAR SEA was designed to break through thick polar ice, supporting scientific research and resupply missions in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The cutter has played a vital role in Operation Deep Freeze, enabling access to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Over its service life, POLAR SEA has demonstrated American presence in polar waters and contributed to international cooperation in polar science and logistics.

USCGC UNIMAK (WHEC-379) was a Casco-class high endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare during World War II, UNIMAK served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, performing convoy escort and search and rescue missions. After the war, she continued active service, undertaking law enforcement, oceanographic, and search and rescue operations, notably in Alaskan and Caribbean waters. UNIMAK remained in service for over four decades before being decommissioned in 1988, earning numerous awards for her distinguished service.

USCGC Yocona (WMEC-168) was a United States Coast Guard cutter commissioned in 1946, originally built as a seagoing tug (WAT-168) during World War II. Over her lengthy service, Yocona operated primarily in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, performing search and rescue, law enforcement, and fisheries patrol missions. She played vital roles in numerous rescues, including the notable 1965 rescue of survivors from the wrecked *MV Shackleton* near Kodiak Island. Decommissioned in 1996 after 50 years of service, Yocona was eventually sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Oregon.

The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), forms the unit commonly referred to as USPHS-NIH. Established to advance the nation’s health research, USPHS officers have been assigned to the NIH since the early 20th century, supporting biomedical research and public health initiatives. The unit has played a critical role in major health crises, including infectious disease responses, vaccine development, and clinical trials. USPHS-NIH personnel continue to serve on the front lines of medical research and public health preparedness, both domestically and internationally.

**ISC Kodiak** is a United States Coast Guard unit located in Kodiak, Alaska, established in 1947 as a Naval Air Station before transferring to the Coast Guard in 1972. Serving as the largest Coast Guard base in the Pacific, ISC Kodiak supports air and sea operations across the vast and challenging Alaskan maritime region. The unit provides crucial logistical, engineering, and administrative support for Coast Guard cutters, aircraft, and personnel engaged in search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, and homeland security missions. Over the decades, ISC Kodiak has played a key role in high-profile rescue operations and disaster response efforts in the North Pacific and Bering Sea.