U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC BITTERSWEET (WAGL-389) was a Cactus-class 180-foot buoy tender built for the United States Coast Guard during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, BITTERSWEET was assigned to aids-to-navigation duties, servicing buoys and performing search and rescue missions along the U.S. East Coast and later the Great Lakes. Throughout her career, she also supported icebreaking operations and responded to maritime emergencies, contributing significantly to safe navigation and maritime safety. BITTERSWEET was decommissioned in 1969 after 25 years of distinguished service.

USCGC Cape Newagen (WPB-95321) was a 95-foot Cape-class patrol boat commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1959. Originally stationed in Maui, Hawaii, her primary missions included search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime patrol in the Pacific region. Throughout her service, Cape Newagen played a vital role in safeguarding the Hawaiian waters, responding to maritime emergencies and supporting anti-smuggling operations. The cutter was eventually decommissioned as newer vessels replaced the Cape-class in the Coast Guard fleet.

USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383, later WHEC-383) was a Casco-class high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1944. Initially serving as a patrol frigate during World War II, Castle Rock performed anti-submarine and escort duties in the Atlantic. During the Cold War, she was reclassified and assigned to ocean station duty, weather reporting, and search and rescue missions. In 1971, the cutter was transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy as RVNS Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-05), and later served in the Philippine Navy after the fall of South Vietnam.

USCGC Courier (WAGR-410) was a United States Coast Guard cutter commissioned in 1952 and uniquely outfitted as a mobile broadcasting ship during the Cold War. Assigned to the Voice of America, Courier transmitted radio programs and news into Eastern Europe from international waters, serving as a floating radio station to counteract Soviet jamming of Western broadcasts. The ship was stationed primarily off the coast of Greece and played a critical role in psychological operations and information warfare. USCGC Courier was decommissioned in 1972 after two decades of innovative service in both military and diplomatic communications.

USCGC Decisive (WMEC-629) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1968. Built as part of the Reliance-class, Decisive has served in a variety of roles, including search and rescue, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and migrant operations primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Over its decades of service, the cutter has participated in numerous high-profile missions, including significant drug seizures and humanitarian responses. USCGC Decisive has been homeported at several locations throughout its career, most notably in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is recognized for its versatility and steadfast service to the nation.

USCGC Dependable (WMEC-626) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1968. As part of the Reliance-class, she has played a vital role in search and rescue, law enforcement, drug interdiction, and migrant operations along the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts. Over her decades of service, Dependable has executed numerous high-profile missions, including major drug seizures and humanitarian operations. Continually modernized, she remains a key asset in safeguarding U.S. maritime interests and supporting joint operations with other agencies.

USCGC Dexter (WAVP-385) was a Casco-class cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1946. Initially built as part of the U.S. Navy’s Barnegat-class seaplane tenders during World War II, she was later transferred to the Coast Guard and converted for ocean station patrol duties. Throughout her service, Dexter played a crucial role in weather reporting, search and rescue missions, and law enforcement operations in the Atlantic Ocean. After decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned in 1968, marking the end of her operational career.

USCGC DURABLE (WMEC-628) was a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1968. Throughout her service, DURABLE played a crucial role in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and drug interdiction operations, particularly in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The cutter participated in significant counter-narcotics missions, often seizing substantial quantities of illegal drugs and detaining smugglers. After decades of service, DURABLE was decommissioned in 2001 and later transferred to the Colombian Navy, where she continues to serve under a new name.

USCGC **Evergreen (WLB-295)** was a Cactus-class seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Initially assigned to aids to navigation duties along the New England coast, Evergreen also performed convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols during World War II. In the postwar era, the cutter expanded its mission to include search and rescue, icebreaking, and environmental research, becoming a prominent platform for oceanographic studies in the 1960s and 1970s. After more than four decades of service, Evergreen was decommissioned in 1990, leaving a legacy of versatility and distinguished service.

USCGC Gasconade (WLR-75401) is a 75-foot river buoy tender of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1965. Named after the Gasconade River in Missouri, she was assigned to maintain aids to navigation along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Throughout her service, Gasconade played a critical role in ensuring safe passage for commercial and military vessels by keeping navigation channels clear and functional. The vessel has also participated in search and rescue operations and provided flood response support during emergencies in the inland waterways of the United States.

USCGC GENTIAN (WIX-290) was a Cactus-class 180-foot seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Built during World War II, GENTIAN was primarily tasked with maintaining aids to navigation, but also conducted search and rescue operations, law enforcement, and icebreaking duties. Over her decades of service, she was stationed at several homeports, most notably in the Great Lakes and along the Atlantic coast. GENTIAN was decommissioned in 1999 and later transferred to the Nigerian Navy, marking the end of her distinguished Coast Guard career.

USCGC Hollyhock (WLB-214) is a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 2003. Homeported in Port Huron, Michigan, Hollyhock is tasked with maintaining aids to navigation, icebreaking, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement duties in the Great Lakes region. The cutter is named after the original USCGC Hollyhock (WAGL-220), which served from 1937 to 1982. Throughout its service, Hollyhock has played a vital role in ensuring safe navigation and maritime security in some of the nation’s busiest freshwater shipping lanes.

USCGC Madrona (WLB-302) was a 180-foot Cactus-class seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Built during World War II, Madrona was primarily tasked with maintaining aids to navigation along the U.S. East Coast, but also conducted search and rescue, icebreaking, and law enforcement missions. Throughout her distinguished service, she played a vital role in supporting both military and civilian maritime operations, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic seaboard. Madrona was decommissioned in 2001 after nearly six decades of continuous service, marking the end of a significant chapter in Coast Guard history.

USCGC Planetree (WAGL/WLB-307) was a 180-foot seagoing buoy tender commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1943. Built during World War II, Planetree served in the Pacific, maintaining navigational aids and supporting Allied operations in locations such as Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa. After the war, the vessel continued her service in the Pacific and Alaskan waters, performing search and rescue, law enforcement, and icebreaking missions throughout the Cold War. Planetree remained in active service for over five decades before being decommissioned in 1999, making her one of the longest-serving ships of her class.

USCGC Seneca (WMEC-906) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1986. Named after the original USCGC Seneca, a distinguished cutter from the early 20th century, Seneca has played a critical role in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and national security missions. The cutter has been deployed for drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, frequently seizing large quantities of narcotics and apprehending smugglers. Additionally, Seneca has participated in humanitarian missions, disaster response, and joint military exercises, demonstrating its versatility and importance within the Coast Guard fleet.

USCGC STEADFAST (WMEC-623) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1968. Nicknamed “The Steady Betty,” she has served with distinction in law enforcement, search and rescue, and national defense missions, primarily along the Pacific coasts of North, Central, and South America. STEADFAST has played a vital role in drug interdiction efforts, seizing thousands of pounds of narcotics throughout her service. Over her decades of operation, the cutter has participated in numerous multinational exercises and humanitarian missions, upholding the Coast Guard’s commitment to maritime safety and security.

USCGC SUMAC (WLR 311) is a United States Coast Guard inland river buoy tender, originally commissioned in 1944. Built during World War II, SUMAC has served primarily in maintaining navigational aids along major inland waterways, ensuring safe passage for commercial and military vessels. Over its decades of service, the cutter has supported a range of Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, environmental protection, and law enforcement. The vessel exemplifies the crucial role of river tenders in sustaining America's maritime infrastructure and operational readiness.

USCGC Venturous (WMEC-625) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter of the Reliance class, commissioned in 1968. Throughout its service, Venturous has conducted a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, and homeland security patrols, primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean regions. The cutter has played a significant role in numerous high-profile drug interdictions and migrant rescue operations, contributing to national and maritime security. Over the decades, USCGC Venturous has earned multiple awards and commendations, reflecting its consistent dedication and service to the nation.

USCGC Wachusett (WHEC-44) was an Owasco-class high endurance cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1946. Originally designed for service during World War II, she served primarily during the Cold War, performing patrols, search and rescue, and law enforcement missions in the Pacific Ocean. Wachusett played a significant role in the Vietnam War as part of Operation Market Time, interdicting enemy supply routes along the coast of South Vietnam. The cutter was decommissioned in 1973 after nearly three decades of distinguished service.

USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380) was a Casco-class cutter commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1944. Originally built as USS Wachusett (AVP-63), she was transferred to the Coast Guard and renamed Yakutat, serving primarily in the Pacific theater during World War II, where she performed convoy escort and search and rescue missions. Post-war, Yakutat was heavily involved in weather patrols and law enforcement operations, and played a notable role during the Vietnam War as part of Operation Market Time, interdicting enemy supply routes along the coast. She was decommissioned in 1971 and subsequently transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy.

Air Detachment Annette was a United States Army Air Forces unit established during World War II to support operations in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Stationed at Annette Island Army Airfield, Alaska, the detachment was responsible for providing air transport, reconnaissance, and logistical support in the challenging conditions of the North Pacific. Its operations were crucial in maintaining supply lines and communications between bases in Alaska and western Canada, particularly during the Aleutian Campaign against Japanese forces. After the war, as the strategic necessity diminished, Air Detachment Annette was inactivated and its personnel reassigned to other units or demobilized.

ANT Tybee (Aids to Navigation Team Tybee) is a United States Coast Guard unit based on Tybee Island, Georgia. Established to maintain and service aids to navigation (ATON) along the Georgia and South Carolina coastline, the unit ensures the safe passage of commercial and recreational vessels in the region’s busy waterways. Throughout its history, ANT Tybee has played a vital role in supporting maritime safety and security, responding to emergencies, and assisting in search and rescue operations. The team operates specialized boats and equipment to service buoys, beacons, and other navigational aids, continuing the Coast Guard’s longstanding tradition of safeguarding America’s coasts.

C3I East is a military unit specializing in Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence operations along the eastern operational axis. Established in the early 2000s, the unit was formed to enhance situational awareness and streamline decision-making processes in rapidly evolving mission environments. Over the years, C3I East has played a critical role in supporting both joint and coalition operations, providing real-time intelligence, secure communications, and advanced command systems. The unit's integration of cutting-edge technology has significantly improved operational effectiveness during both training exercises and active deployments.

Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook, located at the northern tip of the New Jersey shore, boasts a rich maritime legacy dating back to its establishment in 1848 as a life-saving station under the United States Life-Saving Service. Over the years, it played a critical role in rescuing shipwrecked mariners and patrolling the busy approaches to New York Harbor. With the formation of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915, the station expanded its mission to include law enforcement, environmental protection, and homeland security. Today, CG Station Sandy Hook remains a vital asset, conducting search and rescue, maritime safety, and security operations along one of the nation's busiest waterways.