USS Barataria (WHEC-381)

• World War II Service: USS Barataria (AVP-33) was originally a United States Navy seaplane tender commissioned in 1944 and saw action in the Pacific Theater during World War II. • Battle Star Recipient: Barataria earned three battle stars for her impressive service during World War II operations. • Namesake Origin: The vessel was named after Barataria Bay, Louisiana, following the U.S. Navy tradition of naming seaplane tenders after bays and sounds. • Rescue Operations: During WWII, Barataria conducted several air-sea rescue missions, saving downed pilots and crewmen in dangerous waters. • Postwar Transfer: After WWII, the ship was decommissioned from the Navy in 1946 and transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1949, where she was re-designated WHEC-381. • Korean War Service: As USCGC Barataria (WHEC-381), she was one of several Coast Guard cutters sent to support United Nations operations during the Korean War, conducting patrols and rescue missions. • Weather Patrol Duties: She spent years as an ocean station vessel in the Atlantic, providing weather data, serving as a navigation aid, and conducting search and rescue operations. • Cuban Refugee Operations: Barataria also participated in the Cuban refugee operations in the early 1960s, aiding in the rescue and transport of fleeing Cuban citizens. • Decommissioning: The ship was finally decommissioned from the Coast Guard in 1969 after over two decades of multi-mission service. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, Barataria was sold for scrap, but her legacy lives on through the stories of those who served aboard her and her role in both wartime and peacetime operations.