Juan Ortiz

USCG Base San Juan, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has served as a crucial operational hub for the United States Coast Guard in the Caribbean since its establishment. Its origins trace back to the early 20th century, with the base evolving to support a variety of missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and disaster response. Over the decades, Base San Juan has played a key role in counter-narcotics operations and humanitarian aid during hurricanes and other crises in the region. Today, it remains a strategic center for Coast Guard operations, supporting cutters, aviation units, and personnel throughout the Caribbean basin.

USCGC Metompkin (WPB 1325) was an Island-class patrol boat commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1988. Named after Metompkin Island, Virginia, she was primarily assigned to maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and homeland security missions along the U.S. East Coast. Throughout her service, Metompkin played a key role in drug interdiction operations and migrant interdiction efforts, reflecting the Coast Guard’s expanding post-Cold War missions. After more than two decades of active duty, Metompkin was decommissioned in 2011 as part of the Coast Guard’s modernization and fleet renewal program.