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History of USCGC Ingham

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.

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ABOUT USCGC Ingham

  • Historic Service: USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) served from 1936 to 1988, making her one of the longest-serving cutters in U.S. Coast Guard history.
  • Only Surviving Treasury-Class Cutter: Ingham is the only preserved Treasury-class cutter, a group of seven ships built in the 1930s for endurance and versatility.
  • World War II Heroics: Ingham participated in Atlantic convoy escort duty during WWII and was credited with assisting in the sinking of U-626, a German submarine, in December 1942.
  • Presidential Escort: The Ingham served as a Presidential escort vessel, providing security for President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his travels by sea.
  • Vietnam War Service: Ingham served in "Operation Market Time," conducting patrols and interdictions off the coast of Vietnam in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
  • Rescue Operations: The cutter conducted numerous rescue missions, saving countless lives, including those from torpedoed merchant ships during WWII and mariners in distress during peacetime.
  • Presidential Unit Citation: Ingham is the only Coast Guard cutter to ever receive the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.
  • Famous for Drug Busts: In later years, Ingham became renowned for her role in interdicting illegal drug shipments in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
  • Floating Museum: After decommissioning, Ingham was designated a National Historic Landmark and now serves as a museum ship in Key West, Florida.
  • Memorial to Coast Guardsmen: Ingham is dedicated as a memorial to all Coast Guard personnel who have served, especially those lost in WWII, with plaques and exhibits aboard the ship honoring their sacrifices.

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