ABOUT USCG
- The U.S. Coast Guard was established in 1790, making it the oldest continuous seagoing service in the United States.
- During Prohibition in the 1920s, the Coast Guard played a key role in enforcing laws against the smuggling of alcohol into the country.
- The Coast Guard was heavily involved in search and rescue operations during World War II, saving thousands of lives in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters.
- In 1967, the Coast Guard merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the Bureau of Navigation to create the modern agency we know today.
- The Coast Guard played a significant role in the response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, helping to evacuate people from Manhattan and securing ports and waterways against further threats.
- In 2010, the Coast Guard responded to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, working alongside other agencies to contain and clean up the environmental disaster.
- The Coast Guard maintains a fleet of more than 200 cutters, ranging from small patrol boats to large icebreakers capable of operating in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
- Coast Guard members have received numerous awards for their bravery and heroism, including the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, and the Coast Guard Medal.
- One of the Coast Guard's most famous missions was the rescue of the crew of the SS Pendleton off the coast of Massachusetts in 1952, which was later depicted in the film "The Finest Hours."
- The Coast Guard is a multi-mission agency, responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental protection, and national security missions both in the U.S. and abroad.
