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America’s first ice ships and icebreakers
—From fragile wooden hulls of the Age of Sail to the steel giants of the early 20th century, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service—and later the Coast Guard—evolved to meet the icy challenges of America's northern waterways. As steam power and steel hulls unlocked frozen frontiers, cutters shifted from surviving the winter to breaking its grip. Discover how daring missions, innovative ship design, and a presidential mandate forged the legacy of America’s first icebreakers.
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HITRON—25 Years of Hitting New Highs
—In the early “proof of concept” phase, HITRON MH-90 “Enforcer” helicopters stopped all five go-fasts they intercepted, arresting 17 drug traffickers and interdicting over 1.5 tons of cocaine and 5.5 tons of marijuana with an estimated street value of over $131 million. Success continued from there.
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Jimmy Crotty—Joint forces hero of the Pacific War
—Mine sweeper, demolitions expert, and hero of Corregidor, Crotty served as a member of the Coast Guard, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
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LEDETs—Over 40 years of law enforcement boarding missions
—Vessel boarding has been a time-honored skill set of the Coast Guard since its founding in 1790.
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80th Anniversary of the Leyte liberation—Merry Christmas from General MacArthur and the Coast Guard
—On Dec. 25, 1944, after a six-week campaign to liberate the Philippine Island of Leyte, Allied forces under General Douglas Macarthur were mopping up the last vestiges of Japanese resistance.
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Lighthouses and the history of “The Flying Santa”
—Beginning in the Great Depression, aviator William “Bill” Wincapaw began the tradition of “The Flying Santa” to show his appreciation for the dedication and self-sacrifice of Maine’s lighthouse keepers and their families for standing the watch in isolated and often inhospitable locations.
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Mirlo Rescue — the Coast Guard’s baptism of fire!
—Despite any fears Chicamacomico station keeper John Allen Midgett had about entering the flames surrounding the tanker, he mustered his crew and initiated rescue operations within minutes of the explosion.
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The attack on Pearl Harbor—“a date that will live in infamy”
—The U.S. Coast Guard was supporting the war effort even before Pearl Harbor, and had proven itself Semper Paratus or “Always Ready” to perform any naval or maritime mission required to defeat the enemy in World War II.
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Native Americans in the Coast Guard—Semper Paratus since 1815
—Native Americans have been members of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services for well over 200 years.
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CGC Storis — Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast
—Over its service of nearly 65 years, Storis set the record for length of service for a White Hull cutter, steaming 1.5 million miles and recording many firsts and setting many records, including some that have endured to this day.