World War II

The Coast Guard has a rich history of underwater operations. Since the early 1940s, the service has nurtured a diving capability that has become vital to modern Coast Guard missions.

In the still darkness of a foggy June night in 1942, what began as a routine beach patrol turned into a daring encounter with Nazi saboteurs—the first enemy operatives to land on U.S. soil since the War of 1812.

Walsh’ s career spanned some of the most eventful years in Coast Guard history, including Prohibition, World War II and the post-war modernization of the service.

At the tail end of D-Day at Gold Beach, after being sent back out to sea, their landing craft’s engine failed, and they found themselves drifting helplessly into a minefield. The Royal Signalmen shouted for help, but nearby watercraft were too busy to pay attention. Then when all seemed lost a United States Coast Guard vessel appeared out of nowhere.

After being transferred from the Coast Guard to the Navy in World War II, Poulin saw action in the Atlantic and Pacific while participating in many invasions while assigned the USS Leonard Wood.

Mine sweeper, demolitions expert, and hero of Corregidor, Crotty served as a member of the Coast Guard, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

Not every American amphibious assault in the Pacific was a bloodbath. Some were executed with considerable strategic acumen and tactical guile. Eniwetok would be Hoyle’s finest and toughest hour as a Beachmaster.

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.

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.

While many are familiar with the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944, few know about the landings that took place several months prior in Italy.