-
D-Day hero Jack DeNunzio and LCI-94 at Normandy
—Eighty years ago, on June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in what was the largest amphibious invasion of World War II. Among those 15 Coast Guardsmen killed in action at Normandy was 21-year-old John “Jack” Albert DeNunzio.
-
“Into the Jaws of Death”—Coast Guard landing craft at D-Day
—One of the most reproduced photographs to come out of June 6, 1944—D-Day was captured by Coast Guard Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent and entitled “Into the jaws of death.” Sargent.
-
Jack Hamlin—Boatswain, rescue swimmer, and savior of D-Day
—“We had no idea what was going to happen. We could hear all the guns going off and could see the landing barges going in. We could see so many of them being hit or hitting mines that were laid underneath the water ...”
-
“Love your Freedom, because that’s what we fought for”—D-Day Gunner’s Mate Frank DeVita
—“DeVita, drop the ramp!” For a few seconds I froze, because I knew when I dropped that ramp, the machine gun bullets will come into the boat. And then for the third time he yelled, punctuated with colorful profanity and I dropped the ramp. The bullets that were hitting the ramp came into the boat.
-
Defending a “Large, Slow Target”—Joe Gerczak’s service and sacrifice from Philly to New Guinea
—Facing kamikaze attacks, Joseph Gerczak provides an example of unrelenting courage.
-
Edith Munro—leader, mentor, SPAR and Medal of Honor hero mother
—Edith Munro will always be remembered for raising one of the Coast Guard and Marine Corps’ greatest heroes…but few people know that Munro was also Lt. Munro, of the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Corps—also known as SPARs.
-
Dorothy Stratton—Wartime Coast Guard trailblazer and SPAR Leader
Coast Guard Capt. Dorothy M. Stratton held a life-long commitment to public service and was an inspirational leader during a very difficult time in the nation’s history.
-
Coast Guard pioneers the marine radio over 100 years ago!
—On Aug. 23, 1899, the terse message: “Sherman is sighted,” announced the return of the troopship after the Spanish-American War. Transmitted from Lightship 70, this message was the first wireless ship-to-shore telegraph message in U.S. history.
-
Merry Christmas from the Galley! — the Coast Guard’s collection of vintage Christmas Menus
—Over the years, various Coast Guard cutters have celebrated Christmas either in port or at sea. Being away from home and family no doubt left a void as evidenced by letters written home. Commanding officers allowed the observance of Christmas with a dinner with all the trimmings. Some men would go ashore and celebrate Christmas while on liberty; others chose to remain on board. Oftentimes, cutter logbooks would say “omitted general quarters on account of holiday” as the only mention of any Christmas celebrations. It was just another day on board.