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Rollin Fritch—Silver Star hero of Attack Transport Callaway
—“Planes! They’re coming from the stern!” With seconds to react, Coast Guard Seaman First Class Rollin A. Fritch leaped into action and peppered the incoming kamikaze with a hail of 20mm gunfire. -
Coxswain for all invasions—Robert Ward and the Joseph T. Dickman at D-Day
—While Omaha saw the worst fighting on D-Day, Utah beach would prove a career highlight for Seaman First Class Robert Ward. -
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. -
Bobby Wilks—distinguished aviator, mentor, and minority trailblazer
—As America struggled with issues of racial inequality and segregation, African American Bobby C. Wilks was breaking barriers and blazing a trail for minorities. -
“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. -
Rogue cutter Madison—Remembering our first POWs 210 years ago
—Early in the War of 1812, the Madison had set sail on an unsanctioned cruise to capture British merchantmen. It would be the cutter’s last patrol. -
Sentinels of the past—the Coast Guard’s Civil War boat howitzers from the Revenue Cutter Service
—Learn how howitzer cannons have changed over time in size, shape, and utilization during their service. -
Devotion to Duty—Asian nationals serving in the Coast Guard
—Asian nationals began serving in the United States Coast Guard 175 years ago, playing an important role in the history of the Coast Guard’s ancestor agency of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service.