SEMPER PARATUS - Happy Birthday Coast Guard - 1790 - present - 233 years
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
R 031215Z AUG 23
ALMAR 022/23
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 233RD BIRTHDAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. On behalf of the United States Marine Corps, I salute the United States Coast Guard, our Nation's first maritime military force, on the 233rd anniversary of its establishment.
2. Since its founding on 4 August 1790, the Coast Guard has steadfastly ensured the Nation's safety and security, standing vigilant over American shores and guarding U.S. interests overseas.
3. During the Second World War the Marine Corps and Coast Guard worked closely together, as Coast Guardsmen crewed many of the landing craft carrying Marines ashore. Most famously, on 27 September 1942, during the Second Battle of the Matanikau of the Guadalcanal campaign, Signalman First Class Douglas Munro used his Higgins boat to shield Marines from enemy fire as he led their extraction from the beach. He was slain in the action and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His bravery and composure under fire saved many Marine lives, and his actions stand today as exemplars of the self-sacrifice and devotion to duty that characterizes the United States Coast Guard. Happy 233rd Birthday and Semper Paratus.
4. Semper Fidelis, Eric M. Smith, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.//
The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government. Established in 1790, the Coast Guard served as the nation’s only armed force on the sea until Congress launched the Navy Department eight years later. Since then, the Coast Guard has protected the United States throughout its long history and served proudly in every one of the nation’s conflicts.
The Coast Guard through History
4 August 1790 – President George Washington signs the Tariff Act that authorizes the construction of ten vessels, referred to as “cutters,” to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. The Revenue Cutter Service expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.
1915 – The Revenue Cutter Service merges with the U.S. Life-Saving Service, and is officially renamed the Coast Guard, making it the only maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation’s maritime laws.
1939 – President Franklin Roosevelt orders the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard, putting it in charge of maritime navigation.
1946 – Congress permanently transfers the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, putting merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety in its control.
1967 – The Coast Guard is transferred to Department of Transportation.
2003 – The Coast Guard is again transferred, this time to the Department of Homeland Security, where it currently serves.
The Coast Guard Today
The Coast Guard is both a federal law enforcement agency and a military force, and therefore is a faithful protector of the United States in peacetime and war. In times of peace, the Coast Guard operates as part of the Department of Homeland Security, enforcing the nation’s laws at sea, protecting the marine environment, guarding the nation’s vast coastline and ports, and performing vital life saving missions. In times of war, or at the direction of the President, the Coast Guard serves under the Department of the Navy, defending the nation against terrorism and foreign threats.
Statistics
The Coast Guard is the principal Federal agency responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports and waterways. In this capacity, the Coast Guard protects and defends more than 100,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways, and safeguards an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompassing 4.5 million square miles stretching from North of the Arctic Circle to South of the equator, from Puerto Rico to Guam, encompassing nine time zones – the largest EEZ in the world. As one of the five Armed Services of the United States, the Coast Guard is the only military branch within the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to its role as an Armed Service, the Coast Guard is a first responder and humanitarian service that provides aid to people in distress or impacted by natural and man-made disasters whether at sea or ashore. The Coast Guard is a member of the Intelligence Community, and is a law enforcement and regulatory agency with broad legal authorities associated with maritime transportation, hazardous materials shipping, bridge administration, oil spill response, pilotage, and vessel construction and operation.
The over 56,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of 243 Cutters, 201 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, and over 1,600 boats. Operational control of surface and air assets is vested in two Coast Guard geographical Areas (Pacific and Atlantic), nine Coast Guard Districts, and 37 Sectors located at strategic ports throughout the country. Six Mission Support Logistics and Service Centers provide services for operational assets and shore facilities. Coast Guard program oversight, policy development, and personnel administration are carried out at Coast Guard Headquarters located on the St. Elizabeths campus in Washington, DC.
On an average day, the Coast Guard:
- conducts 45 search and rescue cases;
- saves 10 lives;
- saves over $1.2M in property;
- seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana;
- conducts 57 waterborne patrols of critical maritime infrastructure;
- interdicts 17 illegal migrants;
- escorts 5 high-capacity passenger vessels;
- conducts 24 security boardings in and around U.S. ports;
- screens 360 merchant vessels for potential security threats prior to arrival in U.S. ports;
- conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings;
- services 82 buoys and fixed aids to navigation;
- investigates 35 pollution incidents;
- completes 26 safety examinations on foreign vessels;
- conducts 105 marine inspections;
- investigates 14 marine casualties involving commercial vessels;
- facilitates movement of $8.7B worth of goods and commodities through the Nation’s Maritime Transportation System.
Yes,, I proudly served 3/79 - 6/92
Semper Paratus.
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Some of the best years I've had - chasing druggies, rescuing sailors, monitoring the environment, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Captain of CG Rifle/Pistol Team '91/'92, living in lighthouses and sailing the "shallow" deep blue for days on end.
Couldn't ask for a more well rounded experience.
As one of the country's six armed services, the U.S. Coast Guard has deployed to support and fight every major U.S. war since 1790, from the Quasi-War with France to the Global War on Terrorism.
As of December 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's authorized force strength is 44,500 active duty personnel and 7,000 reservists.
Smaller than all major city police forces with a much larger and enjoyable job.
Congratulate the Coasties you know - they don't get much recognition for being the "World's Water Police Force."
Happy birthday to all my Coastie brothers & sisters!
Looks like you had a great career! I served on both coasts and the Great Lakes. The fleet's only white 180. Also chased druggies, rescued sailors, fishery interdiction, human traffic & immigration interdiction AND aides to navigation upkeep. I implemented pilot programs for computers, inventory software and credit card purchasing and worked an independent duty slot 2 pay grades above what I had. I did not get to live in a lighthouse though. I wanted to.
Happy Birthday EG!
Got to pull TDY on six of the houses before I "recommended" that they be decommissioned.
One of the hardest things in the world to do - 'specially with all their history and warmth.
The stairs were a little bit of an issue though
Got to do the ATON stuff driving buoy tenders on the East Coast - USCGC Red Cedar and USCGC Red Oak.
Happy Birthday to my SIL who served in the Coasties, and my 94 year old Uncle Dave who served till he was 90.
The National Coast Guard Museum is under construction in New London CT.
Until it opens there are a number of informative Coast Guard museums, museum boats and museum lighthouses around the country. If you are visiting our East Coast, Key West, West Coast or Mackinaw MI, Goggle Coast Guard Museums and you might find that you are close to one.
Many thanks and thumbs up to all who have served and continue the tradition today.
I've been impressed by the search and rescue missions in the worst of conditions as seen in several episodes of "Deadliest Catch" and elsewhere
my uncle was a army recruiter after his 3rd tour in vietnam. he pulled me out of class in high school to take the army induction tests. when the test was done 2 coasties escorted me back to the office where my uncle was waiting. along the way the coasties tried to re-recruit me into the CG. their big selling points were better food, less bullshit, and not having to march or run everywhere.
Happy Birthday Coast Guard.
We do love our Coasties here in northern Michigan.
We are a Coast Guard city …..
Happy Birthday to the Puddle Pirates (and that is said with the greatest respect).
I saw the Puddle Pirates rescue a sinking boat at the mouth of the Columbia River some of the most dangerous water in the world. The wind and waves during that rescue were huge the Coasties have brass balls and they don't sink.
A great movie about the US Coast Guard is The Guardian , starring Kevin Costner. LINK ->
They truly put their own lives at stake to rescue others.
Another lesser known, but I think better Coastie movie, is The Finest Hours with Chris Pine.
It’s about the rescue of the SS Pendleton crew.
A very good movie.