My Coast Guard News

Cabo Rojo Lighthouse seen from the front in 1895. (Library of Congress)

Sept. 20, 2024

Domingo Suarez y Rosa — Towerman of Puerto Rico

In 1898, the Spanish American War saw Puerto Rico’s sovereignty transferred from Spain to the U.S. and towermen serving in Spanish lighthouses transferring to the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

Puget Sound ANT crewmembers worked with Station Neah Bay to reclaim a U.S. Life Saving Service Cemetery on Waadah Island in Seattle, May 2024. Crew members from left to right: Petty Officer 3rd Class Tristan Colon, Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Hamilton, Petty Officer 3rd Class, Mark Shaw, Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Fonseca. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Jacob Niehaus)

Sept. 20, 2024

Reclaiming a cemetery for the U.S. Life Saving Service

How sharing a story helped the Coast Guard honor its past.

-Chief Boatswain’s Mate Pablo Valent shown later in his career in a service photograph in his dress uniform. (National Archives)
-A Type “E” 36-foot motor surfboat similar to the one used by the Brazos Station crew to rescue the men aboard the schooner Cape Horn. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Sept. 13, 2024

Brazos Station’s Latino lifesavers and the catastrophic Florida Keys Hurricane

The Florida Keys Hurricane of 1919 was one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. In its path sailed numerous unsuspecting vessels.

Photograph of a Sicilian fishermen preparing to return to sea describing to Lt. Pell the challenges of fishing in Italian waters. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Cmdr. Clay Pell)

Sept. 6, 2024

Celebrating the Coast Guard’s role in liberating Rome during World War II

The wartime missions demanded a rapid expansion of Coast Guard manpower. On Dec. 7, 1941, Coast Guard personnel totaled about 29,000. By June 30, 1944, the ranks had swelled to over 175,000.

Aug. 28, 2024

A Foundation for Cultural Change

Vice Adm. Peter Gautier talks about leading the Coast Guard's Strengthening Service Culture efforts.

Coast Guard enlistment photograph of Joseph R. Toahty at age 21. (National Archives)
A faded image of marines landing on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. The marines landing on Guadalcanal far outnumbered the unprepared Japanese troops and civilian airfield workers on the island, so the enemy fled for the cover of Guadalcanal’s jungle interior. (U.S. Navy)

Aug. 23, 2024

Guadalcanal — Pawnee warrior strikes the first blow beside Doug Munro

Joseph Robert Toahty became the first Pawnee Indian to go to sea, the first Native American to participate in a U.S. naval offensive operation, and first Native American to set foot in enemy territory.