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Tag: WWII

World War II underway photo of the Coast Guard-manned USS Durant (DE-389) sporting its haze gray paint scheme. (U.S. Navy)

Oct. 5, 2021

The Long Blue Line: USS Durant—Coast Guard and Navy warship of World War II and Cold War

Surprisingly, in the Coast Guard’s 230-year history, the service has operated very few purpose-built naval warships. However, during World War II, Coast Guardsmen operated a number of smaller classes of warships, including sub chasers, patrol gunboats, patrol craft, patrol frigates, and destroyer escorts. The USS Durant (DE-389) was one of several

From the crest of Mount Suribachi, the Stars and Stripes wave in triumph over Iwo Jima after U.S. Marines had fought their way inch by inch up its steep lava-encrusted slopes. Ca. February 1945. PhoM3c. John Papsun. (Coast Guard) NARA FILE #: 026-G-4140 WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 1222

Sept. 2, 2021

The Long Blue Line: “Hot Rocks”—a Coast Guardsman on the beach at Iwo Jima

[This essay was excerpted from the book chapter of the same name: “Hot Rocks,” Sea, Surf and Hell: The U.S. Coast Guard in World War II (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1945), 276-79.]Because of the concentrated mortar fire, which the Japanese are laying down on this landing area, it is one of the bloodiest of all the assault beaches in the Pacific War to

High resolution photograph of Danmark in 1945 under a full spread of canvas. (U.S. Coast Guard)

July 30, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Danmark—the friend-ship between Denmark and the Coast Guard

How did a ship without a nation become a training platform for the U.S. Coast Guard?

Menhaden fishing vessel W.T. James prior to World War I and conversion to the naval minesweeper, USS James. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

July 23, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Last of the Coast Guard fishing fleet— Hurricane San Calixto and the loss of EM Dow

During World War I and World War II, the Menhaden fishing fleet became a ready reserve for the Navy and Coast Guard.

Official Coast Guard Public Affairs photo of Seaman 1st Class Eugene Edwin Oxley of Stilesville, Indiana. (U.S. Coast Guard)

June 4, 2021

The Long Blue line: “Lucky Ox”—surviving the killing fields of D-Day

Operation “Overlord” led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and end of the Second World War in Europe. "Lucky Ox" being one of the Coast Guard heroes of the operation.

Unit 21 commanding officer Ensign Vera Hamerschlag holds her puppy outside of the LORAN station she was in charge of in 1944. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

March 12, 2021

The Long Blue Line: In their words: A busy year for the SPARS that operated LORAN Station Unit 21 in 1944

Hear from the women who ran Unit 21 during World War II.

March 5, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Japanese “Good Luck” Flag captured in the Battle of Eniwetok 

Most Good Luck Flags date from before or during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II from 1937 to 1945.

2. Ensign Harvey Russell after graduating from the Reserve officer Training Course. (Photo courtesy of the Russell Family)

Feb. 19, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. Harvey Russell--African-American trailblazer in the U.S. Sea Services

Celebrating African American Heritage with the second African American who attended officer candidate school.

8. Lt.j.g. Joseph Jenkins on the bridge late in World War II. (photo courtesy of the Jenkins Family)

Feb. 11, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. Joseph Jenkins—first African American commissioned officer in the 20th century

Celebrating African American Heritage Month - the Coast Guard's first African American commissioned officer

Dec. 31, 2020

The Long Blue Line: USS Wakefield—the Coast Guard’s “B & L Ferry” 75 years ago

In World War II, the USS Wakefield (AP-21) served as a fast troop transport whose role was to deliver military personnel and supplies to the war front.

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