From what I understand today is officially Coast Guard Day. I know some members have served in the Guard, all respect and recognition to you.Semper Paratus ( always prepared ) .
@buflosab - Thank you. Today is the day the legislation was passed in 1790 to build "a system of 10 cutters" to stop smuggling and enforce tax laws. It also gave this country it's only naval service at the time (the Continental Navy was disbanded at the end of the Revolutionary War and the U.S. Navy was not created until 1798.) The system of cutters was so successful that a number of years going into the 1800s, the U.S. Government actually operated in the black. The Revenue Cutter Service was later merged with the Lifesaving Service, the Lighthouse Service and the Maritime service responsible for vessel inspections. The name was officially changed to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915.
@PappyJoe, You are very welcome and thank you for the information. Not being involved with Coast Guard I really did not know much of the history. I did however remember that you served and especially the tremendous job the Coast Guard did during Katrina and of course the many not so many we'll know services they provide for country.
Happy Coast Guard Day! @PappyJoe and any others that have served. I know there is at least one other on here, but I can't remember who., my apologies sir.
@Zouave1864 Thanks for posting that link. What really make this story unique is that the Silver Lifesaving Medal was awarded to an active duty Coast Guardsman. While the Gold and Silver Lifesaving medals are awarded by the Coast Guard, it is not considered a military award because it is also awarded to civilians. The only reason Howard received the award was because he didn't perform the rescue as part of his normal duties. If he would have been in uniform and working all he would have received is probably a pat on the back because he was just doing his job.
I'm guessing that the reluctance to award the medal to active duty members may relate to the number of senior officers in other services that were awarded the Lifesaving Medal. Here's a list of some of the recipients:
Major General Byron F. Johnson, USMC - Rescued a man from drowning near San Diego in 1929.[18]
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@PappyJoe and any others that have served. I know there is at least one other on here, but I can't remember who., my apologies sir.
@PappyJoe this came across my news feed today.
Thanks for posting that link. What really make this story unique is that the Silver Lifesaving Medal was awarded to an active duty Coast Guardsman. While the Gold and Silver Lifesaving medals are awarded by the Coast Guard, it is not considered a military award because it is also awarded to civilians. The only reason Howard received the award was because he didn't perform the rescue as part of his normal duties. If he would have been in uniform and working all he would have received is probably a pat on the back because he was just doing his job.
I'm guessing that the reluctance to award the medal to active duty members may relate to the number of senior officers in other services that were awarded the Lifesaving Medal. Here's a list of some of the recipients:
- Major General Byron F. Johnson, USMC - Rescued a man from drowning near San Diego in 1929.[18]
- Vice Admiral Charles E. Larkin, USCG
- Mary McCann, a 14 year old Irish girl who rescued survivors of the PS General Slocum disaster in 1904.
- Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, USN - Medal of Honor recipient.
- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN[19] – Commander of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. For rescuing a drowning sailor.[20]
- General George S. Patton, USA – Commander of 3rd United States Army.
- Major General Robert L. Spragins.[21]
- Vice Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, Jr., USN.
- Colonel Frank Tompkins, career Army officer and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.
- Master Henry F. Page, age ten. Rescued another boy in Shenevus, New York on 8 August 1887.[22]
- Miss Marie D. Parsons, age ten. She rescued a man and his seven-year-old daughter on 7 July 1883 in Gardiners Bay off Long Island, New York.[23]
- Emlen Tunnell, National Football League Hall of Fame member (who played for New York Giants and Green Bay Packers American Football Teams) posthumously awarded, in 2011, for heroic actions saving two fellow members of the Coast Guard during World War 2
Emlen Tunnell was the first black athlete to play for the New York Giants. He served in the Coast Guard from 1943 - 46.This isn't exactly coast guard, it's coast guard adjacent perhaps.