US Coast Guard Birthday
United States Coast Guard!!
On August 4, 1790, the U. S. Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to provide a new military branch for the country, the Revenue Cutter Service. This service enforced tariff and trade laws, prevented smuggling and ensured the collection of federal revenue from ships and marine trade. Over its life time the Revenue Cutter Service took on new duties: protecting the nation’s shore line, search and rescue and maintaining all of the country’s light houses. In 1915 they changed their name to the U. S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard not only protects our nation’s shores it also serves under the Department of the Navy in all of our armed conflicts. Today the Coast Guard turns 220 and we have gathered a few Coast Guard related items from our collection to commemorate the occasion. To all the men and women of the Coast Guard, thank you for your service and Happy Birthday!
In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, please enjoy a few Coast Guard items from the Vietnam Archive's collections.
Moving Images
1538vi1821 - Footage of Cat Lo taken from the USCGC Point White (WPB-82308) - January 1, 1966 [Gerald Sampont Collection]
Footage taken by Gerald Sampont while he was assigned to the US Coast Guard Squadron One Division-13 at Cat Lo, Vietnam aboard the USCGC Point White (WPB-82308). Films were originally for Sampont's family, and thus include pictures of him. Most of the film was filmed at Cat Lo and the R and R Center at Vung Tau. Film includes footage of the Wringer Wash Machine onboard, strapped between the two .50 caliber machine guns on deck. Footage also includes CO John Lockwood and gives a good idea of what it was like for the Coast Guard onboard, including their "full combat gear", which included no shirts, cut offs and shower shoes. Other vessels seen in this film are PCF-40, CG 82306, and the USS Rowan (DD-782). 27:47 min/sec
Artifacts
Photographs
Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive
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Address
Texas Tech University, Box 41041, Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
(806)742-9010 -
Email
vnca@ttu.edu