HAPPY VETERANS DAY
Today in Coast Guard History
1881 – The crew of Life-boat Station No. 14, Eleventh District (Racine, WI) rendered service during the severest storm of the season The life-saving crew noticed several vessels running north for safety under bare poles and two of them made safely into the harbor. Observing this, the master of the schooner Lavinda tried to make the same haven, but the vessel became unmanageable, struck the south pier, immediately became waterlogged, and in five minutes was a wreck. The life-saving crew sprang for the lifeboat and put out to her assistance. They got alongside and managed to run a line from the wrecked vessel to the station tug H. Wetzel, which had steamed out to her relief. The tug soon towed her into the harbor.
1918 – The Allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close. Between the wars November 11 was commemorated as Armistice Day in the United States, Great Britain, and France. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.
1955 – Coast Guard Cutter Yocona rescued the crew of the sinking fishing vessel Ocean Pride some 50 miles off Cape Lookout, Oregon. When 60 to 70 mph winds and heavy seas with 30 feet swells made it impossible to launch lifeboats, Yocona came close aboard the sinking fishing vessel to allow all of its crew members to jump on board the cutter to safety.
Blogs
Commandant’s Veterans Day message – Coast Guard All Hands blog
Veterans Day was established as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the Allied victory and honor the heroism of service members killed during World War I. Veterans Day is now a time to remember all those who have answered the call of duty to protect and preserve the promise of this great Nation.
Pride, courage, honor – Coast Guard Compass blog
As I found myself sitting at a funeral recently, I started to realize that pride was a big part of my family; it was not just any someone who had passed, it was my father-in-law.
The thing that made this funeral different is that Jerald Lloyd Swain was a retired Navy chief with 23 years of service; some of those years spent in Vietnam. What made it even more special was seeing the generations of uniforms that were also in the room.
Veterans Day: Honoring shipmates and their service – Coast Guard Compass blog
Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jim Butz stood center stage at the Cody, Wyo., rodeo grounds during intermission of the Xtreme Bulls event, believing he was there to address the crowd about the Wounded Warrior Project. His right leg was encased in a solid core carbon graphite brace with titanium hinges and his left hand held a cane for stability.
The 45-year-old father of five was expecting the microphone, but instead, Lee Kirgan, Operation Finally Home director of housing, arrived with a framed poster from the rodeo. Handing it to Butz he said, “This will look great in your new home.”
Operation Finally Home was gifting the Butz family with a mortgage free, custom built Americans with Disabilities Act compliant home.
World War II combat diary of J.J. McAndrews: D-Day and saying goodbye – Coast Guard Great Lakes blog
The Great Lakes Coast Guard is sharing the story of Petty Officer 3rd Class J.J. McAndrews on his journey across the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea for the invasion of Italy, then to the shores of Normandy for D-Day, in our five-week series “World War II combat diary of J.J. McAndrews.” This series comes from the day-to-day diary written by the boatswain’s mate while aboard a landing ship during the war.
Video
Ronald Reagan – Veterans Day Prayer
