Today in Coast Guard History 1942 – The Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, known as SPARs, was organized. 1970 – Simas I. Kudirka, a Lithuanian seaman, attempted to defect from his Soviet fishing vessel to Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant. The incident occurred during a meeting near Martha’s Vineyard between the Soviets and the U.S. on fishing rights. After consulting with the First District...