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Frequently Asked Questions

Including Coast Guard "Firsts" & Trivia

General Interest:

What's New?

When was the Coast Guard (and its forerunners) established and what is its organizational history?

How do you obtain the service record of someone who served in the Coast Guard and its predecessors (which would contain information about cutter assignments and medals awarded. What about records regarding former lighthouse keepers? Crew lists and muster rolls?

What are the Coast Guard's Battle Streamers?

What wars & other conflicts did the Coast Guard participate in?

So you want to donate historical items (such as artifacts, documents, photos, scrapbooks, uniforms) to the Coast Guard?

So you would like to be a lighthouse keeper or buy a lighthouse?

What initial instructions did Alexander Hamilton issue to the first officers of the nation's revenue cutters? Click here to see one of the original handwritten letters.

What is the origin of the famous Coast Guard saying "You have to go out but you don't have to come back?"

Are there any Coast Guard monuments and memorials? Where are they located?

May I dive on the wreck of a Coast Guard cutter or aircraft lost at sea? Does the Coast Guard have a policy on recovering wrecks of cutters or aircraft? May I remove an artifact off a Coast Guard wreck?

People (Leaders, Minorities, Women, & Celebrities, Etc.):

Who were the Commandants of the Coast Guard?

Who were the Vice Commandants of the Coast Guard?

Who were the Master Chief Petty Officers of the Coast Guard

Who are some heroes of the Coast Guard?

Who was Douglas Munro?

What celebrities & other famous persons once served in the Coast Guard?

What about the history of women in the Coast Guard?

What about the history of minorities in the Coast Guard?

Who was the first Coast Guardsman to. . .? Coast Guard Firsts, Lasts & Record Setting Achievements.

When was the rank of chief petty officer authorized for the Coast Guard and who was the first Coast Guardsman to attain the rank?

When was the rank of master chief petty officer authorized for the Coast Guard and who was the first Coast Guardsman to attain the rank?

What did Coast Guard uniforms look like in the past?

Wars & Conflicts:

In what wars did the Coast Guard serve and what were the Coast Guard’s casualties in each?

What are the Coast Guard's Battle Streamers?

Is there more information on what the Coast Guard did during each of the nation's conflicts?

Why was Douglas Munro awarded the Medal of Honor--the only Coast Guardsmen to be awarded this distinguished medal?

What role did the Coast Guard play during World War II? How many U-boats did Coast Guard cutters sink? Was the Coast Guard at Pearl Harbor? Did they participate in the invasion of Normandy, France on D-Day, 6 June 1944?

What did the Coast Guard do in Vietnam?

Cutters:

What is a cutter?

What were the first ten cutters?

What does the "W" in Coast Guard hull designations stand for? What's a WHEC? WMEC?

History, Heritage & Traditions:

What are the lyrics to Semper Paratus? Why is Semper Paratus the Coast Guard's official motto?

What is the Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman?

When did the Coast Guard adopt the "racing stripe" for its cutters, boats, and aircraft?

What were some Coast Guard innovations developed by the service?

Why does the Coast Guard have two official flags?

What are some of the traditions of the Coast Guard?

Did the Coast Guard ever have its own Special Forces? What was the Coast Guard's "Coastal Forces Rating"?

What are some famous quotations about the Coast Guard?

What are the lyrics to the Coast Guard Hymn?

Who was the first commissioned officer in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service? What was the first commissioned vessel of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service?

How many Coast Guard Districts are there?

History & Trivia:

Who was the first Coast Guardsman to. . .? Coast Guard Firsts, Lasts & Record Setting Achievements.

What famous Disney character did Walt Disney use for the logo of the Corsair Fleet in the Second World War?

What other characters did Walt Disney create for Coast Guard units?

What was the Coast Guard’s role in the world's first heavier than air flight, made by the Wright Brothers, on 17 December 1903?

What was the Coast Guard's role in the SS St. Louis affair (otherwise known as the "Voyage of the Damned")?

Does the Bermuda Triangle really exist?

What was the Coast Guard’s role in the search for Amelia Earhart?

What was the story behind the Coast Guard's championship hockey team, the Coast Guard Cutters?

What was the most famous dog to ever serve in the Coast Guard?

The Coast Guard in Film: the Coast Guard appeared in what movies?

When did the Coast Guard adopt the "racing stripe" for its cutters, boats, and aircraft?

Researching Coast Guard History:

How do you obtain the service record of someone who served in the Coast Guard or one of its predecessor services (Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service, Steamboat Inspection Service, Bureau of Navigation or the Lighthouse Service) that would contain information about the cutter/vessel/station assignments they held during their service and would also list any medals they were awarded)?

How do you obtain a muster roll, crew or sailing list?

Is there a bibliography of sources on Coast Guard history?

Want to research Coast Guard history? Where are the primary sources for Coast Guard History?

How do you obtain a copy of a Coast Guard, lighthouse, or life-saving service logbook?

How do you obtain plans and blueprints of lighthouses, stations, cutters and other vessels?

Miscellaneous:

Are there any coloring books for kids (or adults) available?

Are there any Coast Guard posters, drawings or artwork available?

I need an answer to a question that's not listed here, what should I do? Send us an email!

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Last Modified 4/22/2013