USCGC DALLAS (WHEC 716)
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
HISTORY
The crewmembers who serve on USCGC DALLAS (WHEC 716) take pride in her reputation of achievement and excellence. This pride stems from a history rich in tradition, service, and accomplishment. Through the leadership and efforts of her officers and crew, DALLAS continues to set new standards to meet the diverse range of missions for which she deploys.
Originally commissioned in 1967 at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, DALLAS is the sixth cutter to bear the name of Alexander J. Dallas, the Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison (1814-1816). DALLAS was first home-ported at the former Coast Guard base on Governor’s Island, New York. She was relocated to her current homeport of Charleston, South Carolina on September 14, 1996.
During seven combat patrols off the coast of Vietnam, DALLAS compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, including 161 Naval gunfire support missions involving 7,665 rounds of 5-inch ammunition. This resulted in 58 sampans destroyed and 29 supply routes, bases, camps, or rest areas damaged or destroyed. Her 5-inch gun made her very valuable in support of the naval gunfire missions in the area.
In 1980, DALLAS was the command ship for the historic Mariel Boatlift, during which 125,000 Cuban refugees set sail for the shores of Florida. At the time, it was the largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken by the Coast Guard. In 1983, DALLAS earned a Coast Guard Unit Commendation for achievements that included the seizure of seven vessels smuggling over 103,000 lbs. of marijuana and the interdiction of 90 illegal Haitian migrants. In 1986, DALLAS served as the on-scene commander for the search and rescue operation following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. For her service during this operation, DALLAS received the Coast Guard’s Meritorious Unit Commendation.
During the Haitian migrant crisis of 1991-92, DALLAS performed as the flagship of a flotilla of over twenty-seven Coast Guard cutters that rescued 35,000 migrants from hundreds of overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels. DALLAS received a Humanitarian Service Medal and another Coast Guard Unit Commendation for her monumental effort in establishing an operation task organization that serves as the model for today’s Coast Guard multi-unit operation.
In response to the renewed threats of a mass exodus from Haiti, Operation Able Manner began in January 1993, with large numbers of Coast Guard and Navy ships and aircraft deploying to the Caribbean. DALLAS assumed command of this flotilla on three separate patrols in 1993, earning yet another Coast Guard Unit Commendation.
DALLAS spent the summer of 1994 representing the Coast Guard at the 50th Normandy D-Day invasion anniversary. During these festivities, DALLAS sailed with the reenactment fleet to commemorate the event. Soon after, DALLAS was called upon to serve as the flagship for Operation Able Vigil in response to another mass exodus from Cuba. Able Vigil was the largest Coast Guard commanded, multi-service operation since the 1940s.
During the summer of 1995, DALLAS was selected to operate with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Among the ship’s many assignments, DALLAS worked with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group in support of Operation Deny Flight off the coast of the former Yugoslavia. DALLAS’ crew conducted nation-building training and professional exchange in various countries in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Black Seas. DALLAS worked with the navies, coast guards, and maritime agencies of Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Slovenia, Albania, and Italy. This marked the first time that a U.S. Coast Guard cutter operated with the U.S. Sixth fleet and entered the Black Sea. DALLAS earned the Armed Forces Service Medal for her contributions to Operation Deny Flight, Maritime Monitor, and Sharp Guard.
During 1997 and 1998, DALLAS served as the flag ship for Operations Frontier Shield and Frontier Lance, the most effective and largest interagency, international counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean.
In the summer of 1999, DALLAS was again assigned to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and Black Seas to support allied forces during the conflict in Kosovo. During her transit, the conflict was resolved, but DALLAS was tasked to remain in theater and conduct training and professional exchanges with US Naval units and foreign naval forces. DALLAS became the first Coast Guard cutter to enter the ports of Haifa, Israel, Italy, and Turkey and executed training exercises with the Ukrainian Navy, Turkish Coast Guard, Georgian Navy, and the armed forces of Malta.
In 2006 and 2007, DALLAS remained an integral part of the nation’s counter-drug strategy by taking a leading role in the Caribbean operating area. DALLAS crewmembers and embarked aviation detachments were responsible for the seizure of over 790 lbs of cocaine and the interdiction of 86 illegal migrants attempting to enter the United States.
In the Summer of 2008 DALLAS was deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in West and Central Africa in support of the Africa Partnership Station, strengthening international relationships within this newly important maritime theater. During this time period DALLAS also hosted law enforcement personnel from Cape Verde and became the first US vessel to assist a foreign nation with enforcing its laws within its internationally recognized territorial seas. DALLAS also participated in Operation Assured Delivery, providing much needed humanitarian supplies to the people of the Republic of Georgia during recent conflicts with the Russian Government.
Today, DALLAS serves as one of the most capable cutters stationed on the East Coast. The Coast Guard’s Deepwater initiative plans to replace Hamilton class cutters during the next decade. Until that time, DALLAS will continue to serve the nations’ interests both close to home and overseas.
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