On this day in 1790 the U.S. Coast Guard was created by Congress, which authorized Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton to build a small fleet of 10 cutters to protect the coast. It now constitutes an active-duty force of just under 42,000 individuals, with 11 different types of aircraft and 34 different types of ships and boats, ranging in size from a 21' navigation assistance boat all the way to a 420' Ice Breaker. Both naval and air operations are conducted 24/7, no matter what the weather conditions. The Coast Guard's responsibilities run the gamut from interdiction of smuggling and law enforcement within our territorial waters, all the way to search and rescue operations within our territorial waters.

The Coast Guard serves a critical role under the Department of Homeland Security in the vital job of protecting our nation from all who would do her harm, and I for one would like to offer thanks and gratitude for a tough job well done.

Happy Birthday and Semper Paratus!

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 01:24 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 173 words, total size 1 kb.