US Coast Guard Birthday

On August 4, 1790, the U. S. Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to provide a new military branch for the country, the Revenue Cutter Service. This service enforced tariff and trade laws, prevented smuggling and ensured the collection of federal revenue from ships and marine trade. Over its life time the Revenue Cutter Service took on new duties: protecting the nation’s shore line, search and rescue and maintaining all of the country’s light houses. In 1915 they changed their name to the U. S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard not only protects our nation’s shores it also serves under the Department of the Navy in all of our armed conflicts. Today the Coast Guard turns 221 and we have gathered a few Coast Guard related items from our collection to commemorate the occasion. To all the men and women of the Coast Guard, thank you for your service and Happy Birthday!

In honor of the Coast Guard's birthday, please enjoy a few Coast Guard items from the Vietnam Archive's collections.

Artifacts

Photographs

Documents

• Item 2130507015: 'United States Coast Guard To Assist Republic Of Vietnam' - (Including other News Releases from the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense -Department of Defense) (11 pages) [29 April 1965] - [Full Record]
• Item 15740818009: Proceedings of merchant marine council United states coast guard Vol.24 No.2 February 1967 (24 pages) [February 1967] - [Full Record]
• Item 1070806002: The United States Coast Guard in South East Asia During the Vietnam Conflict (by: Eugene N. Tulich, Paul C. Scotti, Kenneth Arbogast) (55 pages) [01 January 1986] - [Full Record]
• Item 15750209009: U.S. Coast Guard Approved Distress Signaling Equipment (8 pages) [No Date] - [Full Record]