Coast Guard Publication 1 U.S. Coast Guard: America’s Maritime Guardian 1 January 2002 Coast Guard Publication 1 U.S. Coast Guard; America’s Maritime Guardian 1 January 2002 U 1^63 . \ \ A few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws. — Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury Federalist No. 12, The Utility of the Union in Respect to Revenue From the New York Packet 27 November 1787 Earliest recorded reference to what would become the U.S. Coast Guard It had the desired effect. — Captain John Faunce, USRCS Commanding Officer, USRC Harriet Lane Comment to Harper’s Weekly about firing the first naval shot of the Civil War in Charleston, South Carolina Did they get off? — Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, USCG Inquiring of the 400 Marines he rescued. Just before dying of wounds he suffered in the effort These poor, plain men, dwellers upon the lonely sands of Hatteras, took their lives in their hands, and, at the most imminent risk, crossed the most tumultuous sea ... and all for what? That others might live to see home and friends. — Annual Report of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, 1885 The lighthouse and the lightship appeal to the interests and better instinct of man because they are symbolic of never-ceasing watchfulness, of steadfast endurance in every exposure, of widespread helpfulness. — George R. Putnam, the first Commissioner of Lighthouses U.S. Lighthouse Service, 1906-1935 Having fought as a part of the Navy in all our wars, and taking an especial pride in being fully prepared to perform credible service in the Navy whenever called upon, the officers and men of the Coast Guard are inspired not only by the high traditions and fine history of their own service, but also by the splendid traditions, history, and indoctrination of the United States Navy. They have thus two rich heritages to be proud of and two standards of the same lofty character to live up to. — Rear Admiral F. C. Billard, USCG Commandant of the Coast Guard, 1924-1932 U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, May 1929 Table of Contents Foreword .1 Introduction .2 Chapter One: America’s Maritime Guardian .5 COAST GUARD ROLES AND MISSIONS .6 Maritime Security .6 Maritime Safety.8 Protection of Natural Resources .10 Maritime Mobility .11 National Defense.12 Chapter l\vo: An Evolving Coast Guard .15 1790 TO 1865: REVENUE PROTECTION AND MORE .15 Revenue Cutters for National Defense.16 Supporting Maritime Trade .18 Law Enforcement in a Restive Nation.18 Revenue Cutters in the War Between the States.19 1865 TO 1915: THE ROAD TO THE COAST GUARD .20 Sumner Kimball and Service Reform .20 Growing Civil Duties.21 Spanish-American War.22 1915 TO 1916: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD.23 1917 TO 1945: A SERVICE FORGED BY WAR, CRISIS, AND CONSOLIDATION .25 The Coast Guard in the Great War.25 Interdiction and Build-Up .26 The Waesche Consolidation.27 National Defense to the Fore.28 1946 TO 1972: SORTING OUT ROLES AND MISSIONS.30 An International Role in Peacetime and in War.31 Expanding Civil Responsibilities .33 Finding a New Home.33 1973 TO TODAY AND BEYOND: A UNIQUE INSTRUMENT OF NATIONAL SECURITY.34 ECHOES FROM THE PAST .36