A history of life-saving

This Memorial Day, I want to thank all the members of the Armed Forces who are serving our great Nation and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our freedom.  Our uniformed personnel, including their families, make sacrifices every day to protect our way of life, our cherished liberties, and the opportunities available to every American citizen.  Our military members are everyday heroes and I am humbled to be one of your Service Chiefs.

The men and women of the United States Coast Guard – active duty, reservists, civilians, and auxiliarists – are proud members of the Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.  We are a unique instrument of the federal government tracing our roots back to our founder Alexander Hamilton.  His envisioned the need to protect our borders from smugglers, facilitate maritime commerce, and ensure our sovereignty.  We do that and much more.

{mosads}Today’s Coast Guard still practices the “principles of operation” – vigilance, constant activity, respect, restraint, and on-scene initiative –  that Hamilton espoused to the Commanding Officers of the first 10 Revenue Marine cutters in 1791.  We utilize these principals to safeguard the Nation’s maritime interests wherever they are at stake – in the heartland, the ports, at sea, and around the globe.  We are first responders to inland emergencies such as the recent flooding in North Dakota; we ensure the safety and security of the maritime commerce that fuels our national economy; we project law enforcement authority offshore; and we engage the international community to mitigate transnational maritime threats.  We are America’s Maritime Guardians.

I just returned from a trip to Greece, India, the Middle East, and Ireland.  It was clear that we share similar maritime concerns such as the safety of life at sea, security of marine transportation systems, piracy, regulating maritime industries, environmental protection, and contraband smuggling.  The overlapping nature of these issues demands regional cooperation.  As America’s representative to the International Maritime Organization, we can facilitate partnerships to mitigate the risks of these maritime challenges.  The Coast Guard will continue to exercise a leadership role in the international arena.

During this trip, I also had the opportunity to visit with Coast Guard men and women serving on our six patrol boats in the Arabian Gulf and the 378-foot cutter Boutwell which is circumnavigating the globe in support of three different Combatant Commanders.  Despite the hardships and extended time away from friends and family, these Guardians are highly motivated to complete the mission.

The Coast Guard’s working environment has changed dramatically over the past decade and we are evolving to meet new challenges.  To fulfill our obligations, I am committed to recapitalizing our aging assets and shore infrastructure while increasing our capacity to meet emerging demands.  I will continue to work with the Administration and the Congress to ensure our men and women have the tools, capabilities, and authorities to execute our missions safely and effectively.  Our Guardians deserve nothing less.

What hasn’t changed over the past 218 years is the commitment of our people.  At the end of the day, Coast Guard personnel are the reason the Service can provide such tremendous value to the Nation.  They enable us to be Always Ready so we can meet all threats and all hazards – nationwide and worldwide. .

Recently, I attended a memorial service for one of our most celebrated Guardians, Mr. Bernie Webber.  In February 1952, Petty Officer Webber piloted a 36-foot motor life boat into a fierce Nor’easter off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts to rescue 32 souls from the floundering tanker Pendleton.  Soon after getting underway, the 70 knot winds and 60 foot seas destroyed his compass and windshield rendering him virtually blind.  No one would have blamed Petty Officer Webber if he came about and returned to shore.  Admitting later that he never thought he would survive, Webber and his crew plowed ahead against overwhelming odds to save those in need.  

The Pendleton rescue is one of the greatest in Coast Guard history and provides an inspirational example of what it means to be a Guardian.  As I visit our current Coast Guard men and women, I see the same level of dedication, perseverance, and self-less commitment in their eyes as they continue the proud legacy forged by the sacrifices of those who served before them.  On this Memorial Day, we should be thankful for all our military members who ensure America’s beacon of freedom blazes brightly around the world.  

In the Coast Guard, we willingly shoulder the burden of our Nation’s maritime challenges.  Like Bernie Webber, we are driven by our Guardian Ethos – a willingness to protect the weak, defend the vulnerable, and save those in peril.  This is who we are and why we serve.

Allen is Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.