This Day in Coast Guard History – August 11

1817-"The ship Margaret, which sailed on Sunday, August 10, 1817, for Amelia Island with a number of persons on board, supposed to be going out for the purpose of joining the pirates, was brought back by the RC Active, under the command of Revenue Captain John Cahoone, and anchored yesterday morning [ 11 August 1817 ] in the Bay.  The cutter fired several shots at the Margaret before she hove to.  It is said that she has also munitions of war on board." [ Taken from the New York Gazette / New York Post, dated 12 August 1817.]

1966-CGC Point Welcome was attacked in the pre-dawn hours of 11 August 1966 by U.S. Air Force aircraft while on patrol in the waters near the mouth of the Cua Viet River, about three-quarters of a mile south of the Demilitarized Zone (the 17th Parallel) in South Vietnam.  Her commanding officer, LTJG David Brostrom, along with one crewman, EN2 Jerry Phillips, were killed in this "friendly fire" incident.  The Point Welcome's executive officer, LTJG Ross Bell, two other crewmen, GM2 Mark D. McKenney and FA Houston J. Davidson, a Vietnamese liaison officer, LTJG Do Viet Vien, and a freelance journalist, Mr. Timothy J. Page, were wounded.  Crewman BMC Richard Patterson saved his cutter and the surviving crew at great risk to himself.  He was awarded a Bronze Star with the combat "V" device for his actions.

1974-President Ford signed into law the first bill of his new administration, a measure authorizing the Coast Guard to adopt modernized boiler and pressure safety standards on board merchant ships.

1982-Members of a 7th District TACLET stood bridge watch aboard the USS Sampson, the first time a CG TACLET had served aboard a Navy vessel.  The SECDEF approved the use of Coast Guard TACLETs aboard Navy warships only two days earlier.

(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)