This Day in Coast Guard History – September 10

1889- (10-12 September 1889): During this three-day period, the lifesaving crews at Lewes, Henlopen and Rehobeth Beach stations assisted 22 vessels and saved 39 persons by surfboat and 155 by breeches buoy without the loss of a single life.

1981-The CGC Morgenthau, in "Charlie" status in San Francisco while preparing for a yard period, responded to a distress call from the 610-foot M/V Blue Hawk, a cargo vessel carrying about 5,000 automobiles, after she reported a fire aboard while she was over 700 miles southwest of San Diego.  Morgenthau was underway within three hours.  In the interim, HC-130 CG-1454 was dispatched by AIRSTA Sacremento while COMMSTA Point Reyes directed other merchant ships close to the Blue Hawk to assist.  The fire still raged when Morgenthau arrived on scene two days later.  The cutter's fire-fighting teams put the fire out and Morgenthau escorted the damaged freighter to San Francisco.

(Source: USCG Historian’sOffice)