The Long Blue Line (Summer 2020)

265 whalers trapped aboard their ships in Arctic
ice near Barrow Alaska. Then Second Lieutenant
Bertholf was second in command of Revenue
Cutter BEAR. Another famous Coast Guardsman,
David Jarvis, was First Lieutenant and also part of
the expedition. In 1902, Bertholf, Jarvis and others
were awarded Congressional Gold Medals for their
heroic actions.
I would be remiss to not also highlight the actions
of our Service in World War II, whether those Coast
Guardsman participating in Operation Neptune,
the naval assault phase of Operation Overlord, the
Today, our Coast Guard is
serving around the world
making an impact and
advancing our national
interests.
largest single combat operation the Coast Guard
has ever taken part in. During the initial days of
the liberation of Western Europe, the Coast Guard
demonstrated its expertise, versatility and value in a
number of ways, including combat operations; ship
and small boat handling; loading and discharging
cargo at sea and ashore; directing vessel traffi c;
and search and rescue operations – in most cases
under enemy fi re. And on D-Day, Coast Guardmanned
landing craft carried troops to the beach.
On the 75th anniversary of D-Day (6/6/2019), I
had the privilege to be in Normandy, which was
a tremendously impactful experience. There, I
visited with our own GM3 Frank Devita, who was
aboard one of those USCG landing craft making
the earliest morning runs on D-Day. Frank made
15 runs to the beach. His very personal and
extraordinary story from D-Day can be found on
my Facebook page. Frank was there for the 75th
anniversary with 75 family members and friends.
Two weeks ago I had the honor of chatting with
Frank on his 95th birthday. Despite the ongoing
health pandemic, 100 vehicles paraded by his
house in celebration of his birthday – one was
a Coast Guard truck pulling a Coast Guard
smallboat.
That same evening, aboard Barque EAGLE mored
at Cherborg, France, then Secretary of the Navy –
the Honorable Richard Spencer and I, announced
the naming of a Flight III Arleigh Burke Guided
Missile Destroyer after Coast Guard hero CAPT
Quentin Walsh. His actions in Normandy in the
days leading up to and after D-day are fascinating
and I encourage you to explore same. The USS
QUENTIN WALSH (DDG-132) is being built at Bath
Ironworks Shipyard in Maine.
I have also had the great fortune to engage with
some remarkable historical women in our Service
from the SPARS (the United States Coast Guard
Women’s Reserve). One such incredible woman
was Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, who following the creation
18 SUMMER 2020
THE LONG BLUE LINE