Colonel Paul’s Corner – The United States Coast Guard- Established in 1790

Our Coast Guard has a mixed history. It was established in 1790 as part of the Treasury Department. It remained there until 1967, when it was transferred to the Department of Transportation. In 2003, the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security, where it remains today.

During times of armed conflict, the Coast Guard is transferred to the Navy as in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and both of the Gulf Wars. In WWII, the Coast Guard reached a peak strength of more than 200 thousand. Although women were prohibited from combat, 10 thousand women served in the Coast Guard in WWII. During WWII, more than 5 thousand coast guard members served as lighthouse keepers. Today that function is automated, and the lighthouses only serve as backup in the event our high-tech electronic navigation systems fail. Many lighthouses are now tourist attractions, such as the famous lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

The Coast Guard has always filled a unique role. Although appearing to be a military unit and often serving in that role, the primary mission of the Coast Guard is centered on search and rescue operations and law enforcement. The Coast Guard not only operates on the high seas and commercial waterways but also has the same authority on freshwater lakes and rivers. Unlike the military services, the Coast Guard is exempt from the Posse Comitatus Act and has full authority to enforce the law. Often we see them on the news interdicting and boarding ships at sea, arresting those aboard, and impounding their illegal cargo.

Today, our Coast Guard is comprised of a workforce of 40 thousand active duty members supported by another 40 thousand civilians and auxiliary. It has a sizable fleet including 250 “cutters”, three ocean-going ice breakers, almost 2 thousand smaller boats, and 200 aircraft. The Coast Guard operates one of the only two sailing ships in commission. The “Eagle” is used for officer training and diplomatic visits. Our other sailing ship is the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). It belongs to the Navy and sits in Boston Harbor. The Eagle is a confiscated German vessel previously named the “Horst Wessel”. It was named after a Nazi official assassinated by German Communists in 1930. The Nazis proclaimed him a hero and incorporated lyrics written by him in the Nazi National Anthem, The Horst Wessel Song.

The Coast Guard made history on 1 June, 2022 when it designated 4-star Admiral, Linda Fagan, to be the Coast Guard Commandant. Fagan served as the first woman in a 4-Star rank until 21 January 2025, when President Trump fired her on his second day in office.

Today, the Coast Guard is the most difficult service to enter. They are small and can afford to be selective. It is interesting to note that at the time of WWII, 50 percent of American youth were deemed unfit for military service. Today, that figure has risen to 77 percent.

“The old ploy of the powerful: never refuse when you can confuse. Distraction and delay are always better than obstruction”.
Helen McCloy, 1904-1994

By Paul Warrick: January 1, 2026 - Great Falls, Mt