USCG Coast Guard Patches & More

[mds308]

I only did a little over 5 years but managed to save a few patches along the way.  My first duty station was Nantucket Island.  There once was a man from Nantucket.....but let's just say the stories about him are greatly exaggerated.  The Brant Point Coast Guard patch was made around 1987.  Our chief had only 12 made.  I bought two.  Still have both.  I designed this patch but to be honest with you, I stole the design from a coffee mug.  I should have stole the mug too.   Plus my 1986 ball cap.  The boat is the same one on my avatar.  

  

 

 

[mds308]

I went to TT (Telephone Technician) school and afterwards was sent to USCG Support Center Portsmouth, Virginia.  This rating was about the equivalent to the US Navy IC-men.  This patch was already at my unit.  I believe they were there for many years.  I don't know how many were made.  This rating no longer exists.  

 

 

 

[mds308]

While at Brant Point, I was sent to EMT School in Petaluma, California.  I snagged two of these patches while in school.

 

 

 

[mds308]

I didn't serve on this ship but I collect Zippos.  Over 500 and this is the only USCG lighter in my collection.  1970 Zippo USCGC Point Stuart.  You gotta love the Road Runner.  A nice touch.

 

[TheCrustyBosun]

Good stuff!  I was stationed both afloat and ashore. I enjoyed the small boat stations, but I always wanted an 82’. Unfortunately, the new 87’s started replacing them shortly after I reported to my first unit. 

[mds308]

I found two more Coasty Zippos I forgot I had.

 

1959 USCGC Wachusett WPG-44 (becoming WHEC-44) Commissioned 1946 Decommissioned 1973

1971 officer's device.

Both Slimlines.  

  

[BeansEnHay]

I credit your U.S. Coast Guard with helping me quit smoking once and for all. Our new XO was conning the ship as we tied up in Adak. He smacked into the pier kind of hard, and a few deckies just below his bridge wing  started to laugh.  Next day all smoking aft of the buoy deck was banned, so no protection from the wind.  That was all the inspiration I needed.  I had been smoking since age 12, was then 30, and stayed quit all these 30  years since.  A belated thank you to that XO whose name I sadly forgot.
 

I had a couple of zippos left over from those days, and decided to add a few more. 

 

these two are from the same type of ship, a 180’ Seagoing Buoy Tender. The tenders  we had while I served  were all commissioned in 1942-46 or so, and had seen much duty and many home port changes.  The Hornbeam was out of Cape May, N.J. In the late 80s, and the Blackhaw  had a long run at Yerba Buena island in San Francisco Bay. The Hornbeam lighter is a Gibson, and Blackhaw’s  is a Vulcan ca.1965-69

[BeansEnHay]

Since this thread is mostly Coast Guard patches, I should add a couple to my last post.  These are 2 versions to the same cutter (see above photo)  USCGC Ironwood, WLB-297.   In the early 90s, Ironwood’s op area was primarily Bristol Bay and the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, but ranged much wider.  The larger patch of the two must date from the ‘70s as it indicates Homer, AK as its’ then home port. 

the second patch was from her time homeported on Kodiak Island.  I thought they had turned this ship into an artificial reef or something, but amazingly,  it now belongs to the US Dept. of Labor, and is  a seamanship training vessel for the Job Corps out of Astoria, Oregon. It may be the last of its’ class still getting underway. 😀