This Day in Coast Guard History – May 21

1849-Revenue Captain Douglas Ottinger reported completing the construction and furnishing of eight life-saving stations on the New Jersey coast between Sandy Hook and Little Egg Inlet, marking the beginning of Federal life-saving efforts.

1944-The Coast Guard-manned USS LST-69 exploded at Pearl Harbor.  None of her crew were killed but 13 were seriously injured.

1951-The Coast Guard announced the formation, within the Washington, DC area, of a new Organized Reserve Training Unit (Vessel Augmentation). The mission of this new unit was to develop a force of experienced personnel, well-trained in all shipboard billets, with particular emphasis on anti-submarine warfare, and the use of radar, radio, and other branches of electronics. Training was to be directed towards readying personnel of the unit for immediate assignment to ships of the Coast Guard and Navy in the event of mobilization.

1986-Japan's Maritime Safety Agency vessel Settsu arrived in Juneau for three days of meetings with 17th District staff members, SAR talks, softball games (against the crew of the CGC Morgenthau -- the MSA crew won one game out of three), and comparing operational notes.  The 348-foot Japanese vessel was homeported in Kobi, Japan.

(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)