This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History - May 31
1947-Authority of the U.S. Coast Guard for the establishment and disestablishment of prohibited, restricted, and anchorage areas, conferred by the Espionage Act (50 U.S.C. 191) and Proclamation No. 2412 of 27 June 1940 was terminated by Proclamation No. 2732, signed by the President on this date.
1948- The Coast Guard assumed command of the former Navy base at Cape May, New Jersey, and formally established its east coast recruit training center there the next day.
1983- Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey passed away at the age of 87. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II and achieved the rank of commander.
1988: The first search and rescue agreement with the Soviet Union was signed at a summit in Moscow. The agreement set a general line, or boundary, separating SAR regions and provided for exchange visits to SAR coordination centers in both countries, joint SAR exercises, and regular communication checks.
1988: The CGC Fir became the oldest cutter in commission after the CGC Ingham was decommissioned this day.
2009-CGC Boutwell arrived in the port of Tubruq, Libya, during her around-the-world cruise, becoming the first U.S. military ship to visit Libya in more than 40 years.
(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)