This Day in Coast Guard History – Jan. 20

1914- International Ice Patrol Convention signed.
 
1961- During his inaugural parade, President John F. Kennedy noticed that there were no African-Americans  in the Coast Guard Academy cadet unit marching in the parade.  He ordered an aide to correct the problem.  The aide contacted Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon and ordered him to admit African-Americans in the next Coast Guard Academy class.
 
1984-Coast Guard units responded to a six-alarm fire along Boston's waterfront.  The fire began early on the morning of 20 January on the Boston and Maine Railroad Bridge directly behind Boston Garden and North Station.  The Boston Fire Department requested Coast Guard assistance and MSO Boston coordinated the response.  Small boats from Station Boston responded while personnel from ATON Team Boston, Support Center Boston, Point Allerton Station, and CGCs Pendant, Chase, White Heath, Nantucket I and  Nantucket II also assisted.
 
(Source: USCG Historian’s Office)