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Coast Guard crew from WW1 finally getting Purple Heart medals

Discussion in 'Off-Topic English' started by Section9, Apr 17, 2019.

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  1. Section9

    Section9 Well-Known Member

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    I'm posting this because there are some crewmen who were not born in the US. Their families are still entitled to receive the medal.


    From https://www.history.uscg.mil/tampa/

    "USCGC Tampa, originally known as Miami, was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation, Newport News, Virginia. Construction was authorized on 21 April, 1910. She launched on 10 February 1912, and was commissioned on 19 August.

    Following the sinking of RMS Titanic in April 1912, Miami was assigned ice patrol duty with Seneca in 1913, and saw extensive duty as part of the international ice patrol.

    That same year, Miami and her crew participated in the city of Tampa’s Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a celebration of a mythical Spanish pirate. That tradition continued until the United States entered World War I in 1917. The cutter and crew enjoyed a close relationship with the city of Tampa, and was renamed in honor of the city in 1916.

    Tampa, under the command of Captain Charles Satterlee, was one of six Coast Guard cutters assigned to convoy duty in European waters during World War I. Armed with four 3-inch guns, she escorted eighteen convoys, losing only two ships and earning a special commendation for exemplary service.



    On 26 September 1918, having just detached from her 19th convoy, and sailing alone through the Bristol Channel toward the Welsh port of Milford Haven to recoal, Tampa was torpedoed by the German submarine UB-91. Exploding amidships, she sank in just under three minutes. One hundred and thirty men lost their lives, including 111 Coast Guardsmen.



    The sinking of the cutter was the single largest loss of life for the Coast Guard during World War I. The sacrifices of her crew were not forgotten. The city of Tampa conducted a fundraising campaign, “Remember the Tampa!,” to an effort to sell war bonds. In 1921, the Coast Guard christened a new cutter in her name. Seven years later, on 23 May 1928, The US Coast Guard Memorial was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring the sacrifice of those who had served aboard Tampa."​
    (Emphasis mine)

    The list of crew is found at the bottom of that link. If you or someone you know is related to one of those crewmen, please contact Ms. Nora Chidlow, Coast Guard Archivist, at nora.l.chidlow@uscg.mil or 202-559-5142. Documentation showing the descendant’s relationship to the Tampa crew member, such as family trees, pages from family Bibles, birth/death certificates, and/or pages from Ancestry or other genealogical applications, is required to apply for a Purple Heart.
     
  2. Golem2God

    Golem2God Just a Kooky Kumotail serving others.

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    @Section9 At last they get some recognition after all these years. Better late than never.
     
  3. Section9

    Section9 Well-Known Member

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    I should point out that the reason they didn't get the Purple Heart initially was because they were ineligible during WW1. During WW2, though, the rules changed and that change was retroactive, so any Coastie killed during combat in any war was then eligible for the PH, including the crew of the Tampa.

    Just a little sad that the Powers That Be took so long to catch up.
     
    Golem2God likes this.
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