MARCH

The U.S. Coast Guard has decommissioned the 210' medium endurance cutter USCGC Decisive after 55 years of service. This class of cutter is being replaced by a new 360' Heritage class cutter that is current under construction. CLICK FOR ARTICLE

The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the USCGC Tybee WPB-1330 on March 28, 2023. The 110' patrol cutter was based out of Woods Hole, Mass and is being replaced by the new 154' Fast Response Cutters being assigned to Boston.

APRIL

U.S. COAST GUARD COMMISSIONS NEW CUTTER IN BOSTON

Courtesy USCG- The Coast Guard’s newest cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Warren Deyampert (WPC-1151), was commissioned at Coast Guard Base Boston, March 30.

Chief Warrant Officer Lance DeFoggi, assumed command of the cutter during a ceremony presided over by Vice Admiral Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander. The Warren Deyampert is the second of six Fast Response Cutters that will be homeported in Boston, serving along the 1st Coast Guard District.

The Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) is designed for multiple missions, including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The Coast Guard has ordered 65 FRCs to replace the 1980s-era Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping.

Born in Attalla, Alabama, the cutter’s namesake joined the Coast Guard at age 19, and served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba during World War II, beginning in August, 1941. Deyampert’s primary role was within the food service rating, but he also served as one of the ship’s three rescue swimmers. Following a torpedo attack on the U.S. Army transport ship Dorchester in North Atlantic waters on Feb. 3, 1943, Deyampert swam in absolute darkness to rescue survivors in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. His efforts affected the rescue of more than 100 crewmembers, many of whom were hypothermic and unable to swim. Four months later, June 13, 1943, the Escanaba sank, following an explosion onboard that was believed to be from a torpedo attack. All but two crewmembers were killed in the explosion. Deyampert was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Purple Heart Medal for his heroic rescue of the Dorchester crew.

3RD U.S. COAST GUARD FAST RESPONSE CUTTER ARRIVES IN BOSTON

The new Fast Response Cutter USCGC Maurice Jester WPC-1152 has arrived in Boston. The 154' cutter is the 3rd out of six new FRCs being assigned to Boston. The ship’s commissioning ceremony will be held June 2, in Newport, Rhode Island.
Born in Chincoteague, Virginia, Lt. Cmcr. Maurice Jester enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1917, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer Boatswains Mate by 1936. As the United States entered World War II in 1941,Chief Jester was promoted to Lieutenant and given command of the USCGC Icarus (WPC 110). Only one year later, LT Jester along with his crew, became the first U.S. Ship to capture the crew of a German U-Boat after it’s sinking. For his heroics in the sinking and rescue of the German Sailors aboard U-352, LT Maurice Jester was awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his leadership.

MAY

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the newest Fast Response Cutter, the USCGC Maurice Jester (WPC-1152), in Rhode Island on June 1st. The Maurice Jester is the 3rd out of six new FRC's being assigned to Sector Boston.

The U.S. Coast Guard has decommissioned the USCGC Sanible (WPB-1312) after 37 years of service. The 110' Island Class cutter had been assigned to Sector Southern New England at Woods Hole, MA.

JUNE

Courtesy US Coast Guard: The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John Patterson (WPC-1153) arrived in Boston on June 28th. The newly built Fast Response Cutter has been accepted by the Coast Guard and will be fourth out of six new FRCs homeported in Boston! USCGC John Patterson joins CGC Maurice Jester (WPC-1152), CGC Warren Deyampert (WPC-1151), and CGC William Chadwick (WPC-1150), which have already been commissioned and are currently operating within the First District.
The Sentinel-class FRC is a multi-mission platform that conducts port, waterway, and coastal security patrols, fishery patrols, search and rescue missions, national defense missions, and drug and migrant interdiction.
Born in Howell, New Jersey, John Patterson joined the U.S. Life Saving Service in 1870 after fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Patterson signed on as a surfman and served at Station Sandy Hook, NJ, and Station Shark River, NJ. In 1883, Patterson became the station keeper of Shark River, where he led a heroic rescue of a yacht in distress during heavy seas. Patterson and his crew were able to launch a surfboat and get close enough to the other vessel to recover the survivors and return them to land. Patterson was awarded the Gold Life Saving Medal for his determination and valor.

AUGUST

U.S. COAST GUARD

On August 10th, the U.S. Coast Guard commissioned it's newest Fast Response Cutter, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter John Patterson (WPC 1153). The USCGC John Patterson is the 4th out of six new cutters being assigned to Boston.
The Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) is designed for multiple missions, including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The Coast Guard has ordered a total of 65 FRCs to replace the 1980s-era Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping.
John C. Patterson was born in 1834 to a local farm couple in Howell, New Jersey. Patterson volunteered as a private in New Jersey’s 14th Militia Regiment during the Civil War. He demonstrated superior leadership under pressure and quickly promoted into the officer grades where he rose to the rank of brevet brigadier general. After the war, in 1870, Patterson signed on as a surfman at the U.S. Life Saving Station in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. John Patterson served a total of 16 years in the Life-Saving Service, starting as junior-most surfman and rising to the rank of keeper. He was a keeper at two different stations and a member of the Life-Saving Service’s Advisory Board. Even after his 1886 retirement from the Service, Patterson continued to serve his community of Ocean Grove until his death.

OCTOBER

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the new Fast Response Cutter USCGC William Sparling WPC-1154 on October 19th in New Castle, NH. USCGC William Sparling is the 5th out of 6 new FRC's to be based out of Boston. The cutter is named after William Sparling, one of the first Coast Guard enlisted members to be awarded the Silver Star Medal, one of the nation’s highest military awards for valor in combat. Sparling served as a landing craft coxswain during the Battle of Tulagi, a strategically important island in the Pacific theater, during World War II. The island was captured by enemy forces in May 1942, and Allied forces were concerned that the occupation of Tulagi would be used to threaten Allied units and supply routes in the region. Allied forces arrived at Tulagi on August 7, 1942, to reestablish control of the island. The amphibious assault, supported by the landing craft piloted by Sparling and other coxswains, was the first U.S. offensive of World War II and was one of the first in a series of battles that defined the Guadalcanal campaign. During the invasion, Sparling and other coxswains landed the first wave of U.S. Marines from USS McKean on the beaches of Tulagi. Over the next three days of fighting, Sparling and others made repeated trips between the Navy destroyer and Tulagi to deliver equipment, ammunition and other supplies to Marines as they engaged a determined occupying force of 800 troops. On August 9, the remaining enemy forces surrendered, and the Allies successfully secured Tulagi.

NOVEMBER

U.S. COAST GUARD

The U.S. Coast Guard has accepted delivery of the Fast Response Cutter USCGC Melvin Bell WPC-1155. The cutter is currently in Florida, but will make it's way to Boston in the near future where it will be the sixth and final new FRC assigned to Boston.