Rum Runners and the Birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard

[@jlloyd423]

The joke among us USCG veterans is our motto should be "Simply Forgot Us", a tongue-in-cheek reference to Semper Paratus. The USCG has numerous missions, but receives little recognition for what they do each and every day. I'm proud to have served and I appreciate you taking the time to research and make this video. Bravo Zulu, History Guy!

[@nuccten2227]

We used to joke that we've been doing so much for so long with so little, that eventually we'll be doing everything forever with nothing. Best 20 years of my life.

[@tpobrienjr]

I am very proud of my daughter-in-law, who is an officer in USCG. She is a fine leader and a credit to her service.

[@rogermckamey8299]

Many thanks to your DIL and all those who have put on their respective uniforms.

[@morganosborne9258]

Many thanks to your diligent for her service and a wish for a safe and rewarding career.

[@tinman00]

I worked 30 years on the water. Never needed the service of the coast guard.. but it was nice to know if bad stuff happened someone was coming.. thanks and a nod to your kin

[@patrickculver7058]

Ancient Mariner thinks this is a wonderful history lesson.

[@tpobrienjr]

@@tinman00 BTW, she is a great Mom to my grandkids.

[@stanshearer7343]

It should also be noted that on this day, 28 January in 1980, the Coast Guard ship USCGS Blackthorn sank in Tampa Bay with the loss of 23 lives. My wife knew one of them. The ship was in Tampa for retrofit but was stationed in Galveston, Texas. There is a memorial at the Coast Guard station in Galvestion.

[@joegibson4946]

I was assigned to work on the aftermath of the Blackthorn sinking in Galveston and was there when the survivors returned home. I was friends with two of the men later on before we all retired.

[@HM2SGT]

Helluvva thing, that. RIP the 23 Blue Jackets, especially recognizing Seaman Apprentice Flores. "In the best tradition of the service".

[@masterskrain2630]

There is also a memorial at the north end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg just a few miles from the location of the sinking.

[@stanshearer7343]

@@HM2SGT My wife knew Lawrence D Frye. She calls him Danny. He is buried in the National Cemetery in Houston, Texas. He was a home town boy.

[@goodoldbubba6620]

I never heard of this.

[@R182video]

My grandfather was a marine engineer and tells the story about working on a rum runner powered by Liberty aircraft engines. Many of the Coast Guard captains had been bought off by the organized crime syndicates, but they had the misfortune of being chased by one of the ones who was not. His ship was running with the throttles wide open and at a certain point he headed up to the cockpit. The captain asked why he wasn't down in the engine room tending to the engines. He replied that there was nothing more he could do to hold the engines together and that the spark plugs were glowing red. The captain nodded and kept going. They ended up running the boat ashore in a cove where a truck was waiting. The crew hopped off the rum runner, got in the truck and left the boat and cargo where it was.

[@carolynnunes3922]

I loved reading your comment, Mark! Thank you for sharing it! God bless you!👍🏾🥰👋🏾

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

So your grandfather was basically Scotty on that rumrunner? That's pretty cool.

[@R182video]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher I guess you are correct on that... Never thought of it that way though😂

[@R182video]

In another story they came into New York harbor one night and pulled into an enclosed dock. He came out of the engine room and looked up to see about a dozen NY policemen standing on the dock. His first thought was how was he going to support his wife and young twin daughters from jail. One of the policemen then took his coat off and said "OK, let's get this boat unloaded". He decided to end his career as a rum runner soon thereafter.

[@joanhoffman3702]

@@R182video That’s hilarious…and sobering, no pun intended.

[@nofaith5994]

My grandad was a rum runner. Travelling from central Ohio to Cleveland in three, REO chain drive trucks he and his partners met fishing trawlers coming from Canada, loading the whisky into hidden compartments under the floorboards of their trucks. The trawlers hauled the booze in fishing nets slung beneath their boats so if they were sighted by the Coast Guard they could simply cut the nets loose, let the cases of booze sink into Lake Erie and avoid arrest. My grandad passed away in 1971 but I still miss him.

[@evanhagen6553]

id like to find and taste some that booze at the bottom of the lake lol

[@evanhagen6553]

@@GarrishChristopherRobin777 that would be awesome

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

Thanks for reminding me. One of my grandfathers told me about how him and some friends went to Canada for one reason or another, and though they weren't trying to smuggle anything, when they came back to the US, border agents took the car completely apart...but refused to put it back together again. I don't recall what he said about what they did about it, but then, that was like fifty years ago, and not something I think about much.

[@robertweldon7909]

Yes, and where they transferred their loads became known as Whiskey Island, in down town Cleveland. Those sunken nets full of booze didn't stay there for long either..

[@radarmike6713]

As a Canadian Airman. I've worked with Army, Air, Navy, Marines and Coasties. I personally think the Coasties are the hardest working, most universally trained. And honestly down right largest "balls" service I the American arsenal of services. I use the recent Niagara Falls rescue on Dec 9th 2021. That ballsy rescue swimmer just casually lowering into the river and casually pulling that door open like nothing in that raging water and plucking that lady out of the car. The Coast Guard innately have a few screws missing to do the work they do. I respect all my neighbour nations 6 services. Just Coasties have a special place for me.

[@greganderson8374]

This old Coastie thanks you for your recognition of our service.

[@joereedmusic9853]

I joined the Coast Guard in 1974. I served at The Captain of The Port facility on Guam, the Bouy Tenders Gentian and Blackthorn respectively in Galveston, TX and Search and Rescue also in Galveston as a Boat Coxswain. Best 4 years of my life back then, and I fondly remember those I served with aboard the Blackthorn who lost their lives in Tampa Bay, and I have a great deal of respect for the service itself. Thank you for the history lesson.

[@johnwriter8234]

. thank you for this ! (USCG Veteran, helicopter crewman ..Air Station Clearwater, FL, 1978-1982) .

[@stevedietrich8936]

Much respect to the Coasties for their service. Thank you.

[@Vet-7174]

Coast Guard are America's Heroes 🇺🇸

[@agilemalinois1602]

I was there 78-80 as an MST in the weather office and flew on the C130 for icewarn in Cleveland.

[@johnwriter8234]

@Agile Malinois wow! .. I crewed many hours in Hercs, you remember AIRSTA CLWR CO Captain Whitely? Who did you fly with?

[@grimreaper6557]

I have known Coasties and they are some of the bravest people i have had the pleasure of knowing 24/7 365 there out there patrolling and rescuing those lost or in danger at sea from the frozen alaska to the heat of the deep south there always out there helping someone.

[@privateer177666]

The off the book’s motto was that “We have to go out, but don’t have to come back” Semper Paratus B

[@terrybennett2982]

When I told my WW1 Navy veteran grandfather I was joining the Coast Guard in the late 1970s he laughed! Followed by ‘joining the young man’s canoe club’ amongst other epitaphs. I cherished his ribbing for the remainder of his years. Starting in boot camp, I was informed that the official birthday was: “August 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton to create the Revenue Marine. Thanks - The History Guy for this informational update to the history of this prestigious service. Semper Paratus!

[@jamesbyrd468]

"Don't all good stories involve pirates", Makes me smile. Thanks for the USCG story. CWO4RET, USCG.

[@markmiller6441]

My relatives ran booze from Brighton, Ontario to Syracuse, New York. The US Coast guard sank their boat in Lake Ontario. The men on board drowned spurring the book Booze Boats and Billions. The book contained a poem of which I have the original hand written copy. Thanks for all you do, THG.

[@markbyrum4743]

Great video. As a former US Coast Guard officer, i knew of the Coast Guard's history and significant growth during the Rum Wars and the Second World War, but was unaware how precariously close the Coast Guard came to bring absorbed into the Navy just before the Rum Wars. Thanks for sharing that history which deserves to be remembered!

[@craigsmith8217]

Boat development advanced greatly during this era. Sub-planing hulls were invented to provide a smooth ride in choppy seas to help keep the bottles from breaking. Engine design and hull development advanced greatly, laying the groundwork for a fast Navy. Shipyards could be building fast boats for the Coast Guard and faster boats for the rum runners at the same time.

[@bryantsemenza9703]

Wow. Thank you from a retired CPO of the US Coast Guard. Excellent segment and well deserved. It’s unfortunate that our many accomplishments are over shadowed by our small size. Our brother and sister branches of the armed services, have always been there for us. That’s what makes us great as well. There is so much forgotten history in the US Coast Guard and thank you for always remembering this Nobel service.

[@Wavy_Gravy]

Y'all are puddle pirates. Join a real branch.

[@danjohnston9037]

I have gone my entire life not realizing I shared my birthday with The Coast Guard Thanks THG !

[@HM2SGT]

Happy birthday shipmate👍🎂

[@Vet-7174]

Happy birthday!!

[@sparky9370]

Happy birthday 🎉🎂

[@constitutionalUSA]

Am very proud of my son serving with the CG. Good production, thanks

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

One difference to being in the Coast Guard as opposed to the other branches of the military - is that while, unless we are at war, the other branches spend most of their time practicing to do their real job. The Coast Guard is doing it's real job all the time. The thing with the other branches is that there is a lot of pettiness and make work because they are only practicing to do their real job. Once they are at war - a lot of that is reduced in scale. Always doing their real job - there's less pettiness in the Coast Guard - though - I would certainly not want to suggest that there wasn't any ... .

[@kragfearghal]

Thanks THG for a great lesson about our USCG. I had two Uncles that were members each serving over 20 years each. Both saw action in WWII .

[@kathyastrom1315]

Elizabeth Friedman was the Coast Guard’s code breaker in the 1920s. She and her husband William had been the main code breakers for the US army in WWI, and they had moved to DC after the war so William could continue his intelligence work for the navy. Elizabeth became famous in her testimony against the rum runners in court. I highly recommend the book The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone, and the PBS American Experience episode The Codebreaker that was adapted from the book.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I intend to do an episode on Elizabeth Friedman, just haven't gotten to it.

[@lindahudson6685]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Her name is spelled Elizebeth. I worked with her son, John, at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ. John told me stories of his parents' work. He and his wife took care of Elizebeth for some years as she declined due to Alzheimer's.

[@kennyhagan5781]

Thanks for this one in particular. I've always believed that the Coast Guard is a fine example of what law enforcement should look like. 🏆

[@John-tx1wk]

I don't know, that not having to follow the 4th Amendment is a bit sketchy for law enforcement.

[@jcs8568]

@@John-tx1wkAh, but that was done for a reason. The powers of the Coast Guard were granted by the same First Congress that wrote and ratified the Bill of Rights.

[@richardbarr3289]

A big Thank You from a former Coast Guardsman! Still to this doing the most 24/7 with the least (Personnel and equipment) since 1790! BZ

[@navret1707]

Happy Birthday, all you Puddle Pirates. And don’t all good stories involve pirates? 👍 🇺🇸 My maternal grandfather was a Coastie in WWII. I flew several support ops with the Coast Guard in SAR missions. Some of these guys are flat out crazy! I’ve seen the divers jump out of a helo into seas that were just terrifying. To say nothing about the helo drivers flying in those winds. We, in the P-3, we’re getting beat to death. I couldn’t imagine what the helo crew was going through. My hat is off to you guys. You’ve got big brass ones.

[@TheDoctor1225]

They do indeed. Watching their cutters go through the seas that they do to perform SAR in the worst of storms is enough to make me take my hat off to them. They deserve all that respect, and more.

[@Switcharoo12]

In my town (Bar Harbor, Maine)we have the Criterion theater that was built as a front for rum running here. Lobster boats used to pick up booze coming in from Canada on moonless nights running in the pitch black using the sound of waves breaking on the shore to feel their way around. When the theater changed ownership and was undergoing renovations and repairs a speakeasy was discovered behind a brick wall in the basement; that was remodeled to be the green room lounge for live acts preforming there. The building is on the Historic register, I encourage anyone to check it out for themselves. The coast of Maine was a great stop for rum running because there's so many small coves, sounds and other places to hide. At one point I had my hands on one of the codebooks the runners used to relay messages back to the ships sitting offshore. Anyway, nice piece of history, thank you for posting it. ***Speaking of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island, you should do a piece on the 1947 fire here; that fire wiped out dozens of summer homes belonging to the high society of the time (Ford's, Rockefellers etc etc) along with 2/3 of the National park.***

[@edbooth946]

Thanks for the history of my Service. I'm sure that most of the video's viewers were once Coasties, but hopefully some of them, and some non--Coasties as well, learned a few things from it. My Dad and I both served well over 30 years in the Coast Guard and while he was stationed on a couple of those six bitters before they were retired from service, they were long gone before I enlisted.

[@MayheM_72]

Funny story...my Dad's father was in the Coast Guard during Prohibition, and my Mom's father was either a bootlegger. They didn't know each other during Prohibition (my parents were born in '40 and '41) but it's funny that I had family on both sides of the issue.

[@joanhoffman3702]

You must have some interesting stories!

[@insanehippiehippieinsane3828]

Fun fact the Kennedy family got thier money from Whisky Running during Prohibition.

[@Tallness1000]

Oh almighty algorithm, for which we live to feed, bless this Guy of History, educated he be, with views, subscriptions, and Patreon followers. For he brings the knowledge to us all. Blessed he be. Fin

[@dawnstorm9768]

🤣

[@RetiredSailor60]

I served with members of the US Coast Guard while stationed in Manama Bahrain with COMUSNAVCENT (5th Fleet) in 1992-93. When I attended Operations Specialist A School at Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic Dam Neck in Virginia Beach in 1986/87, my class had US Coast Guard Sailors.

[@joanhoffman3702]

I’m loving all the great stories people have shared in the comments. Happy birthday, USCG! You guys rock!

[@benandrick2337]

I bet it was awesome being a rum runner! With no radar or helicopters you'd have a decent shot. Thanks history family.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Miami Vice....the early years. 🥃

[@travismiller5548]

Yikes, no seat belts or air bags though. most of the roads weren't paved. That would have been really hard work.

[@swampyankee]

CG veteran here... suggest doing a story on the Coast Guard 'racing stripe", probably one of the top marketing moves in the last 100 years.

[@seathrunmagaoinghous4119]

Yes do this

[@Vet-7174]

Thanks Fellow Veteran for your Service 🇺🇸

[@adventuresinmodelrailroading]

I was wondering when the classic paint scheme was adopted.

[@swampyankee]

@@adventuresinmodelrailroading In the late 1960's, though the CGC Eagle didn't receive her stripe until 1976 for the Bicentennial.

[@adventuresinmodelrailroading]

@@swampyankee Ok. I assume the Eagle is CG's wooden training ship?

[@elcastorgrande]

The story is that Bill McCoy's honest dealing in liquor (no mislabeling, no adulteration) was the basis for the phrase "the real McCoy" to refer to genuine goods. Cutty Sark put out a line of what they called "Prohibition Edition" blended Scotch whiskey (100 proof) as a salute to Captain McCoy. You'd only drink it after you'd made out your will.

[@Paladin1873]

In my early youth I spent my summers in Tampa, FL, where my grandfather, a WWI Navy veteran, was very actively involved in American Legion Post 5 on Bay Street, just off Bayshore Blvd. The Post, which was named after the Tampa, had a beautiful stained glass window inside which contained the names of the crew and a figure of the ship, and was dedicated as a memorial to the men of the USS (USCGC) Tampa. Her sinking represented the greatest single combat loss of active duty US military personnel at sea in WWI and (proportionally) the highest number of causalities of all the services. Ten percent of her crew were native Tampians. When Post 5 relocated to Kennedy Blvd, the stain glass window went with it.

[@theislandboy8]

Thanks for shedding some light on our small service! Joined the CG in 2012, still in! MK2 billings

[@johnharris1636]

My wife being a teacher arranged a field trip for her class that I acted as a chaperone on. It was to the Revenue Cutter California, a tall ship visiting Monterey, CA. The skipper moved her out into the bay for a short run and prepped one of the guns for firing. When it failed to discharge, he needed help flooding it with sea water and moving it out of battery and another gun into place. Being the only other adult male on board, I was only too happy to lend my services! It is a great ship and thanks to the Coast Guard and all our armed services!

[@01cthompson]

My relatives' farms in Rhode Island were used for hiding booze brought in by boat. People would find money in their mailboxes after the fact. In some cases they didn't even realize they'd been helping.

[@Napoleon1815-l8c]

Thank you for posting this. The Coast Guard is often not as recognized as much as the Army or the Navy, but they play an important role in keeping us safe and free. Do you think you could make a video sometime on the Coast Guard's war on drugs that is currently going on?

[@carolecarr5210]

My cousin, Richard Wright graduated from the CG Academy in 1966 and served for 30 years - I have always been very proud of him. Thanks for this history lesson about that great institution.

[@donaldoehl7690]

The only Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Coast Guard sailor was at Guadalcanal in WWII. He saved many Marines.

[@WhaleGold]

Yes, Douglas Munro, buried in Cle Elum, WA. Only 2 1/2 hours or so from me, been thinking next time I go to Seattle I will stop and visit his grave, but while I used to go to Seattle area quite often, haven't done so now in many years.

[@paulnormandin5267]

History Guy, love this channel. Your videos and your presentation are informative and engaging. As a retired Coast Guardsman, I loved this piece. Could you add, on your long list of future projects, a discussion on the USCG class of ships we referred to as 378s? These vessels were the first US warships to incorporate design features that would later become Naval standards for similar and some larger class ships. Their 50 plus year record defending the United States coast and assisting the Navy across the globe is History That Deserves to be Remembered.

[@maryrothfuchs9404]

One of the finest men I knew was a Coast Guardsman. He was proud of his service (retired!) Sadly he has passed away due to heart issues that happened in his later years. Thanks for this episode.

[@michaelgeary4978]

Mr. Geiger, from one teacher to another, thank you for this episode. At 14:40 you mentioned Horace Alderman killing three in 1927. That prompted me to write a book-length manuscript I'm presently trying to get published. Alderman was the last man ever executed in America for piracy on the high seas. Quite a story in itself.

[@connorkilgour3374]

At a museum here in Thunder Bay there's a small cabin cruiser boat on display built in 1901/02 that was reportedly used as a rum runner on Lake Superior during this time.

[@paulkeith5000]

I grew up in the 50's in a small coastal town on Cape Cod Bay where my Grandfather was the Harbor Master, retired from his earlier position as a Merchant Marine skipper. He delighted in taking us kids on his boat to a site where the "bones" of an old Rum Runner that had been run aground were still visible. The picture that was published in our local paper when he died shows him holding up a bottle of confiscated rum, adorned with seaweed and barnacles, that he had dug out of the wreckage years later. I wasn't old enough to appreciate it at the time, but I do remember him saying that "That was some fine stuff". No one in the family has that bottle today - just the picture - so we just have to assume that he enjoyed it very much before he passed away. Damn! I wish I had some of that tonight as I watched this video!

[@nckoes]

Wife of a retired Coastie. Love this! Hubby says thank you!

[@terrallputnam7979]

Happy Birthday Coast Guard! My little airplane a 1961 Ercoupe served in the Coast Guard Reserve flying out of Corpus Christi, Texas by the previous owner and a Hero of mine. He served the Coast Guard Reserve by flying his plane over the Gulf of Mexico looking for Drug Runners, illegal boat people, and boaters in danger on the water. God bless him and the US Coast Guard and Reserve.

[@WatchesTrainsAndRockets]

The Coast Guard vessel on which my father served in WWII was a yacht that the USCG had seized for smuggling on the Great Lakes during prohibition.

[@Harleyever]

Great history and recognition of the U.S. Coast Guard...." Happy Birthday " 1970 to 1974 EM-2. " Semper Paratus " (Always Ready)

[@nuccten2227]

X-Ray 13, Cape May 12/70. Good times

[@stanwolenski9541]

When the weather goes to crap the fools who decided to ride it out call the Coasties to save their sorry butts.

[@HM2SGT]

I was enlisted in the Navy (Corpsman) & while we needle our brothers in arms about being puddle pirates in the Knee-Deep Navy, they are out there doing it for real 24/7 365. Semper Paratus!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Agreed, the seagoing services do like to stress "always" in their mottos. Marines are always loyal, Coasties are always ready, and Sailors are always courageous. Space Force has decided they are "always above." The Army and Air Force don't, apparently, speak Latin.

[@richardbarr3289]

Keep on needling us shallow water sailors and we will keep on escorting the Deep water brothers into ports across the nation. We insure your safety and ensure you don’t get lost! Simper Paramus!

[@Paladin1873]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel The Air Force sees no reason to speak a foreign language just so the hired help will understand us.

[@TestTestGo]

@@Paladin1873 Latin isn't really a foreign language, its a dead one. You don't use it so that people understand you better. English would be a better bet if that's your goal. You use it either to speak very precisely, or to sound grandiose and profound.

[@haggis525]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I'm retired RCN.... we are rather a simple lot, I guess. Our motto is "Ready, aye, ready."

[@stevedietrich8936]

Happy Friday THG. I'll drink to that.

[@uprebel5150]

My Grandfather was a rum runner near Algonac, Michigan which is just miles from Canada over Lake St. Clair. He said frequently that Prohibition was a farce. He had 7 children whom he said never went without during The Great Depression. Something that he was very proud of.

[@dirtcop11]

I grew up in Hannibal, MO and there was a Coast Guard office in Hannibal for many years. They were charged with the oversight of commercial shipping on the Mississippi River.

[@craigtupper103]

My Great Grandfather owned and ran both a three masted schooner as a mothership and a small, canoe ended gas powered ship of about 70 tonnes for rum running. The latter burned to the waterline up a creek the year after prohibition was repealed. I grew up on stories of being chased from Boston harbor by Revenue cutters, and dropped cargoes.

[@dawnstorm9768]

The Life Saving Stations along the Outer Banks (and other coastal areas) would merit its own episode!

[@uscgrd]

Ex Coastie myself. The National Motor Lifeboat School at Cape Disappointment warrants it's own episode!

[@TheCactusSoldier]

My cousin served in the U.S.Navy as a quartermaster first class he was discharged before WWII but after the war broke out he checked the casualty figures and the Coast Guard had the lowest number so he joined the Coast Guard and Commanded an LST in the war after serving for awhile he found out thaa the reason for the fewer casualties was because there were so few of them at the start of the war. He retied from the coast guard as a lieutenant commander.

[@georgehartshorn9018]

As a longtime sailor ( the blow boat kind) I was always happy to see the Coast Guard around the area we were sailing. During the 1988 Olympic Trials in San Diego we had the navy looking after us with a submarine via the echo location pings on our hulls. Noisy but effective. Apparently we were all listed as terror targets by someone over my pay grade. Interesting times.

[@jakeelks587]

Glad you're telling our history. Keep it up! Funding the USCG is some of the best value for our tax dollars. CWO3 USCGR.

[@patrickcraig6032]

Thanks for telling this CG history.Proud to have served in the USCG 1972-1993.Semper Paratus!!

[@vansongs]

While not about this video particularly, I remember hearing that sound quality was more important than video quality to most people. I think that the cadence of your voice is such that the accompanying images while a perk, they are really unnecessary to the experience. It is the musical quality of your voice with the information presented succinctly that really sets you apart.

[@JefeDow]

Familiar with the late Paul Harvey, aka "The Prince of Pause"? Radio broadcaster known for "and now... the rest of the story". I entirely agree with your assessment of THG. My love of history drew me here long ago, but his storytelling repeatedly keeps me waiting for each next episode... thanks, THG & son, you're authentic, original artists and we enjoy your beautiful presentations.

[@vansongs]

@@JefeDow Indeed

[@Nudnik1]

USCG saved my brothers life...Hurricane Dorian off Bahamas. A chopper pulled him and a few injured people off Abaco. Respect always!

[@kathyastrom1315]

Speaking of pirates, you could do an episode about Jan Janszoon, the Dutch privateer turned Barbary Coast Corsair who became President of the city-state of Sale in what is now Morocco as well as grand admiral of their fleet. He had two sons Anthony and Abraham who moved to New Amsterdam and left a long and storied legacy with many famous descendants, as well as not famous ones like me (Anthony and Jan were my 11th and 12th great grandfathers). Anthony is thought to have been the first devout Muslim resident in the American colonies.

[@gardenrailroading]

I had the pleasure to work on a Seattle based Tugboat in the early 1980's, that was originally christened the USCG Rumrunner Chaser "Tiger" WSC-152. She was built in 1927 and she was renamed to the "Polar Merchant", she was one of the Best Tugboats that I ever had the pleasure of working on!

[@kb8wfh]

Love it all, especially the stories about the Coast Guard. My daughter is a cadet at the academy and about to graduation this Spring. Have a suggestion of you for a topic. Take look at the interesting history of the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and where it came from. Some interesting history there.

[@drewzilla4800]

My Father used to tell me a story about when they flew PBYs out of a certain base in MA to the Bahamas as sub hunters.... They took off heavy and would drop their sensors along the way and then expected to come back "light" . Many times they asked for a "heavy" roll out and the tower would ask why? as they were empty. The reply was always light liftoffs were easy and long rolls were difficult, good training pays off. They always got approval and they needed it. The unit would pool their funds and all had great rum supplies...

[@raymondclark1785]

EC-121's flying home from Bermuda were running booze too

[@jwash7614]

Semper Paratus! From a Coast Guard Guy. ⚓😃 Thank You for all that you do History Guy.

[@edwardheida2919]

Raise a glass and cheers to the Coast Guard 🍻

[@johnwohlwend9221]

We had to go out but not make it back. CG 68-72 Ecity goat hearder (HU-16) with ADCM(AP)Greathouse

[@robertstepanek2414]

Thank you THG! I'm hooligan sailor and love to hear about CG history.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Read a story in the Navy Times yesterday about 2 Coast Guard Cutters paid a port visit to Alexandria Egypt enroute to Bahrain via the Suez Canal.

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

Proud to have been a part of the US Coast Guard ('86 - '90). Port Clarence, AK; ANT Astoria, OR; and USCGC Yocona (WMEC 168). Fun and interesting history.

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

One of your most relevant history lessons. Prohibition does not work any better in the 21st century. Unless unprecedented expenditures is the goal. In which case, its working great!

[@edletain385]

The Coast Guard also employed Elizebeth Smith Friedman, wife of US cryptanalyst William Friedman and an extremely talented cryptanalyst in her own right to break the rumrunner's codes. While working for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Prohibition and Customs, and the Department of Justice, she solved over 12,000 rum-runners' messages in three years. One of the individuals Friedman helped to indict was Al Capone. PS. Yes, that is the correct spelling of her first name.

[@richardmourdock2719]

Great stuff as always. Interesting that St. Pierre and Miquleon got mention here. Few know that France is just off the coast of Newfoundland.

[@goldgeologist5320]

Look at that smile when THG got to bring up pirates!

[@timmund1485]

This one was a real gem! As always, thank you!

[@carlosacevedo6009]

"Los muchachos de Cataño, ya no pueden contrabandear, porque el gobierno tiene una lancha que juega con las olas del mar." A Puertorican Plena (song) from the point of view of Rum Runners in Puerto Rico (Cataño is still where Bacardi Rum is made). It says that the boys from Cataño can not smuggle anymore, because the government has got a boat that plays with the waves of the sea.

[@k.c1126]

They used to run rum from Cuba and Hispaniola up through the Bahamas to the Carolinas all the time during that period. That was a boom period for The Bahamas, and when it ended some formerly obscure Bahamian families had become part of the economic elite. You can be sure the repeal of the Volstead Act was viewed with disappointment throughout the Caribbean .... lol ...

[@JosePerez-vz1qq]

What rum was made in Cataño when Bacardí was still being made in Santiago de Cuba?

[@carlosacevedo6009]

@@JosePerez-vz1qq Rum production in Puerto Rico goes back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Cataño was set as a shipping center for Sugar Cane from the Bayamon and surrounding areas, facilitating the transport over to the San Juan Bay. Those run makers would look for access to the ships and transports from the Bay to ports in USA. Bacardí later picked that location because of the access to the sugar cane molasses from the area's sugar production.

[@mxpxdrums]

Goes pretty well with Destin's from "Smarter Everyday" Coast Guard series!!

[@livefree223]

Here I am not even having known the USCG wasn't a branch until 1915. Love the video as always. Flag was a nice touch.

[@timothydonahue7301]

When I was patrolling the Carribean in the Coast Guard, the DEA gave us a briefing, he told us the smugglers down there Hated The Coast Guard!!!,,,Because we where the only outfit, standing in their way, that couldn't be bought.

[@privateer177666]

As a Machinery Technician 3rd Class serving w/Group Baltimore I spent some time on Thomas Point Shoals L/S in the Chesapeake Bay. Fun times & fond memories of my ‘shipmates’ and sorely wish to thank them all but have not had the opportunity to do so. Fair well & following seas, Brothers. Simple Apparatus….

[@tedking6790]

Incredible work as always, THG. I love your work, and it brightens so many of my days. Thanks for all you do.

[@tygrkhat4087]

Bill McCoy, the legendary rumrunner, may have helped contribute a phrase to the English language. His liquor was said to be of the highest quality, so if you got your booze through the efforts of Bill McCoy; you knew you were getting "the real McCoy."

[@carolecarr5210]

Ah so that's where it came from - interesting.

[@suburban404]

And the word, "booze", comes from the name of the bottle maker, from south Jersey.

[@ProtectionOfficerThomasLawson]

Thank you history lesson sir, it was very informative. I plan to enlist in the u.s. Coast Guard so I want to know as much about them as possible.

[@jeffsherman3445]

I always am impressed with your historical presentations, however I was disappointed in the lack of the rum runners significant movement of booze across the Great Lakes and the difficult enforcement of prohibition by the coast guard on these waters. I believe if you look into it you could make a separate segment on just the Great Lakes rum runners and the boats specially made for this endeavor. Also the Coast Guard had to buy the same type of boats to try to catch the rum runners.

[@tygrkhat4087]

One of the problems with the Coast Guard enforcing Prohibition on the Great Lakes was winter. Erie is the only one that can completely freeze over, but enough ice would form to keep all boats in. So in winter, the main points of entry would be Detroit, Buffalo and Niagara Falls; where all the bridges are. My grandparents immigrated from Canada in the 1920s. Grandfather didn't drink, but grandmother did. He would take her to speakeasies until she found a reliable bootlegger.

[@tayhlorpogacsas7200]

Good video as always thanks

[@otpyrcralphpierre1742]

Alas! Finally bringing a story including Pirates! My Dad served in the Merchant Marines during WW2.

[@bbrut3332]

So did my Dad, out of Houston on the NYC runs.

[@johnkufeldt3564]

All of your good stories include pirates! Cheers from Calgary AB Canada.

[@stevek8829]

Here in NJ McCoy is known among the baymen of the Atlantic City area and the local historians. A good bit of offloading went on in the back bays and rivers. The story goes that McCoy's products were so desired that the practice developed to ask if it was, "The Real McCoy." I grew up thinking that was the origin of the phrase.

[@blackstone777]

You are 100% correct. It's the origin of the phrase.

[@dalespringerwilson4233]

I can't lie, every time any stretch can be made between history and a pirate. When you say don't all good stories involve pirates ? It sends shivers up my spine, I smile and almost cry at the same time ! It shivers me timbers.....

[@rickparsley3598]

Excellent program I am never disappointed with any of the THG programs ❤

[@argentum530]

Old Silver Family History: Napa Valley CA. circa Prohibition years... Grandpa and Grandma lived near Napa, having moved from West Texas just before the Dust Bowl. They enjoyed the glass or two of wine with dinner, and a little Brandy on special occasions. When Prohibition was enacted, they were still able to supply their wants by virtue of living in the as yet not widely know wine region of Napa Valley. Their monthly trip up valley to Yountville and a turn around to the back of the "hay barn" allowed them to drive up, exchange an empty for a full and a couple of dollars in cash or barter (chickens, pies, vegetables or items of handwork) for a jug of wine and once in awhile a bottle of brandy, all made locally during the entirety of Prohibition. Sacramental wine was excepted, and brandy was medicinal, when made under "local authority"... Told to me by my Mom and Grandma. RIP Ladies, your tales of old are not forgotten...

[@ohms497]

Rum runners. Awesome. Apparently I have a rum runner grand father I never met. As a navy brat and navy vet, worked side by side with Coast Guard. The navy and coast guard are like this.🤞

[@shawnr771]

Happy Birthday Coast Guard.

[@danherold2730]

Perhaps a story about prohibition should include a story about the dollar and a quarter cutters built to catch rum runners. Also, there were 2 irs agents Izzy and Moe that were quite effective.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I mentioned the "Buck and a Quarters" in this episode. Talked about Izzy and Moe here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpTPkHuootmaf80

[@Pygar2]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Have you done anything on the loss of the CG vessel "Mesquite"?

[@trombone113]

This past spring I lost a really good friend of mine. He grew up near Hatteras and was a direct descendant of the Midgette family that had made the life saving service in North Carolina what it is today. All the boats they had at that time were powered by oars. And regardless of weather or tragedy,, they went out. The rule at the time was if they made 3 attempts but were unsuccessful, they could come back in and not be required to render any more assistance. And yes, there were times they had failed 3 times. However, they always went out again unless they couldn't. And during WW2 there was a British ship that was headed south from from Norfolk, Virginia. I do not remember exactly why, but the ship had caught fire and leaked tons of bunker oil. The coast guard having been called out, went. They quickly learned they could not get in close enough with their cutter and went back out with row boats. They weee finally able to get in close to one area with burning bunker oil and pulled the British sailors aboard. They quickly left the area in time to see the entire place they had just got the sailors from completely engulfed in fire. They pulled those sailors out just in time saving them from a horrible death. My friend was also present when the coast guard cutter Midgette was commissioned in honor of his family. RIP Wayne. I know you are surrounded by the heroic family you were so proud of.

[@raystory7059]

Fast boats that have hulls that plane are also shallow draft vessels that can go places a displacement hulls draft won't let them and a good knowledge of local shoals was quite an advantage close to inshore waters if chased by the C.G.

[@joynewsome6913]

The plug for Locals at the end is - fabulous - !!!! 😂😂😂

[@NathanPK]

Despite this date, the Coast Guard celebrates its birthday on 4 August 1790, the date of the founding of the Revenue Cutter Service. The US Life-Saving Service was born in 1848 and merged with USRCS in 1915 to form the USCG. However, the USCG’s oldest component is the US Lighthouse Service, which began in 1789, and was merged with the Coast Guard in 1939. Other agencies which were later merged into the USCG we’re the Steamboat Inspection Service (1871) and the Bureau of Navigation (1884), both combined in 1932 and merged in 1946. Sender Paratus!