During the Second World War Coast Guardsmen manned hundreds of Navy and Army vessels including 30 Destroyer Escorts. Coast Guard-manned ships hunted enemy submarines, protected convoys to Europe, delivered troops and supplies to the various theaters of the war, and operated landing craft which delivered troops to the invasion beaches. Coast Guard cutters and destroyer escorts played a pivotal role fighting Nazi U-Boats in the Atlantic Ocean.
Following the war, during the 1950s, destroyer escorts were once again called into Coast Guard service to serve as weather ships.
The United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are set to celebrate the U.S. Coast Guard’s 232nd birthday on Saturday, August 6th aboard USS Slater, which is at the pier in Albany. The USS Slater volunteer crew includes a strong Coast Guard contingent, dedicated to preserving a piece of American history.
This program will begin at 10 am. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for children, and free for children under 5 years old. Both Thursday the 4th, the Coast Guards actual birthday, and Saturday the 6th all Coast Guard Veterans can tour USS Slater with no admission fee.
The ship is located in Downtown Albany at the intersection of Broadway and Quay Street. For more information visit the USS Slater website.
Photo of USS Slater provided.
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