USCGC ''Ingham'' (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-35) is one of only two preserved s. Originally ''Samuel D. Ingham'', she was the fourth cutter to be named for Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham. She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations.

History 1934–1988

''Ingham'' was built at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy shipyard and was historically important for nearly two centuries. Construction of the original Philadelphia Naval Shipyard began during the American Revolution in 1776 at Front ...

. The Treasury Department awarded her contract on 30 January 1934. Her keel was laid on 1 May 1935, and she was launched on 3 June 1936, along with her sisters , and the . ''Ingham'' was christened by Ms. Katherine Ingham Brush on that date and the new cutter was formally commissioned on 12 September 1936. ''Ingham'' served with distinction during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to Britain, ''Ingham'' battled stormy weather, German

U-boat U-boats are Submarine#Military, naval submarines operated by Germany, including during the World War I, First and Second World Wars. The term is an Anglicization#Loanwords, anglicized form of the German word , a shortening of (), though the G ...

s, and enemy aircraft. On 15 December 1942, during one crossing, ''Ingham'' engaged and sank the enemy submarine ''U-626''. After 1944, ''Ingham'' served as an amphibious flagship and she would later take part in three campaigns in the Pacific Theater. ''Ingham'' was the last active warship in the US fleet with a U-Boat kill.

Convoys escorted

Post-war service

In August 1966, ''Ingham'' rescued lone sailor William Willis off the US eastern seabord, landing him at the

Argentia Argentia ( ) is a Canadian commercial seaport and industrial park located in the Town of Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula and defined by ...

Coast Guard station. Ingham USNavy 1953 cropped

''Ingham'' earned two Presidential Unit Citations for her service in Operation SEA LORDS and Operation SWIFT RAIDER during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

on a deployment from 3 August 1968 to 28 February 1969. On completion of her deployment to Vietnam, ''Ingham'' returned to regular Coast Guard duties, serving until 1988, when she was decommissioned. At that time, ''Ingham'' was the second oldest commissioned U.S. warship afloat, second only to in Boston, Massachusetts.

Museum Ship and Memorial

Ingham PointPleasant Delgado 1990 cropped

Acquired by

Patriot's Point Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is a naval museum located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, at the mouth of the Cooper River on the Charleston Harbor, across from Charleston. History The museum was born out of an idea by former nav ...

(located near Charleston, South Carolina) in 1989, ''Ingham'' was displayed along with the aircraft carrier , the destroyer , and the submarine until 20 August 2009. On 20 August 2009 ''Ingham'' was towed to the Coast Guard piers in North Charleston, South Carolina for minor repairs and to await dry docking. She underwent a short dry docking period at Detyen's Shipyard in North Charleston and was then towed to

Key West Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it con ...

, Florida arriving there on 24 November 2009. She is now a member of Key West Maritime Memorial Museum. The Commandant of the Coast Guard has declared ''Ingham'' the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Killed in Action in World War II and Vietnam. These 912 casualties are identified on a memorial plaque on Ingham's quarterdeck. ''Ingham'' was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 1992. and

Awards

* Presidential Unit Citation – 2 awards *

Coast Guard Unit Commendation The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime unit award that may be awarded to military commands of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was first created in 1963 and is presented to members of any Coast Guard unit that di ...

- 2 awards with "O" device *

Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC; pronounced ''muck'') is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The United States Army, U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstand ...

– 2 awards * Coast Guard E Ribbon – 3 awards *

China Service Medal The China Service Medal was a service medal awarded to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. The medal was instituted by Navy Department General Order No. 176 on 1 July 1942. The medal recognized service in and around China befo ...

American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal was a United States service medals of the World Wars, military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recogniz ...

with "A" device *

American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942, by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military members who had per ...

with one

battle star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...

* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars *

World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal was a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. Histo ...

Navy Occupation Service Medal The Navy Occupation Service Medal was a military award of the United States Navy which was "Awarded to commemorate the services of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel in the occupation of certain territories of the enemies of the United St ...

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It was awarded to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during any one of four s ...

with star *

Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. ...

with three campaign stars *

Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under . The medal may be awarded to members of the United States military (incl ...

* Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon *

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States ...

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry () is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal was created on August 15, 1 ...

Philippine Liberation Ribbon The Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on December 20, 1944, and was issued as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Th ...

with one star *

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal (), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949 and awarded during the First Indochina War. During the Vietnam War (Second Indochina War ...

Gallery

File:Ingham USNavy 1953 cropped.jpg, ''Ingham'' in 1953 File:Ingham.jpg, The ''Ingham'' ca. 1965 File:USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) off Vietnam c1968.jpg, USCGC ''Ingham'' (WHEC-35) off Vietnam ca. 1968 File:The USCGC Ingham in Key West.jpg, ''Ingham'' in

in 2019 File:Officer's Stateroom.jpg,

Executive Officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer ...

's stateroom File:The bow.jpg, View of the bow of the ''Ingham'' with a

5"/38 caliber gun The Mark 12 5"/38-caliber gun was a United States dual purpose gun, dual-purpose Naval artillery, naval gun, but also installed in single-purpose mounts on a handful of ships. The 38-Caliber (artillery), caliber barrel was a mid-length compromise ...

, and a 6-pounder saluting gun

References

External links

US Coast Guard Cutter Inham WHEC-35

USCGC ''Ingham''
at history.uscg.mil {{DEFAULTSORT:Ingham (WHEC-35) Treasury-class cutters World War II patrol vessels of the United States Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida Ships built in Philadelphia 1936 ships National Register of Historic Places in Key West, Florida National Historic Landmarks in Florida Ships of the United States Coast Guard Museums in Key West, Florida Museum ships in Florida