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 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 on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to Britain, Ingham battled stormy weather, German U-boats, 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 ConvoyEscort GroupDatesNotesHX 16410–19 Dec 1941from Newfoundland to IcelandON 4927 Dec 1941-5 Jan 1942from Iceland to NewfoundlandHX 17122–30 Jan 1942from Newfoundland to IcelandON 637–13 Feb 1942from Iceland to NewfoundlandHX 177MOEF group A21–8 March 1942from Newfoundland to Northern IrelandON 77MOEF group A218–26 March 1942from Northern Ireland to NewfoundlandHX 190MOEF group A320–27 May 1942from Newfoundland to Northern IrelandON 102MOEF group A310–17 June 1942from Northern Ireland to IcelandON 11625–29 July 1942Iceland shuttleSC 9329 July 1942Iceland shuttleON 11731 July-3 Aug 1942Iceland shuttleON 12424–27 Aug 1942Iceland shuttleSC 9729 Aug-1 Sep 1942Iceland shuttleON 13221–24 Sep 1942Iceland shuttleSC 10128–30 Sep 1942Iceland shuttleON 1365–9 Oct 1942Iceland shuttleSC 10310 Oct 1942Iceland shuttleConvoy SC 1075–7 Nov 1942Iceland shuttleON 1448–15 Nov 1942Iceland shuttleON 15211–15 Dec 1942Iceland shuttleSC 11216–21 Dec 1942Iceland shuttleON 16014–21 Jan 1943Iceland shuttleHX 22323–27 Jan 1943Iceland shuttleON 1754 Feb 1943Iceland shuttleConvoy SC 1185–9 Feb 1943Iceland shuttleConvoy SC 1219–11 March 1943Iceland shuttleConvoys HX 229/SC 12219–21 March 1943Iceland shuttle
Post-war service
In August 1966, Ingham rescued lone sailor William Willis off the US eastern seabord, landing him at the Argentia Coast Guard station.Willis, William The Hundred Lives of an Ancient Mariner London 1967 pp174,188
Ingham earned two Presidential Unit Citations for her service in Operation SEA LORDS and Operation SWIFT RAIDER during the Vietnam War 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
Acquired by Patriot's Point (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, 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 in 1992. and
Awards
Presidential Unit Citation – 2 awards Coast Guard Unit Commendation - 2 awards with "O" device Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation – 2 awards Coast Guard E Ribbon – 3 awards China Service Medal American Defense Service Medal with "A" device American Campaign Medal with one battle star European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with star Vietnam Service Medal with three campaign stars Humanitarian Service Medal Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Gallery
References
External links
US Coast Guard Cutter Inham WHEC-35 USCGC Ingham at history.uscg.mil