One of my most fascinating stories of our Coast Guard's performance during World War II! Thanks History Guy for remembering the USCGC ICARUS & LCDR Maurice Jester! SEMPER PARATUS! Vince Patton, MCPOCG, USCG Ret.
My mother, as a teenage girl, lived on Long Beach Island, NJ in the early days of the war. She said it was not uncommon to see the glow of a burning ship on the horizon and to find wooden crates and debris, and an occasional body, wash up on the beach in the days after. She agreed that the country was not ready and remarked how the Barnegate lighthouse was still lit every night at the beginning of the war. On a different matter, she also told us how the major department stores would shoot all their swim-suit shots at the beach in December and January. They would have a huge bonfire on the beach and the models would be wrapped in blankets around the fire until it was their turn to be filmed, where they would go frolic in the ankle deep waves while the photographer took his shots. Each model would last about 5 minutes, then she would wrap up in a blanket around the fire and another would take her place in front of the camera.
Great video! My grandfather was US Navy and then retired from the Coast Guard as a captain. It is because of him I have a deepened love of the US Navy and the USCG. GO Coasties!
There’s an old abandoned watch tower in the Chesapeake, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Its purpose was to prevent U boats from reaching Lancaster, Pennsylvania... home of the Hamilton watch company. The only company contracted to create navy chronometers
My late father-in-law’s best friend was the XO on the Icarus so I heard this story (and more than once!). He was griped because he thought the entire crew should have gotten Navy Crosses! A great tale, thanks for telling it!
I was in the Coast Guard in the 70s and was on a buoy tender that was built in the 30s. It also was 165 feet long. I was told that it was an ammunition carrier in WWII since it had a crane on it. We went from Canada down to about Boston setting and replacing marker buoys. On the West Coast on a Cutter we often went out 200 miles or more and it can get bumpy. I also did not know about this battle but we were taught a lot of history, including the Sullivan brothers in WWII. The CG only had about 50,000 men when I was in, compared to a million or so in the Army. When you're trained well, which we were, you go on autopilot in an emergency. You simply do what you've been taught to do. Each man has a job to do and does it. Now I'm happy to say there are plenty of women in the CG, doing the same jobs that only men used to do. But we trained all the time with the Navy in war games.
As a former submariner all I can say is... *Incredible story, impeccably researched and beautifully told.* Thank you, sir... You have done the sailors of navies all over the world a great honor.
A nice video HG. My jaw hit the floor when you said this yacht was catching rum runners and was only capable of 13 knots though. Heck, the old sailing ships were that fast and the U-boats could do 17 when surfaced. This little boat was way out of its league. They were riding on angels shoulders to have accomplished what they did.
Once again many thanks from an old Coastie. So few people are aware of the many roles the USCG has played since its inception by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790. I personally as a Coastguardsman have played war games with the Navy, run Drug Interdiction Patrols, recovered suicide victims, was first Cutter on scene during the Valdez Oil Spill, have been the shotgun guy on many boardings, commissioned a Cutter, decommisioned a Cutter, been on many Alpats (before World's Deadliest Catch was ever a thing) have been through the Panama Canal twice, have gone flank through a gale with a 48' sea state on a SAR call and I have seen flying fish, white sandy beaches with phosphorescent breaking waves at midnight in Aruba, rain blowing back into the sky in Adak and finally had the good fortune not to be vaporized while fighting an ocean going tug boat fire in Washington. I was awarded the Coast Guard Operational Achievement Medal (O) for that one. All in four years. It's a pretty amazing service!
Eric Heath, I am also a veteran of Uncle Sam's Confused Group (1964-1968) and I don't think of "Coastie" as an insult. After all it was what we called ourselves! I can even laugh at "Puddle Pirates" and some of the other things going around. The people that count know we are "the guys that sail IN to hurricanes".
Great video. I learned of the Icarus while at Cape May. I served on the U.S.C.G.C Sedge. The cutter Sedge was a WWII Eastern Pacific patrol vessel. It's length was 180 feet with two 12 cylinder 1,200 hp supercharged diesel engines giving it a top speed of 13 knots. Years after the war the Sedge was assigned ws an bouy tender in Alaska where I served on it at it's homeport of Homer Alaska. Great little ship, however in rough seas it bounced around just like a cork. It had a rounged hull which only added to the rolling. Got many Navy guys seaside when they came on-board to do refresher training (I have to admit... it was funny watching those tough sailers puking over the side of our little home away from home).
My father was a machinist’s mate on the Icarus when it sank U 352. Collecting the corpses of the enemy affected my father so much that he put in a request for shore duty. He only spoke of this to my mother. Wartime accounts were absent in our home.
I've been watching these videos for a few days and wanted to acknowledge your craft. You tell the stories with tremendous economy and fine use of both stills and video. Everything is well paced, nothing is longer than it needs to be, and the context is always there. The contrast with heavily-padded hour-long history documentaries is remarkable. And your "deserves to be remembered" gives each one a nice little closing note without going too far. Is there a staff helping, or are you doing this all yourself? Because if you are doing this all yourself, it's a remarkable achievement.
There's really a startling amount of good stuff going on here. Your writing and delivery in particular are doing a lot of work to make the stories clear and vivid. Writing for voice in a way that lets you deliver complex stories is a special art. I don't know whether you even realise it, but you are doing this at a very high level. Your timing of images is helping too. Doing it all yourself, including the editing of the visuals, may be helping you here. But whatever - you're hitting it out of the park time after time.
Thank you for this piece of history. Maurice Jester is my great grandfather whom I am also named after. Mr. Rathke had written a letter to my great grandfather after the war and thanked him for his kindness and respect that he had showed to him and his crew after sinking the u boat. This video has given me some more insight as to what happened on that day. Thank you again for keeping history alive!
Both of my parents served in the WWII Coast Guard. My father's ship, the COWSLIP (careful how you say that) was out in the hurricane of '43. No shallow water then. In our house it has always been USCG!
I served on the USCGC COWSLIP WLB-277 in Portland Maine 1966-67. It’s still afloat now in the Nigerian Navy. She had a long serve in the US Coast Guard and was stationed in ports on both coasts. Simper Paratus.
Stephen, thanks for your service. We have looked at the COWSLIP's service it really is most impressive. She was at sea in 1943 for the big hurricane that year. She struggled her way through it and into St Johns, Newf. I'm happy to hear from another alum of the old girl .
What's infuriating here in Canada is that veterans groups, like the Canadian Legion, have spent 70 years trying to downplay the contributions of the merchant marines and block them from any of the benefits military veterans received. Merchant marines are not welcome to join the Legion, they can't access veteran hospitals, veteran counselling, or any of the other advantages given to military veterans. Given the terrible risks run by the merchant marines, their utterly crucial and unheralded role in winning the war, and the sheer numbers killed while serving, it's obnoxiously ignorant for the veteran lobby to deliberately campaign to have their contributions ignored.
I'm sorry for your Merchant Marine Vets...sure hope things can change for them. Our Vets also have not had in the past, and still do in many areas, the proper help that they deserve. My next door neighbor is a VietNam vet; was exposed to Agent Orange, and had to fight for years to finally get some disability for exposure. Our VA hospitals range from excellent and quick help to others that don't give a damn about treating the local Vets. Many Vets will die before getting the mountains of paperwork and endless red tape finished in order to get some help. Our VA. situation is improving, but still has weak areas.
There was an old security guard at work about 25 yrs ago here in Calgary that I got talking to and found out he was one of those merchant marines who survived WW2. Pretty sad to hear about how they weren't recognized by the Canadian government as being veterans. He was understandably bitter as hell. The way our government treats people who served this country is pretty ridiculous sometimes. I watched a remembrance day special a couple years ago and a guy who had both legs blown off above the knees in Afghanistan had to prove every year that he was still permanently disabled. This went on for a number of years when the Government came to their senses a bit and changed it to every 3 years.
+mako88sb The Mac-Paps have the same problem. Because they volunteered to go and fight Nazis before the government officially declared war, their contributions have been completely ignored. The Legion won't recognize them, the government refuses to acknowledge them.
Thanks for that info. I was completely unaware of the Mac-Paps. Pretty ridiculous behavior by our government again since we eventually did end up fighting those same people that the volunteers recognized as a problem that needed to be dealt with so why wouldn't they be given the proper treatment once we declared war on Germany? Was it just about saving money? I'm sure that's the case with the merchant marines since there was so many of them. I suppose if the government did the right thing for the Mac-Paps, then the precedent would be set giving the merchant marines a very strong case. Meanwhile, how much money is going towards helping out these illegal immigrants? A bit maddening sometimes.
+mako88sb The Mac-Paps were anti-fascists at a time when Canada and the US were tacitly pro-fascist and trying to stay out of the "European war." Don't forget, at the same time the Mac-Paps were heading over to fight Franco's fascists, most of the billionaires in the US were trying to stage a fascist coup in support of Hitler. In fact, the Canadian government passed laws to make it illegal to go and fight the Nazis, and the Mac-Paps had to sneak out of the country. Later, the Canadian government tried to keep them from returning, causing many of them to be arrested in France. And after they got back, those who had served in the Mac-Paps were blacklisted and denied employment, kept under surveillance by the RCMP.
Great story about the Coast Guard! Also interesting coincidence that you posted this about one month after the passing of the last U-Boat commander Reinhard Hardegen at 105 years old.
As a retired Coast Guard officer I appreciate the coverage, very well presented. Minor correction - it is the USCGC Icarus. ("United States Coast Guard Cutter"). The "cutter" was a type of medium-sized sailing ship commonly used for customs enforcement. The terminology was brought over from the Revenue Marine Cutter Service, one of the Coast Guard's predecessor. Now all Coast Guard named vessels, from harbor tugs displacing 75 tons to polar ice breakers displacing in excess of 13,000 tons loaded, are "cutters."
Great. Really well produced - short, snappy and well presented. You pick out interesting incidents and tell the stories well, using them to illustrate wider points. It's good to have an intelligent filter for history. Keep up the good work!
Outstanding episode, and told with exceptional skill. The victory of the USCG Icarus off North Carolina's Outer Banks is still largely unknown--.more Americans know about the loss in Havana harbor of the USS Maine. Icarus commander Maurice D. Jester operated without prior tactical experience against the best of the German U boat fleet, and won.
Thanks from a Ex USCG sailor, shame we Coasties were never informed of this feat. Its great to see what our fellow US servicemen did to honor our country. Sailer aboard the USCGC Agassiz WC-126 and a Loran-C technician at the USCG Loran station #4 in Matratin, Libya. Yes LYBIA 1960-1961 before Gadafy killed King IDRIS
The History Guy ... One of the comment threads here reminded me: *Randal "Duke" Cunningham* became engaged in a life or death struggle over the skies of North Vietnam when he was pitted against one of *North Vietnam's greatest aces: Nguyễn Văn Cốc* (pronounced: "When Van Coke" -- van like the automobile). Anyway, the Battle between Cunningham and Nguyễn is simply jaw dropping (and that was just one of them). Nearly all the battles Cunningham fought between January and May 1972 -- as well as those of Nguyễn throughout his own career -- are stories that definitely deserve to be remembered.
HG, You've done it again. Brought us a fascinating story about little known history that occurred in our backyard. Your channel provides a significant benefit to our culture. Thank you for your wonderful work.
My grandfather was aboard the USCG Icarus when this happened, was told to me by my father and uncles (sons)of Lt.Commander Cecil Earl Daniels Sr their father. My father and uncle both served in the USCG . Father was Cmdr Stephen A Daniels Sr. And Uncle was R Admiral Edwin H Daniels Sr. His son was also in the USCG . Capt Edwin H Daniels jr. Very proud of the USCG !!!
I am a former USN submariner and work at Veterans Affairs hospital. I personally met a Coast Guard veteran who served during that time period on board a converted sailboat. He stated that it was with depth charges and a deck gun. He also stated it was made of wood. They would patrol under sail power making them very difficult to detect. I wish I could remember what those sailboats were called, but I just can't recall. The gentleman was 95 years old and his mind was clear as a young man. He transferred to a another hospital last year. Your account brought him back the memory of the encounter.
I voted up the first version of this and the second is even better. So I voted for that one too. A lot of the problems with that period were due to FDR's choice of Ernest J. King as Chief of Naval Operations. He was famous both for being extremely stubborn, difficult to work with and a notorious anglophobe -- just the man you need when your main ally is the UK and major innovations are needed to defeat a dangerous threat. There are two apocryphal stories about King. The first was that somebody in his office (one version says a secretary) asked him, "Is it true that you said that when there's a war, they call for the SOB's?" He supposedly replied, "No but I would have if anybody asked." The other is a quote from Eisenhower after the war. He is supposed to have said that Admiral King would have served his country best if "somebody had taken him out and shot him."
Wonderful, inspiring story. Well told. I actually shouted out a couple of times during the telling. I was that involved. Well done, History Guy. Thank you.
My mother used to go swimming at Coney Island in New York City. She told me stories about seeing U boats floating so close she could see the con towers. She was about 14 at the time. Her mother told her to ignore them and have a good time. I don't think we would give our children the same advice today.
Thank you, Sir. You deserve a subscriber base of 1M+, no 10-100M+. Your videos highlight both the success and failings of leaders at all levels of command, lessons we would all due well to learn from. Please keep these coming. Might I recommend a piece on the battle of the Hurtgen forest?
The early response to U boats on the east coast of America is one of the things that inspired Churchill to say that you can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have tried everything else.
It was an honor to have you at the commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutter Maurice Jester yesterday, Friday, June 2, 2023. Thank you for sharing your research with us. -CMC Mike Ingham, USCG D1
+The History Guy Fascinating story. You have a superb channel, excellent quality and a knack for making history come alive. Thank you for your incredibly informative work. Now Subscribed!
SEMPER PARATUS!! I’m proud to hear the shallow water sailors won the battle, one they didn’t teach me about while I served in Coast Guard. Too often, coasties are ridiculed and scorned despite constantly engaging enemies of the State in peacetime and in war. I proudly served during a period of peace but we continuous trained for war and maritime law enforcement.
Thanks mate! I was in Alaska for years and have been on some gnarly SARS. My shop was a 180’ built in 1943 so it was held together with essentially foil and duct tape, lol.
Andrew: Thanks. Some of the footage I have seen where the Coast Guard goes out to save someone...in raging storms, the likes of which I have never seen in my life....thanks. There just aren't enough diapers in the USCG to supply me with what I'd need to go out there.
Andrew hohenthaner my father is a retired BMC and I grew up a Coastie brat. My dad's first duty station was on the Confidence out of Kodiak and I couldn't imagine being on a 210' cutter in the Bearing. His stories amaze me. BZ Coasties!
+The History Guy, you pulled yet another almost entirely forgotten episode from the quagmire of history, brought it to light and presented it to an extremely interested and appreciative audience. Thank you for the education.
By far my favorite history short. My grandfather was a survivor of a coast guard cutter (Hampton). I have learned a lot of great history from ur channel. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your brilliant videos. I can't stand the intensity and pace while waking up, but when the brain has started and warmed up, I can't get enough. As soon as I have the ability to do a job I will become a member of your patrions. This is human effort that deserves to be rewarded.
Another great edition! The US Coast Guard is often overlooked, but they are an essential part of our national security. The brave folks who protect our shores with such dedication deserve respect! Semper Paratus!
I went on a wreck diving trip with Olympus Dive Center and we dove the U-352 as well as a couple of her victims. It was a life changing dive trip, and I highly recommend it anyone that is a diver.
Dear History Guy, you're pretty darn neat! I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you have expended in the research of these items and then bringing them out for public knowledge. THANK YOU!
Lance - you must be the best History teacher ever. Your topics are so varied and interesting and you are a true story teller. I had a History teacher like you many years ago and I always remember how she told us the story of the discovery of Tutankamun's tomb - it was riveting and I have never forgotten it. She had a rare talent - as do you.
Good story. I was shocked at how many vessels were lost, some of them in direct view of regular shore-bound citizens. Even now, it is a lesser known chapter of the war so thank you for revisiting this subject.
"Operation Drumbeat", was the term designated by Admiral Karl Donitz (apologise for no umlaut over the "o"; CNC of the Kreigsmarine), for the highly successfully U-boat attacks on the Atlantic coast in 1942. So many tankers in the Gulf of Mexico were burning, that reputedly, you could read newsprint on shore by the light of the many burning tankers out at sea. It seems the US Navy failed to heed the lessons of the British Royal Navy from the first "happy time" of the U-boats (1939-40). This can partly be blamed on Admiral Ernest J. King, who had a cool attitude towards the "limeys", and in the US Navy failing to seriously formulate, equip and rehearse antisubmarine warfare tactics prior to 1942.
My Grandfather saw U Boats on several occasions on the Jersey Shore. They were brazen enough to approach the shore in daylight. He enlisted shortly after seeing them.
In March-May 1942, my Mama, Rita Salter, watched almost a sinking per night from her bedroom window. She lived about 100 yards from our present home in Atlantic, NC. Every morning, her and my Granny, Vida Salter, had to clean the house after the blast of the torpedoes impacted the shoreline from the night before. Pictures had to be straightened and dust fell from the rafters. My cousins spent the mornings collecting the dead merchant marine heroes from the Outer Banks and shoals just inside Old Drum Inlet. At that time there was six to eight inches of oil and sludge covering the entire Outer Banks from sunken ships. Eventually, nature cleaned up the oil by itself. My dive team works on those same shipwrecks today!
This is a fascinating piece of history, and is well done sir! One side note that I would like to bring to your attention. If anyone watching this video or reading these comments gets a chance to go to North Carolina's Crystal Coast at Atlantic Beach there is a full display of this in the North Carolina aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. It's not very large but it's very interesting and they have taken a portion of the yubo as an artificial Reef. In addition there's photos of a reunions that occurred between the sailors of the U-Boat and those fine Coast Guard veterans of the Icarus. This meal simply brought to former enemies together to recount their stories. Oh to be a fly on the wall at that dinner!
My Uncle Jim commanded a commercial fishing vessel converted to Coast Guard cutter armed with .50's in the Gulf of Mexico. His boat rescued torpedoed crews, and in one case got in a running gun fight with a U-Boat.
History Guy, your rendering of the inspiring tale of the Icarus, its' captain, and crew has to be one of your best - and that's saying a lot! The Icarus should be required reading in all the maritime schools and academies. Thank God for blessing us with such men.
Thank you for the update, I only watched your original posting yesterday. It is not only refreshing to find well researched and unbiased history channels, but also someone who is not afraid to make amendments where required.
With the story so full of vessel lengths in feet and such, I would really love it if you could slip in a metric equivalent every now and then. Thank you for the great videos!
A book end to this story is the last sinking of U853 just south of block Island NY. It attacked a US Vessel after the armistice and as the U boat hunter killer fleet was returning to port, victorious. US Vessels lined up to drop charges on the U-Boat. Sadder still, some souvenirs were taken from that boat as SCUBA equipment got more available. Some of them were of a pretty grisly nature.
Very cool story! I have actually heard of this because someone we met in North Carolina goes diving at the wreck of U-352 for fun and has brought back all kinds of items, such as a portrait of Hitler from the mess, cups, and other items.
It is, but I doubt any stories from people claiming to bring back pictures of Hitler. For starters, the Navy went through it pretty thoroughly decades ago when the wreck was discovered, mainly to remove as many munitions as possible (some are still there, inaccessible, including at least one live torpedo warhead). Since then, the wreck has been dived on by thousands of people. Getting inside the sub is dangerous and stupid, as the hatch openings are very narrow and the wreck is deep for a sport dive, at 110 feet, so going inside means removing your dive rig and pulling it in behind you, while only having about 8-10 minutes of bottom time. Also, not sure, but I think it may be illegal to remove anything from inside the wreck, could be wrong about that.
That's a good question, would have to look that up. I know the Navy removed whatever human remains they found inside and repatriated them to Germany, and after removing as many munitions as they could access, cleared it for sport diving. Like I said before, I'm sure about the legal stuff, and I have no interest in going inside a dark, tiny space at such a depth anyway, so I've never worried about it. You can swim along the entire length of the boat outside, it's a pretty neat thing to see.
@@wazza-au Only if someone went down with the ship. I believe everyone got out but some were killed because the Icarus crew thought they were trying to fight it out.
I keep finding myself coming back to your channel, so I've finally subscribed. Thank you for these videos. They're always informative, interesting, and as unbiased as any human can make them.
I really enjoy your videos and why things deserve to be remembered. Please keep your channel name and the excellent videos coming. I really appreciate your efforts to keep the smaller bits of history alive and well. Thank you.
Excellent story! As an Air Force brat, I have always enjoyed military history of most kinds. Your retelling of that battle and what lead up to it was exhilarating and fascinating! 👏 Very well done!
Wow your telling of this bit of early WWII History is phenomenal! After all the ribbing I and no doubt millions of Americans have given the Coasties over the course of my life I ought to be *ashamed.* From the start I was rooting for our side. When you mentioned *North Carolina* I was hoping to hear *at least one crewman was a TARHEEL as North Carolina IS the TARHEEL STATE!!* (My best pal moved here from NC when he was little.) I'm convinced *you have a Gift* for telling Historically factual stories. I applaud you!
Thanks for a great story about the often forgotten US Coast Guard. I remember seeing something about the Icarus decades ago in a book or something, but didn't know the full story til now. Outstanding, thank you! USCG vet 1987-2017.
In November 1988 I dove the u352! Located 30 miles off the coast Beaufort nc! The wreck layes at a depth of 110 feet! The back of the sub over the engine room was open to the sea and inendated with sand! Soon after we dove her a bad storm swept over the wreck uncovering one of the ten dead crewman!
Great video history. I watched it a second time in case I missed something. Growing up on the Texas coast I had heard from old-timers about U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico, but never heard of the abundance off East coast.
I just found your channel. This is great stuff presented in a very interesting and captivating way. One of the best, if not the best, narration I have heard on TH-cam. I am a new subscriber. Thanks for what you do. Keep up the good work!
My dad was in the Coast Guard, chief petty officer, he knew of this story, but didn't tell it to me in much detail, Many thanks. I found the Icarus in the 7th edition Coast Guardsman Blue Jacket Manual, he had the 3 line sentence highlighted in yellow and service wide question written next to it. That's why dad knew about the Icarus, but not much more than that 3 line sentence. Now I know more ;-)) thanks again.
@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys I pretty sure there were merchant and Navy ships out there was first. However, the Revenue Cutter Service was joined with the US Lifesaving Service to create the US Coast Guard.
I can't thank you enough for this video as I served on The USCGC WACHUSETT W-44 in Vietnam in 1968-69 and we did plenty over there but as your video shows no one knew about what the Coast Guard did over there. I had no idea about The Icarus and what they accomplished sinking a German U-Boat and taking the first prisoners (German) of The War~! I also see you have a video on one of Our IceBreakers also and I will be watching it next. You are a real Gem in a pile of slag~!!! Thanks.
HG you are awesome ! I was not a history major ,however being a stamp collector and amateur radio operator ,info just seems into my pores,and sometimes out also ,my friends call me human google , history ? Google cant answer i can,so you are giving me additional scraps for the brain bucket. Thanks for the memories!
In the 1970s, I worked at a factory (Cutter Labs) recently purchased by a German company (Bayer). The German president was a doctor and fought for the Hitler. At the company meeting (100 people), several things were discussed. When he heard mg brother was in the US Coast Guard, he wanted to know more. A couple guys, who were jn the Navy laughed. The president didn't understand the humor until I exllained the Navg calls thdm shallow water sailors. He was pussd and said "How is a Coast Guard sailid's blood different from yours?" He defended the Coast Guard.
Nice job on this video! You're right, more Americans need to know about this tiny warship and her scrappy crew, who won a great victory over an enemy who was mostly winning at that time.
![ลองสั่งของจากแอพ temu ถูกจริงหรอ?? ( part : 1/2 ) [โกงไหมครับ ep.89 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RTcZSQTiDZw/mqdefault.jpg)
One of my most fascinating stories of our Coast Guard's performance during World War II! Thanks History Guy for remembering the USCGC ICARUS & LCDR Maurice Jester! SEMPER PARATUS! Vince Patton, MCPOCG, USCG Ret.
Thank you for your service!
As a retired Coast Guard officer I really enjoyed this bit of USCG history I never heard of previously. Thank you.
My mother, as a teenage girl, lived on Long Beach Island, NJ in the early days of the war. She said it was not uncommon to see the glow of a burning ship on the horizon and to find wooden crates and debris, and an occasional body, wash up on the beach in the days after. She agreed that the country was not ready and remarked how the Barnegate lighthouse was still lit every night at the beginning of the war.
On a different matter, she also told us how the major department stores would shoot all their swim-suit shots at the beach in December and January. They would have a huge bonfire on the beach and the models would be wrapped in blankets around the fire until it was their turn to be filmed, where they would go frolic in the ankle deep waves while the photographer took his shots. Each model would last about 5 minutes, then she would wrap up in a blanket around the fire and another would take her place in front of the camera.
Great video! My grandfather was US Navy and then retired from the Coast Guard as a captain. It is because of him I have a deepened love of the US Navy and the USCG. GO Coasties!
There’s an old abandoned watch tower in the Chesapeake, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Its purpose was to prevent U boats from reaching Lancaster, Pennsylvania... home of the Hamilton watch company. The only company contracted to create navy chronometers
As a retired Coast Guard CWO3 I really enjoyed the excellent re-telling of this account. Well done, sir
I love the fact that the US Coast Guard captured the first PoWs - Amazing story, thank you.
Me Too~!!!
My late father-in-law’s best friend was the XO on the Icarus so I heard this story (and more than once!). He was griped because he thought the entire crew should have gotten Navy Crosses! A great tale, thanks for telling it!
I did a scuba dive on this u-boat it's only 110 feet deep water off the coast of Morehead city NC..a memorable experience!
I was in the Coast Guard in the 70s and was on a buoy tender that was built in the 30s. It also was 165 feet long. I was told that it was an ammunition carrier in WWII since it had a crane on it. We went from Canada down to about Boston setting and replacing marker buoys. On the West Coast on a Cutter we often went out 200 miles or more and it can get bumpy. I also did not know about this battle but we were taught a lot of history, including the Sullivan brothers in WWII. The CG only had about 50,000 men when I was in, compared to a million or so in the Army. When you're trained well, which we were, you go on autopilot in an emergency. You simply do what you've been taught to do. Each man has a job to do and does it. Now I'm happy to say there are plenty of women in the CG, doing the same jobs that only men used to do. But we trained all the time with the Navy in war games.
As a former submariner all I can say is... *Incredible story, impeccably researched and beautifully told.* Thank you, sir... You have done the sailors of navies all over the world a great honor.
Yes he surely did~!!!
A nice video HG. My jaw hit the floor when you said this yacht was catching rum runners and was only capable of 13 knots though. Heck, the old sailing ships were that fast and the U-boats could do 17 when surfaced. This little boat was way out of its league. They were riding on angels shoulders to have accomplished what they did.
Once again many thanks from an old Coastie. So few people are aware of the many roles the USCG has played since its inception by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790. I personally as a Coastguardsman have played war games with the Navy, run Drug Interdiction Patrols, recovered suicide victims, was first Cutter on scene during the Valdez Oil Spill, have been the shotgun guy on many boardings, commissioned a Cutter, decommisioned a Cutter, been on many Alpats (before World's Deadliest Catch was ever a thing) have been through the Panama Canal twice, have gone flank through a gale with a 48' sea state on a SAR call and I have seen flying fish, white sandy beaches with phosphorescent breaking waves at midnight in Aruba, rain blowing back into the sky in Adak and finally had the good fortune not to be vaporized while fighting an ocean going tug boat fire in Washington. I was awarded the Coast Guard Operational Achievement Medal (O) for that one. All in four years. It's a pretty amazing service!
Thank you for your service!
Eric Heath, I am also a veteran of Uncle Sam's Confused Group (1964-1968) and I don't think of "Coastie" as an insult. After all it was what we called ourselves! I can even laugh at "Puddle Pirates" and some of the other things going around. The people that count know we are "the guys that sail IN to hurricanes".
You lived more in those four years than I have in my 49! Thank you for sharing 😎
You sound like me and, if you're like me, you probably think about those days...these days. Semper Paratus Brother
Holy Cow! I thought that list of experiences would have been over a period of 20 years, not only 4.
Great video.
I learned of the Icarus while at Cape May.
I served on the U.S.C.G.C Sedge. The cutter Sedge was a WWII Eastern Pacific patrol vessel. It's length was 180 feet with two 12 cylinder 1,200 hp supercharged diesel engines giving it a top speed of 13 knots. Years after the war the Sedge was assigned ws an bouy tender in Alaska where I served on it at it's homeport of Homer Alaska.
Great little ship, however in rough seas it bounced around just like a cork. It had a rounged hull which only added to the rolling.
Got many Navy guys seaside when they came on-board to do refresher training (I have to admit... it was funny watching those tough sailers puking over the side of our little home away from home).
Thanks you for your service.
My father was a machinist’s mate on the Icarus when it sank U 352. Collecting the corpses of the enemy affected my father so much that he put in a request for shore duty. He only spoke of this to my mother. Wartime accounts were absent in our home.
I've been watching these videos for a few days and wanted to acknowledge your craft. You tell the stories with tremendous economy and fine use of both stills and video. Everything is well paced, nothing is longer than it needs to be, and the context is always there. The contrast with heavily-padded hour-long history documentaries is remarkable. And your "deserves to be remembered" gives each one a nice little closing note without going too far.
Is there a staff helping, or are you doing this all yourself? Because if you are doing this all yourself, it's a remarkable achievement.
I have various family members who help with the channel in a number of ways. But the scripting and production is a one-man show.
There's really a startling amount of good stuff going on here.
Your writing and delivery in particular are doing a lot of work to make the stories clear and vivid. Writing for voice in a way that lets you deliver complex stories is a special art. I don't know whether you even realise it, but you are doing this at a very high level.
Your timing of images is helping too. Doing it all yourself, including the editing of the visuals, may be helping you here. But whatever - you're hitting it out of the park time after time.
Thank you for this piece of history. Maurice Jester is my great grandfather whom I am also named after. Mr. Rathke had written a letter to my great grandfather after the war and thanked him for his kindness and respect that he had showed to him and his crew after sinking the u boat. This video has given me some more insight as to what happened on that day. Thank you again for keeping history alive!
I wish I had you for my history teacher 55 years ago!
Both of my parents served in the WWII Coast Guard. My father's ship, the COWSLIP (careful how you say that) was out in the hurricane of '43. No shallow water then. In our house it has always been USCG!
I served on the USCGC COWSLIP WLB-277 in Portland Maine 1966-67. It’s still afloat now in the Nigerian Navy. She had a long serve in the US Coast Guard and was stationed in ports on both coasts. Simper Paratus.
Stephen, thanks for your service. We have looked at the COWSLIP's service it really is most impressive. She was at sea in 1943 for the big hurricane that year. She struggled her way through it and into St Johns, Newf. I'm happy to hear from another alum of the old girl .
What's infuriating here in Canada is that veterans groups, like the Canadian Legion, have spent 70 years trying to downplay the contributions of the merchant marines and block them from any of the benefits military veterans received. Merchant marines are not welcome to join the Legion, they can't access veteran hospitals, veteran counselling, or any of the other advantages given to military veterans. Given the terrible risks run by the merchant marines, their utterly crucial and unheralded role in winning the war, and the sheer numbers killed while serving, it's obnoxiously ignorant for the veteran lobby to deliberately campaign to have their contributions ignored.
I'm sorry for your Merchant Marine Vets...sure hope things can change for them. Our Vets also have not had in the past, and still do in many areas, the proper help that they deserve. My next door neighbor is a VietNam vet; was exposed to Agent Orange, and had to fight for years to finally get some disability for exposure. Our VA hospitals range from excellent and quick help to others that don't give a damn about treating the local Vets. Many Vets will die before getting the mountains of paperwork and endless red tape finished in order to get some help. Our VA. situation is improving, but still has weak areas.
There was an old security guard at work about 25 yrs ago here in Calgary that I got talking to and found out he was one of those merchant marines who survived WW2. Pretty sad to hear about how they weren't recognized by the Canadian government as being veterans. He was understandably bitter as hell. The way our government treats people who served this country is pretty ridiculous sometimes. I watched a remembrance day special a couple years ago and a guy who had both legs blown off above the knees in Afghanistan had to prove every year that he was still permanently disabled. This went on for a number of years when the Government came to their senses a bit and changed it to every 3 years.
+mako88sb The Mac-Paps have the same problem. Because they volunteered to go and fight Nazis before the government officially declared war, their contributions have been completely ignored. The Legion won't recognize them, the government refuses to acknowledge them.
Thanks for that info. I was completely unaware of the Mac-Paps. Pretty ridiculous behavior by our government again since we eventually did end up fighting those same people that the volunteers recognized as a problem that needed to be dealt with so why wouldn't they be given the proper treatment once we declared war on Germany? Was it just about saving money? I'm sure that's the case with the merchant marines since there was so many of them. I suppose if the government did the right thing for the Mac-Paps, then the precedent would be set giving the merchant marines a very strong case. Meanwhile, how much money is going towards helping out these illegal immigrants? A bit maddening sometimes.
+mako88sb The Mac-Paps were anti-fascists at a time when Canada and the US were tacitly pro-fascist and trying to stay out of the "European war." Don't forget, at the same time the Mac-Paps were heading over to fight Franco's fascists, most of the billionaires in the US were trying to stage a fascist coup in support of Hitler.
In fact, the Canadian government passed laws to make it illegal to go and fight the Nazis, and the Mac-Paps had to sneak out of the country. Later, the Canadian government tried to keep them from returning, causing many of them to be arrested in France. And after they got back, those who had served in the Mac-Paps were blacklisted and denied employment, kept under surveillance by the RCMP.
Great story about the Coast Guard! Also interesting coincidence that you posted this about one month after the passing of the last U-Boat commander Reinhard Hardegen at 105 years old.
Thanks for this reminder that the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine were pivotal in our war effort.
As a retired Coast Guard officer I appreciate the coverage, very well presented. Minor correction - it is the USCGC Icarus. ("United States Coast Guard Cutter"). The "cutter" was a type of medium-sized sailing ship commonly used for customs enforcement. The terminology was brought over from the Revenue Marine Cutter Service, one of the Coast Guard's predecessor. Now all Coast Guard named vessels, from harbor tugs displacing 75 tons to polar ice breakers displacing in excess of 13,000 tons loaded, are "cutters."
Great. Really well produced - short, snappy and well presented. You pick out interesting incidents and tell the stories well, using them to illustrate wider points. It's good to have an intelligent filter for history. Keep up the good work!
Outstanding episode, and told with exceptional skill. The victory of the USCG Icarus off North Carolina's Outer Banks is still largely unknown--.more Americans know about the loss in Havana harbor of the USS Maine. Icarus commander Maurice D. Jester operated without prior tactical experience against the best of the German U boat fleet, and won.
Thanks from a Ex USCG sailor, shame we Coasties were never informed of this feat. Its great to see what our fellow US servicemen did to honor our country. Sailer aboard the USCGC Agassiz WC-126 and a Loran-C technician at the USCG Loran station #4 in Matratin, Libya. Yes LYBIA 1960-1961 before Gadafy killed King IDRIS
Thank you for your service!
The History Guy ... One of the comment threads here reminded me: *Randal "Duke" Cunningham* became engaged in a life or death struggle over the skies of North Vietnam when he was pitted against one of *North Vietnam's greatest aces: Nguyễn Văn Cốc* (pronounced: "When Van Coke" -- van like the automobile). Anyway, the Battle between Cunningham and Nguyễn is simply jaw dropping (and that was just one of them). Nearly all the battles Cunningham fought between January and May 1972 -- as well as those of Nguyễn throughout his own career -- are stories that definitely deserve to be remembered.
HG, You've done it again. Brought us a fascinating story about little known history that occurred in our backyard. Your channel provides a significant benefit to our culture. Thank you for your wonderful work.
He rocks! You are very lucky to have him, as you pointed out. Well.. we all are. Thank you so much.
He has indeed done it again.
My grandfather was aboard the USCG Icarus when this happened, was told to me by my father and uncles (sons)of Lt.Commander Cecil Earl Daniels Sr their father. My father and uncle both served in the USCG . Father was Cmdr Stephen A Daniels Sr. And Uncle was R Admiral Edwin H Daniels Sr. His son was also in the USCG . Capt Edwin H Daniels jr.
Very proud of the USCG !!!
I am a former USN submariner and work at Veterans Affairs hospital. I personally met a Coast Guard veteran who served during that time period on board a converted sailboat. He stated that it was with depth charges and a deck gun. He also stated it was made of wood. They would patrol under sail power making them very difficult to detect. I wish I could remember what those sailboats were called, but I just can't recall. The gentleman was 95 years old and his mind was clear as a young man. He transferred to a another hospital last year. Your account brought him back the memory of the encounter.
What a great story and you told it so well. Thanks.
I just came across these videos and they're great. I can't believe I've never heard of this guy. He's so enthusiastic and great at what he does.
I voted up the first version of this and the second is even better. So I voted for that one too.
A lot of the problems with that period were due to FDR's choice of Ernest J. King as Chief of Naval Operations. He was famous both for being extremely stubborn, difficult to work with and a notorious anglophobe -- just the man you need when your main ally is the UK and major innovations are needed to defeat a dangerous threat. There are two apocryphal stories about King. The first was that somebody in his office (one version says a secretary) asked him, "Is it true that you said that when there's a war, they call for the SOB's?" He supposedly replied, "No but I would have if anybody asked."
The other is a quote from Eisenhower after the war. He is supposed to have said that Admiral King would have served his country best if "somebody had taken him out and shot him."
Wonderful, inspiring story. Well told. I actually shouted out a couple of times during the telling. I was that involved. Well done, History Guy. Thank you.
My mother used to go swimming at Coney Island in New York City. She told me stories about seeing U boats floating so close she could see the con towers. She was about 14 at the time. Her mother told her to ignore them and have a good time. I don't think we would give our children the same advice today.
Thank you, Sir. You deserve a subscriber base of 1M+, no 10-100M+. Your videos highlight both the success and failings of leaders at all levels of command, lessons we would all due well to learn from. Please keep these coming. Might I recommend a piece on the battle of the Hurtgen forest?
The early response to U boats on the east coast of America is one of the things that inspired Churchill to say that you can always count on the Americans to do the right thing, after they have tried everything else.
It was an honor to have you at the commissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard Cutter Maurice Jester yesterday, Friday, June 2, 2023. Thank you for sharing your research with us.
-CMC Mike Ingham, USCG D1
+The History Guy Fascinating story. You have a superb channel, excellent quality and a knack for making history come alive. Thank you for your incredibly informative work. Now Subscribed!
SEMPER PARATUS!! I’m proud to hear the shallow water sailors won the battle, one they didn’t teach me about while I served in Coast Guard. Too often, coasties are ridiculed and scorned despite constantly engaging enemies of the State in peacetime and in war. I proudly served during a period of peace but we continuous trained for war and maritime law enforcement.
Thanks mate! I was in Alaska for years and have been on some gnarly SARS. My shop was a 180’ built in 1943 so it was held together with essentially foil and duct tape, lol.
We remember in Texas
Thanks to all of you
And God bless you
Andrew:
Thanks. Some of the footage I have seen where the Coast Guard goes out to save someone...in raging storms, the likes of which I have never seen in my life....thanks. There just aren't enough diapers in the USCG to supply me with what I'd need to go out there.
Old paratrooper here. I have never ever disparaged a Coastie. Good work in war and peace alike.
Andrew hohenthaner my father is a retired BMC and I grew up a Coastie brat. My dad's first duty station was on the Confidence out of Kodiak and I couldn't imagine being on a 210' cutter in the Bearing. His stories amaze me. BZ Coasties!
I could write this on any one of your videos: I’m convinced you’re the reason there is an internet. Thank you!
Sounds like the crew of U-352 got to pick the best beds in our newly built POW camps. Thanks to the Icarus.
Once again great video.
+The History Guy, you pulled yet another almost entirely forgotten episode from the quagmire of history, brought it to light and presented it to an extremely interested and appreciative audience. Thank you for the education.
By far my favorite history short. My grandfather was a survivor of a coast guard cutter (Hampton). I have learned a lot of great history from ur channel. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your brilliant videos. I can't stand the intensity and pace while waking up, but when the brain has started and warmed up, I can't get enough. As soon as I have the ability to do a job I will become a member of your patrions. This is human effort that deserves to be rewarded.
Another great edition! The US Coast Guard is often overlooked, but they are an essential part of our national security. The brave folks who protect our shores with such dedication deserve respect! Semper Paratus!
Or, as we used to say during the lean Democrat years, "Simply Forgot Us". (USCG Ret)
Another great start to my day..Happy to see all the interesting comments and questions like the diving depth that I also wondered about
Another awesome presentation! It might be also be added, German POW's testified to being treated "exceptionally well".
Except they didn't like being fed corn. In Europe, they only used American corn to feed farm animals.
By this time, I'm finding absolutely new stories of WWII to be rare. This was one of them. Thanks!
Very pleased that I happened upon this channel.
I went on a wreck diving trip with Olympus Dive Center and we dove the U-352 as well as a couple of her victims. It was a life changing dive trip, and I highly recommend it anyone that is a diver.
Thank you for the updated video! The added context was fascinating.
Dear History Guy, you're pretty darn neat! I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you have expended in the research of these items and then bringing them out for public knowledge. THANK YOU!
Lance - you must be the best History teacher ever. Your topics are so varied and interesting and you are a true story teller. I had a History teacher like you many years ago and I always remember how she told us the story of the discovery of Tutankamun's tomb - it was riveting and I have never forgotten it. She had a rare talent - as do you.
Good story. I was shocked at how many vessels were lost, some of them in direct view of regular shore-bound citizens. Even now, it is a lesser known chapter of the war so thank you for revisiting this subject.
"Operation Drumbeat", was the term designated by Admiral Karl Donitz (apologise for no umlaut over the "o"; CNC of the Kreigsmarine), for the highly successfully U-boat attacks on the Atlantic coast in 1942. So many tankers in the Gulf of Mexico were burning, that reputedly, you could read newsprint on shore by the light of the many burning tankers out at sea. It seems the US Navy failed to heed the lessons of the British Royal Navy from the first "happy time" of the U-boats (1939-40). This can partly be blamed on Admiral Ernest J. King, who had a cool attitude towards the "limeys", and in the US Navy failing to seriously formulate, equip and rehearse antisubmarine warfare tactics prior to 1942.
My Grandfather saw U Boats on several occasions on the Jersey Shore. They were brazen enough to approach the shore in daylight. He enlisted shortly after seeing them.
In March-May 1942, my Mama, Rita Salter, watched almost a sinking per night from her bedroom window. She lived about 100 yards from our present home in Atlantic, NC. Every morning, her and my Granny, Vida Salter, had to clean the house after the blast of the torpedoes impacted the shoreline from the night before. Pictures had to be straightened and dust fell from the rafters. My cousins spent the mornings collecting the dead merchant marine heroes from the Outer Banks and shoals just inside Old Drum Inlet. At that time there was six to eight inches of oil and sludge covering the entire Outer Banks from sunken ships. Eventually, nature cleaned up the oil by itself.
My dive team works on those same shipwrecks today!
Wow, You are doing an EXCELLENT Job. So much history deserves to be remembered. I seem to watch your channel every day during my lunch break.
I dove on the 352 many times in late 1990’s. Amazing all that was found inside and intact! Not by me but the Olympic dive center
This is a fascinating piece of history, and is well done sir! One side note that I would like to bring to your attention. If anyone watching this video or reading these comments gets a chance to go to North Carolina's Crystal Coast at Atlantic Beach there is a full display of this in the North Carolina aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. It's not very large but it's very interesting and they have taken a portion of the yubo as an artificial Reef. In addition there's photos of a reunions that occurred between the sailors of the U-Boat and those fine Coast Guard veterans of the Icarus. This meal simply brought to former enemies together to recount their stories. Oh to be a fly on the wall at that dinner!
My Uncle Jim commanded a commercial fishing vessel converted to Coast Guard cutter armed with .50's in the Gulf of Mexico. His boat rescued torpedoed crews, and in one case got in a running gun fight with a U-Boat.
History Guy, your rendering of the inspiring tale of the Icarus, its' captain, and crew has to be one of your best - and that's saying a lot! The Icarus should be required reading in all the maritime schools and academies. Thank God for blessing us with such men.
The only thing I dislike about your stories is that they aren't long enough. Some of us can listen to you tell History for hours.
Thank you for the update, I only watched your original posting yesterday. It is not only refreshing to find well researched and unbiased history channels, but also someone who is not afraid to make amendments where required.
With the story so full of vessel lengths in feet and such, I would really love it if you could slip in a metric equivalent every now and then. Thank you for the great videos!
A book end to this story is the last sinking of U853 just south of block Island NY. It attacked a US Vessel after the armistice and as the U boat hunter killer fleet was returning to port, victorious. US Vessels lined up to drop charges on the U-Boat. Sadder still, some souvenirs were taken from that boat as SCUBA equipment got more available. Some of them were of a pretty grisly nature.
Thanks History Guy - true stories are the best stories, and you have thousands!
This is my favorite channel on TH-cam - Keep up the good work! 😎🥂😎
Your research never ceases to amaze me!
Keep it up.
WOW!! Once again you have amazed me of my profound ignorance of Actual Navel history. Well done Professor🤔👍👍Thank you.
@Dr. Rich...Naval, navel is your belly button. (Sorry, Naval veteran here)
Ya. You can't even spell it. Lol
Very cool story! I have actually heard of this because someone we met in North Carolina goes diving at the wreck of U-352 for fun and has brought back all kinds of items, such as a portrait of Hitler from the mess, cups, and other items.
I hear that it is a popular diving location.
It is, but I doubt any stories from people claiming to bring back pictures of Hitler. For starters, the Navy went through it pretty thoroughly decades ago when the wreck was discovered, mainly to remove as many munitions as possible (some are still there, inaccessible, including at least one live torpedo warhead). Since then, the wreck has been dived on by thousands of people. Getting inside the sub is dangerous and stupid, as the hatch openings are very narrow and the wreck is deep for a sport dive, at 110 feet, so going inside means removing your dive rig and pulling it in behind you, while only having about 8-10 minutes of bottom time. Also, not sure, but I think it may be illegal to remove anything from inside the wreck, could be wrong about that.
Doesn't it count as a war grave?
That's a good question, would have to look that up. I know the Navy removed whatever human remains they found inside and repatriated them to Germany, and after removing as many munitions as they could access, cleared it for sport diving. Like I said before, I'm sure about the legal stuff, and I have no interest in going inside a dark, tiny space at such a depth anyway, so I've never worried about it. You can swim along the entire length of the boat outside, it's a pretty neat thing to see.
@@wazza-au Only if someone went down with the ship. I believe everyone got out but some were killed because the Icarus crew thought they were trying to fight it out.
Fascinating account. Interesting how the military 'higher-ups' continue even to this day to be slow to think and act!
I keep finding myself coming back to your channel, so I've finally subscribed. Thank you for these videos. They're always informative, interesting, and as unbiased as any human can make them.
I really enjoy your videos and why things deserve to be remembered. Please keep your channel name and the excellent videos coming. I really appreciate your efforts to keep the smaller bits of history alive and well. Thank you.
Excellent story! As an Air Force brat, I have always enjoyed military history of most kinds. Your retelling of that battle and what lead up to it was exhilarating and fascinating! 👏 Very well done!
You seem to have a special talent for bringing sub & ASW to life. Another great Job! Thanks
WOW! You're channel is blowing up! Congrats History Guy, you deserve it.
Wow your telling of this bit of early WWII History is phenomenal! After all the ribbing I and no doubt millions of Americans have given the Coasties over the course of my life I ought to be *ashamed.* From the start I was rooting for our side. When you mentioned *North Carolina* I was hoping to hear *at least one crewman was a TARHEEL as North Carolina IS the TARHEEL STATE!!* (My best pal moved here from NC when he was little.) I'm convinced *you have a Gift* for telling Historically factual stories. I applaud you!
Awesome video!! Lt Jester is the Man! Thank you Sir for your continued illumination of history. I absolutely love your channel.
Thanks for a great story about the often forgotten US Coast Guard. I remember seeing something about the Icarus decades ago in a book or something, but didn't know the full story til now. Outstanding, thank you! USCG vet 1987-2017.
Amazing classic David vs Goliath story. Fantastic job sir.
I have scuba dived U352!
It really hits home when you get that close to history!
In November 1988 I dove the u352! Located 30 miles off the coast Beaufort nc! The wreck layes at a depth of 110 feet! The back of the sub over the engine room was open to the sea and inendated with sand! Soon after we dove her a bad storm swept over the wreck uncovering one of the ten dead crewman!
Bravo on this one. It was way out of my scope of knowledge. Good show USCG.
Great video. Thank you. And you are correct sir. This needs to be remembered.
Great video history. I watched it a second time in case I missed something. Growing up on the Texas coast I had heard from old-timers about U-boats in the Gulf of Mexico, but never heard of the abundance off East coast.
Best channel ever! These are mind blowing! Put HG in every high school via TH-cam!
I just found your channel. This is great stuff presented in a very interesting and captivating way. One of the best, if not the best, narration I have heard on TH-cam. I am a new subscriber. Thanks for what you do. Keep up the good work!
I love your videos. Keep up the good work!
Of all my subscribed channels, this is the best. Thank you HG.
Thank you for what your doing. Please grow and expand
My dad was a small child in Wilmington during the war. He always talked about the blackouts and drills.
My dad was in the Coast Guard, chief petty officer, he knew of this story, but didn't tell it to me in much detail, Many thanks. I found the Icarus in the 7th edition Coast Guardsman Blue Jacket Manual, he had the 3 line sentence highlighted in yellow and service wide question written next to it. That's why dad knew about the Icarus, but not much more than that 3 line sentence. Now I know more ;-)) thanks again.
Semper Paratus! The world's premiere sea service.
Oldest Maritime Service in The U.S.=Was called The Revenue Cutter Service by Alexander hamilton~!!
@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys I pretty sure there were merchant and Navy ships out there was first. However, the Revenue Cutter Service was joined with the US Lifesaving Service to create the US Coast Guard.
Semper Paratus🇺🇸!
Great story - The Coast Guard takes the first German POW's. Nice!
I can't thank you enough for this video as I served on The USCGC WACHUSETT W-44 in Vietnam in 1968-69 and we did plenty over there but as your video shows no one knew about what the Coast Guard did over there. I had no idea about The Icarus and what they accomplished sinking a German U-Boat and taking the first prisoners (German) of The War~! I also see you have a video on one of Our IceBreakers also and I will be watching it next. You are a real Gem in a pile of slag~!!! Thanks.
HG you are awesome ! I was not a history major ,however being a stamp collector and amateur radio operator ,info just seems into my pores,and sometimes out also ,my friends call me human google , history ? Google cant answer i can,so you are giving me additional scraps for the brain bucket. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks once again for Your great story's of forgotten history, I think You are great at this and should be commended. Thank You
In the 1970s, I worked at a factory (Cutter Labs) recently purchased by a German company (Bayer). The German president was a doctor and fought for the Hitler. At the company meeting (100 people), several things were discussed. When he heard mg brother was in the US Coast Guard, he wanted to know more. A couple guys, who were jn the Navy laughed. The president didn't understand the humor until I exllained the Navg calls thdm shallow water sailors. He was pussd and said "How is a Coast Guard sailid's blood different from yours?" He defended the Coast Guard.
Nice job on this video! You're right, more Americans need to know about this tiny warship and her scrappy crew, who won a great victory over an enemy who was mostly winning at that time.
A great story and your story telling ensures it will not be forgotten- Thank you Sir