USCGC BERTHOLF Commissioning on August 4, 2008

The USCGC BERTHOLF (WMSL 750) is the first of a new Legend class of National Security Cutters built under the Deepwater project approved by Congress. The cutters of this class will begin replacing the aging 378-foot ‘WHECs’ currently in service. The 418-foot state-of-the-art vessel with a crew of 113 personnel, will be homeported in Alameda, CA.

The new cutter is named for Commodore Ellsworth Price Bertholf, the Coast Guard’s first Commandant, a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal for being part of a three-man team which traveled 1,600 miles overland in 1897 herding reindeer to rescue 200 trapped whalers at Point Barrow who were starving. He was later named Commandant of the Coast Guard, retired in 1919 and passed away in 1921. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The commissioning event, scheduled on August 4, 2008 in Alameda, CA is being planned by the Pacific Central Region of the Navy League at the request of the Coast Guard. The Bertholf Commissioning Committee includes retired members of the Coast Guard, Navy and Merchant Marine, current Coast Guard Auxiliary members, Blue Star Moms and Pacific Central Region Navy League leaders. Among the number of Honorary Chairs include California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and actor Kevin Costner who starred in the movie “The Guardian,” a story portraying the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer program.

The Committee is currently raising funds for the historic event so that traditional maritime commissioning activities may be held. Monies raised are for activities which the Coast Guard cannot provide, including events for the crew, funds for the crew’s Morale, Well-being and Recreation fund, including educational opportunities and traditional receptions before and post-commissioning ceremony.

Tax deductible contributions (501 C 3, ID# 68-0114586) may be made payable to CCCNLUS and mailed to: Navy League, P.O. Box 2181, Alameda, CA 94501.

For additional information regarding support for the commissioning and the Bertholf, please visit the Commissioning Ceremony committee’s website: www.bertholfcommissioning.com and the Coast Guard Pacific Area’s website: www.uscg.mil/pacarea/bertholf/

A letter of acknowledgement and appreciation will be sent to each donor. Donors will be recognized in a Commissioning Ceremony publication.