USCGC MORGENTHAU

• Historic Namesake: USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722) was named after Henry Morgenthau Jr., the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1934 to 1945, who oversaw the Coast Guard during World War II. • High Endurance Cutter: Morgenthau was one of the 12 Hamilton-class high endurance cutters, launched in 1968, designed for extended offshore patrols and missions. • Vietnam War Service: The cutter served in the Vietnam War, performing combat patrols and search and rescue missions as part of Operation Market Time, interdicting arms smuggling by sea. • Cold War Role: Morgenthau played a significant role in enforcing maritime law and U.S. interests during the Cold War, including fisheries patrols in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. • Innovative Technology: In 1989, Morgenthau became the first cutter to be equipped with a Shipboard Command and Control System (SCCS), integrating advanced computers and sensors. • Drug Interdiction Success: The crew of Morgenthau made several large drug busts in the 1980s and 1990s, including seizing over 15 tons of marijuana in a single operation. • Rescue Operations: Morgenthau was involved in numerous dramatic rescues, including saving Vietnamese "boat people" refugees in the South China Sea in the late 1970s. • Alaskan Waters: The cutter was homeported in Alaska for many years, enduring harsh conditions to protect U.S. economic zones, enforce fisheries laws, and support search and rescue. • Decommissioning and Transfer: Morgenthau was decommissioned on April 18, 2017, and transferred to the Vietnam Coast Guard, where she continues service as CSB 8020. • Legacy of Service: Over her nearly 50-year career, Morgenthau sailed over 1,500,000 miles, participated in countless missions, and became one of the Coast Guard’s most celebrated cutters.