USCGC Oak (WAGL-239)

• USCGC Oak (WAGL-239) Commissioning: Oak was commissioned in 1940 as a buoy tender for the United States Lighthouse Service, just before that service was absorbed into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. • Class and Construction: Oak was a member of the Hollyhock-class of 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders, built by the Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Company in Duluth, Minnesota. • World War II Service: During World War II, Oak was assigned to the Greenland Patrol, where she performed duties such as icebreaking, supply runs, and maintaining navigational aids in treacherous Arctic waters. • Icebreaking Capabilities: Oak’s reinforced hull enabled her to break through thick arctic ice, allowing her to support both military and scientific missions in Greenland. • Rescue Missions: The Oak participated in numerous rescue operations, including assisting stranded vessels and providing emergency aid to isolated communities in the North Atlantic. • Postwar Service: After WWII, Oak continued buoy tending and icebreaking duties along the East Coast of the United States and in the Great Lakes. • Home Ports: Throughout her service, Oak was stationed in various ports, including Rockland, Maine, and Boston, Massachusetts. • Length of Service: Oak served for over 37 years, from her commissioning in 1940 until her decommissioning in 1976. • Honors and Legacy: The Oak was awarded several commendations for her service, particularly for her challenging and critical missions in Greenland during WWII. • Namesake Legacy: The name “Oak” continues in Coast Guard service with USCGC Oak (WLB-211), a Juniper-class buoy tender commissioned in 2002, honoring the legacy of her predecessor.