The U.S. Coast Guardsman's Creed

by Harry Craft

As Memorial Day quickly approaches, I thought it would be fitting to include the U.S. Coast Guardsman’s Creed as well. Most people don’t realize that the U.S. Coast Guard does go to war and fights along the other services.

During a wartime period, the Coast Guard falls under the Department of the Navy. There has only been one Coast Guardsman to receive the Medal of Honor and that was Douglas Munro. He gave his life on September 26, 1942, on the island of Guadalcanal putting down machine gun fire to cover 200 Marines who had been trapped on the island. The Marines were able to get off the island because of Munro. However, Munro was shot through the chest and died. His last words were “Did they get off the island?”

After spending four years in the U.S. Army as an infantry sergeant, I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and spent more than 23 years. I retired after 27 years of total service as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

People don’t realize what the Coast Guard does, but they have a very wide range of duties from search and rescue, migrant interdiction, drug seizures, law enforcement, international ice patrol and many other duties. I saw more dead people in the Coast Guard than I ever did in the Army. I was a rescue swimmer and was credited with saving nine people during my career.

However, the one thing you learn in boot camp is the Coast Guardsman’s Creed.

So here goes: The U.S. Coast Guardsman’s Creed.

I am proud to be a United States Coast Guardsman.

I revere that long line of expert seamen who by

their devotion to duty and sacrifice of self, have

made it possible for me to be a member of a

service honored and respected, in peace and in

war, throughout the world.

I never, by word or deed, will bring reproach upon

the fair name of my service, nor permit others to

do so unchallenged.

I will cheerfully and willingly obey all lawful orders.