Guice Offshore invites you to celebrate Black History Month 2024 with the U.S. Coast Guard!
Highlighted by a national event on February 15, 2024 that will be accessible both in-person and virtually, the celebration also includes a month-long series of essays by historians and others on notable Black contributions to the U.S. Coast Guard.
For a comprehensive history of African-Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard, click HERE.
Join the Coast Guard for a Feb. 15 Event
With the theme of “African Americans and the Arts,” this Washington D.C. in-person event will also be available virtually and is scheduled for Feb. 15, 2024 at 11 a.m. (EST).
To attend this event online join HERE, or call in at 410-874-6742, conference ID: 297 334 105#
At “African Americans and the Arts,” attendees can expect to be immersed in a world of black culture and art featuring a segment of spoken word, a musical performance, and words from this year’s keynote speaker: Bishop Aaron R. Jones, a 20-year veteran of the Armed Forces, a former Chaplain for the National Guard and the author of 39 books. He will be speaking on the art of oratory and how African Americans have used their voice to create change.
This events is designed to both honor the varied backgrounds of Coast Guard members but also about reinforce Guardsmens’ pledge to be an inclusive Service where every contribution is valued.
The event is spearheded by Deputy Assistant Commandant for Intelligence (CG2D) Jeffrey Radgowski, this year’s Executive Champion for Black History Month.
Part of his team, Project Officer, Intelligence Specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Robinson, stated, “Through these celebrations, we aim to deepen understanding and respect for diverse cultures among our members, thereby strengthening the unity and empathy within our workforce.”
“These observations give the Coast Guard an opportunity to reaffirm its dedication to creating a diverse and representative workforce, acknowledging the strength that comes from embracing our different histories and experiences,” the Coast Guard stated.
Coast Guard Black History Essays
Click HERE to follow this month’s Coast Guard Black History essays. Below are excerpts and links to each as of the date of this publication. Check back as additional essays are posted for the remainder of February.
First to serve, first to fight and first to sacrifice — African Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard
The Long Blue Line blog series has been publishing Coast Guard history essays for over 15 years. To access hundreds of these service stories, visit the Coast Guard Historian’s Office’s Long Blue Line online archives, located here: THE LONG BLUE LINE (uscg.mil)
The history of African American participation in the Coast Guard and its predecessor services dates back to the very founding of the Service in 1790. In over 225 years of Coast Guard history, African Americans have been the first minority group to serve, first to fight and the first to sacrifice. In fact, the first known service death in the line of duty was a Black cutterman lost off the cutter South Carolina in 1795.
To read the rest of this story, click HERE.
Lt. Andre Jones Butler – Shaping success through civil rights and mentorship
Lt. Andre Jones Butler, Safety Officer, Aviation Projects Acquisition Center (APAC), is the Coast Guard recipient of the 2023 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award.
To read the rest of this story, click HERE.
Melvin Williams Jr. — An African American Coast Guardsman’s aviation story
During the Vietnam War era, 18-year-old males had to register with the Selective Service. Instead of simply registering, Melvin W. Williams, Jr., went further. After hearing about a ship rescued by the United States Coast Guard, he knew that would be his path in life and enlisted in the Coast Guard.
To read the rest of this story, click HERE.
