USCGC Winona (WHEC-65)

USCGC "Winona" (WHEC-65) was an "Owasco" class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard. The war ended before the ship was completed and consequently she did not see wartime service until the Vietnam War.

"Winona" was built by Western Pipe & Steel at the company's San Pedro shipyard. Named after Winona Lake, Indiana, she was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG-65 on 19 April 1946. Her ID was later changed to WHEC-65 (HEC for "High Endurance Cutter" - the "W" signifies a Coast Guard vessel).

Peacetime service

From 15 August 1946 to 11 September 1947, "Winona" was stationed at San Pedro, California, and used for law enforcement, ocean station, and search and rescue operations. She was subsequently homeported at Port Angeles, Washington until 31 May 1974.

On 17 November 1948, she towed the disabled MV "Herald of Morning". On 10 June 1949, she assisted FV "Alice B" 2 miles off South Amphitrite Point. On 13 February 1950, she towed the disabled MV "Edgecombe" to Seattle, Washington. On 16 June 1951, she escorted FV "Sea Lark" to Ketchikan, Alaska. On 18 and 19 March 1952, she assisted the disabled MV "Darton" until relived by a commercial tug. From 23 to 25 December 1952, she assisted MV "Maple Cove" at 48°22’N, 134°26’W. On 13 February 1954, she assisted FV "Western Fisherman". On 20 December 1954, she medevaced a crewman from MV "General Pope". She patrolled the Gold Cup Races at Seattle, Washington, on 7 August 1955. "Winona" served on Bering Sea patrol from July to September 1956. She was back performing that same task from 20 July to 21 September 1963.

Vietnam War

"Winona" was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three, Vietnam, from 25 January to 17 October 1968.

Return to peacetime duties

On 31 January 1969, "Winona" stood by MV "Belmona" following a fire 15 miles southwest of Cape Flattery until commercial tugs arrived. On 20 July 1969, she assisted in the operations following the sinking of a barge loaded with diesel fuel near Admiralty Inlet. On 28 October 1970, she provided medical assistance to "Urea Maru" 300 miles off San Francisco.

Decommissioning

The ship was decommissioned on 31 May 1974 and sold for scrap.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Winona_1946.html "Winona" WHEC-65] , United States' Coast Guard website.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft of World War II" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981, pp. 1-3.
*Scheina, Robert L.: "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990" Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1990, pp. 18-26.