USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)

	USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)
History
United States
Name	Samuel D. Ingham; Ingham (May 1937);
Namesake	Samuel D. Ingham
Awarded	30 January 1934
Builder	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Laid down	1 May 1935
Launched	3 June 1936
Sponsored by	Katherine Ingham Brush
Commissioned	12 September 1936
Decommissioned	27 May 1988
Reclassified	WPG-35 (1 July 1941); WAGC-35 (24 July 1944); WHEC-35 (1 May 1965);
Motto	Never too old to serve
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Displacement	2,700 long tons (2,700 t)
Length	327 ft (100 m)
Beam	41 ft (12 m)
Installed power	2 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers; 6,200 hp (4,600 kW);
Propulsion	2 × Westinghouse double reduction geared steam turbine engines; 2 × Propellers;
Speed	21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range	8,270 nmi (15,320 km; 9,520 mi)
Complement	(1937) 12 officers, 4 warrants, 107 enlisted; (1941) 16 officers, 5 warrants, 202 enlisted; (1966) 10 officers, 3 warrants, 134 enlisted;
Armament	Depending on the time period:; 1 to 4 × 5" (127 mm)/38 caliber Mk.30; 2 × 5" (127 mm)/51 caliber; 2 × 6-pounder saluting guns; varying numbers of .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns;
Aircraft carried	originally 1 Grumman Duck seaplane, later removed
	USCGC Ingham
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. National Historic Landmark
	Ingham preserved in Key West.
Location	Key West, Florida
Coordinates	24°33′08.1″N 81°48′27.7″W / 24.552250°N 81.807694°W
Built	1935
Architect	US Coast Guard; Philadelphia Navy Yard
NRHP reference No.	92001879
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	27 April 1992
Designated NHL	27 April 1992

USCGC Ingham (WPG/WAGC/WHEC-35) is one of only two preserved Treasury-class United States Coast Guard Cutters. Originally Samuel D. Ingham, she was the fourth cutter to be named for Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham. She was the most decorated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet and was the only cutter to ever be awarded two Presidential Unit Citations.

History 1934–1988

Ingham was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The Treasury Department awarded her contract on 30 January 1934. Her keel was laid on 1 May 1935, and she was launched on 3 June 1936, along with her sisters USCGC William J. Duane (WPG-33), USCGC Taney (WHEC-37) and the USCGC George W. Campbell (WPG-32). Ingham was christened by Ms. Katherine Ingham Brush on that date and the new cutter was formally commissioned on 12 September 1936.

Ingham served with distinction during World War II on convoy duty. Protecting ships ferrying vital supplies to Britain, Ingham battled stormy weather, German U-boats, and enemy aircraft. On 15 December 1942, during one crossing, Ingham engaged and sank the enemy submarine U-626.^[4] After 1944, Ingham served as an amphibious flagship and she would later take part in three campaigns in the Pacific Theater. Ingham was the last active warship in the US fleet with a U-Boat kill.

Convoys escorted

Convoy	Escort Group	Dates	Notes
HX 164		10–19 Dec 1941^[5]	from Newfoundland to Iceland
ON 49		27 Dec 1941-5 Jan 1942^[6]	from Iceland to Newfoundland
HX 171		22–30 Jan 1942^[5]	from Newfoundland to Iceland
ON 63		7–13 Feb 1942^[6]	from Iceland to Newfoundland
HX 177	MOEF group A2	1–8 March 1942^[5]	from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 77	MOEF group A2	18–26 March 1942^[6]	from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 190	MOEF group A3	20–27 May 1942^[5]	from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 102	MOEF group A3	10–17 June 1942^[6]	from Northern Ireland to Iceland
ON 116		25–29 July 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
SC 93		29 July 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
ON 117		31 July-3 Aug 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
ON 124		24–27 Aug 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
SC 97		29 Aug-1 Sep 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
ON 132		21–24 Sep 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
SC 101		28–30 Sep 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
ON 136		5–9 Oct 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
SC 103		10 Oct 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
Convoy SC 107		5–7 Nov 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
ON 144		8–15 Nov 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
ON 152		11–15 Dec 1942^[6]	Iceland shuttle
SC 112		16–21 Dec 1942^[7]	Iceland shuttle
ON 160		14–21 Jan 1943^[6]	Iceland shuttle
HX 223		23–27 Jan 1943^[5]	Iceland shuttle
ON 175		4 Feb 1943^[6]	Iceland shuttle
Convoy SC 118		5–9 Feb 1943^[7]	Iceland shuttle
Convoy SC 121		9–11 March 1943^[7]	Iceland shuttle
Convoys HX 229/SC 122		19–21 March 1943^[7]	Iceland shuttle

Post-war service

In August 1966, Ingham rescued lone sailor William Willis off the US eastern seabord, landing him at the Argentia Coast Guard station.^[8]

Ingham earned two Presidential Unit Citations for her service in Operation SEA LORDS and Operation SWIFT RAIDER during the Vietnam War on a deployment from 3 August 1968 to 28 February 1969.

On completion of her deployment to Vietnam, Ingham returned to regular Coast Guard duties, serving until 1988, when she was decommissioned. At that time, Ingham was the second oldest commissioned U.S. warship afloat, second only to USS Constitution in Boston, Massachusetts.^[3]

Museum Ship and Memorial

Acquired by Patriot's Point (located near Charleston, South Carolina) in 1989, Ingham was displayed along with the aircraft carrier Yorktown, the destroyer Laffey, and the submarine Clamagore until 20 August 2009.

On 20 August 2009 Ingham was towed to the Coast Guard piers in North Charleston, South Carolina for minor repairs and to await dry docking. She underwent a short dry docking period at Detyen's Shipyard in North Charleston and was then towed to Key West, Florida arriving there on 24 November 2009. She is now a member of Key West Maritime Memorial Museum.^[9]^[10]^{[failed verification]}

The Commandant of the Coast Guard has declared Ingham the National Memorial to Coast Guardsmen Killed in Action in World War II and Vietnam. These 912 casualties are identified on a memorial plaque on Ingham's quarterdeck.^[11] Ingham was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.^[3]^[12]

Awards

Ribbons and Medals painted on in January 2010.

Presidential Unit Citation – 2 awards
Coast Guard Unit Commendation - 2 awards with "O" device ^[13]
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation – 2 awards
Coast Guard E Ribbon – 3 awards
China Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal with "A" device
American Campaign Medal with one battle star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with star
Vietnam Service Medal with three campaign stars
Humanitarian Service Medal
Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Gallery

Ingham in 1953
The Ingham ca. 1965
USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35) off Vietnam ca. 1968
Ingham in Key West in 2019
Executive Officer's stateroom
View of the bow of the Ingham with a 5"/38 caliber gun, and a 6-pounder saluting gun