Russell R. Waesche
Encyclopedia
Russell Randolph Waesche, Sr. (January 6, 1886-October 17, 1946). Waesche served as the eighth Commandant
of the United States Coast Guard
from 1936 to 1946, overseeing the service during World War II
. He also holds the distinction of being the longest serving Commandant, serving ten years in command of the United States Coast Guard. In addition, he was the first to hold the ranks of Vice Admiral and full Admiral within the Coast Guard.
. Following graduation from high school, he attended Purdue University
for a year before transferring to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service
School of Instruction and accepting an appointment as a cadet in 1904. He graduated from the Revenue Cutter Service Academy in 1906.
Waesche commanded the and the . In 1915, Wasche was assigned to headquarters in Washington, D.C. While stationed in Washington 1915 he took an active part in creating the Coast Guard with the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving Service. Waesche remained in Washington and in 1916 became the head of the communications division. During World War I
, Waesche remained in Washington.
In 1919, the 18th Amendment
was passed, and Waesche was assigned to enforce Prohibition at sea. He commanded various destroyers in preventing "rum runners" from entering port. He commanded the USCGC Beale (CG-9)
, and the USCGC Tucker (CG-23)
. Waesche also commanded the cutters and .
In February 1932 he became Liaison Officer in the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department.
After completion of this duty he served as Aide to Commandant Harry G. Hamlet
, then he was Chief
of the Finance Division, and Assistant Commandant. He was appointed Commandant in 1936 and was largely responsible for the merger of the Lighthouse Service with the Coast Guard in 1939. He was also instrumental in organizing a strong Coast Guard Reserve.
Waesche retired from the Coast Guard on December 31, 1945. In March, 1946, President Truman nominated the ten top wartime Generals and Admirals of the United States Armed Forces who were to retain permanently their wartime rank. Admiral Waesche was one of them.
Waesche died in October 1946, nine months after retiring as Commandant, at the Naval Hospital
in Bethesda, Maryland
due to complications of leukemia
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
For his service during World War II, Wasche was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
and the Navy Commendation Ribbon
.
The cutter USCGC Waesche
is named in his honor
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
from 1936 to 1946, overseeing the service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also holds the distinction of being the longest serving Commandant, serving ten years in command of the United States Coast Guard. In addition, he was the first to hold the ranks of Vice Admiral and full Admiral within the Coast Guard.
Early life
Waesche was born and raised in Thurmont, MarylandThurmont, Maryland
Thurmont is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,588 at the 2000 census. The town is located in the northern part of Frederick County , approximately ten miles from the Pennsylvania border, along U.S. Highway 15...
. Following graduation from high school, he attended Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
for a year before transferring to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service
United States Revenue Cutter Service
The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury...
School of Instruction and accepting an appointment as a cadet in 1904. He graduated from the Revenue Cutter Service Academy in 1906.
Military service
After graduating with the rank of ensign, Wasche served in the North Atlantic, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific Northwest. In 1911,Waesche commanded the and the . In 1915, Wasche was assigned to headquarters in Washington, D.C. While stationed in Washington 1915 he took an active part in creating the Coast Guard with the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving Service. Waesche remained in Washington and in 1916 became the head of the communications division. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Waesche remained in Washington.
In 1919, the 18th Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
was passed, and Waesche was assigned to enforce Prohibition at sea. He commanded various destroyers in preventing "rum runners" from entering port. He commanded the USCGC Beale (CG-9)
USS Beale (DD-40)
USS Beale , a Paulding-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and later in the United States Coast Guard, designated CG-9. She was the first ship of the Navy to be named for Edward Fitzgerald Beale....
, and the USCGC Tucker (CG-23)
USS Tucker (DD-57)
USS Tucker was the lead ship of her class of destroyers built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the first U.S. Navy vessel named for Samuel Tucker....
. Waesche also commanded the cutters and .
In February 1932 he became Liaison Officer in the War Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department.
After completion of this duty he served as Aide to Commandant Harry G. Hamlet
Harry G. Hamlet
Harry Gabriel Hamlet served as the seventh Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, from 1932 to 1936.-Early life and career:...
, then he was Chief
of the Finance Division, and Assistant Commandant. He was appointed Commandant in 1936 and was largely responsible for the merger of the Lighthouse Service with the Coast Guard in 1939. He was also instrumental in organizing a strong Coast Guard Reserve.
Waesche retired from the Coast Guard on December 31, 1945. In March, 1946, President Truman nominated the ten top wartime Generals and Admirals of the United States Armed Forces who were to retain permanently their wartime rank. Admiral Waesche was one of them.
Waesche died in October 1946, nine months after retiring as Commandant, at the Naval Hospital
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
due to complications of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
For his service during World War II, Wasche was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
and the Navy Commendation Ribbon
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
.
The cutter USCGC Waesche
USCGC Waesche (WMSL-751)
USCGC Waesche is the name of the second Legend-class National Security Cutter of the United States Coast Guard.Waesche is named for Coast Guard Admiral Russell R. Waesche...
is named in his honor