WHEC 716 Dallas
Originally commissioned in 1967 at Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, Dallas is the sixth cutter to bear the name Alexander J. Dallas, the Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison (1814-1816). Dallas was first home ported at the former Coast Guard base on Governor's Island, New York. She was relocated to her current homeport of Charleston, South Carolina on September 14, 1996.
In her early years, Dallas collected valuable meteorological and oceanographic data on "ocean state" as part of the Gate Project and assisted commercial aircraft crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
During seven combat patrols off the coast of Vietnam, Dallas compiled an impressive list of accomplishments, including161 Naval gunfire support missions involving 7,665 rounds of 5-inch ammunition. This resulted in 58 sampans destroyed and 29 supply routes, bases, camps, or rest areas damaged or destroyed. Her 5-inch guns made her incredibly valuable to the naval missions in the area.
In 1980, Dallas was the command ship for the historic Mariel Boatlift, during which 125,000 Cuban refugees set sail for the shores of Florida. At the time, it was the largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken by the Coast Guard. In 1983, Dallas earned a Coast Guard Unit Commendation for achievements that included the seizure of seven vessels smuggling over 103,000 lbs. Of marijuana and the interdiction of 90 illegal Haitian migrants. In 1986, Dallas served as the on-scene command for the search and rescue operation following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. For her service during this operation, Dallas received the Coast Guard's Meritorious Unit Commendation.
In the late 1980's, Dallas underwent a fleet rehabilitation and modernization (FRAM). During this period, Dallas' living quarters, electronics, sensors, and weapons systems were thoroughly upgraded to ensure her continued service beyond the year 2000. Dallas was recommissioned in 1990.
During the Haitian migrant crisis of 1991-92, Dallas performed as the flagship of a flotilla of over twenty-seven Coast Guard cutters that rescued 35,000 migrants from hundreds of overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels. Dallas received a Humanitarian Service Medal and another Coast Guard Unit Commendation for her monumental effort in establishing an operation task organization that serves as the model for today's Coast Guard multi-unit operation
In response to the renewed threats of a mass exodus from Haiti, Operation Able Manner began in January 1993, with large numbers of Coast Guard an Navy ships and aircraft deploying to the Caribbean. Dallas assumed command of this flotilla on three separate patrols in 1993, earning her yet another Coast Guard Unit Commendation.
Dallas spent the summer of 1994 representing the Coast Guard at the 50th Normandy D-Day invasion anniversary. During these festivities, Dallas sailed with the reenactment fleet to commemorate the event. Soon after, Dallas was called upon to be the flagship for the Operation Able Vigil in response to another mass exodus from Cuba. Able Vigil was the largest Coast Guard commanded, multi-service operation since the 1940's.
During the summer of 1995, Dallas was selected to operate with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Among her many assignments, Dallas worked with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group in support of Operation Deny Flight off the coast of the former Yugoslavia. Dallas'crew conducted nation-building training and professional exchange in various countries in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Black Seas. Dallas worked with the navies, coast guards, and maritime agencies of Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Slovenia, Albania, and Italy. This marked the first time that a U.S. Coast Guard cutter operated with the U.S. Sixth fleet and entered the Black Sea. Dallas earned the Armed Forces Service Medal for her contributions to Operation Deny Flight, Maritime Monitor, and Sharp Guard.
During 1997 and 1998, Dallas served as the flag ship for Operations Frontier Shield and Frontier Lance, the most effective and largest interagency, international counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean.
In the summer of 1999, Dallas was again assigned to the U.S. Sixth fleet in the Mediterranea and Black Seas to support allied forces during the conflict in Kosovo. During her transit, the conflict was resolved, but Dallas was tasked to remain in theater and conduct training and professional exchanges with US Naval units and foreign naval forces. Dallas became the first Coast Guard cutter to enter the ports of Haifa, Isreal and Antalya, Turkey and executed training exercises with the Ukrainian Navy, Turkish Coast Guard, Geogian Navy, and the armed forces of Malta.
During the entire 1990-2000 decade Dallas held Commander Atlantic Area's Operational Readiness Award for sustained excellence in all Naval warfare mission areas.
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on New York and Washington, Dallas was deployed as part of Operation Noble Eagle off the coast of the southeaster United States. Her mission was to interrogate and board vessels entering US waterways. This marked a change in the Coast Guard's operations as homeland security blanketed Dallas' primary mission of drug interdiction.
During the summer of 2002, Dallas entered a new era in maritime drug interdiction. Deployed alongside the USCGC Gallatin, the only other 378' cutter on the east coast, Dallas took part in Operation New Frontier. Operation New Frontier utilizes armed helicopters from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) in attempt to stop small high-speed vessel ("go-fasts") before they can reach their destination.
Dallas' awards include: three Humanitarian Service Medals, two Joint Meritorious Unit Commendations, three Coast Guard Unit Commendations, two Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, numerous Coast Guard Special Operations service ribbons, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Today, Dallas continues as the most capable cutter platform on the east coast. As always Dallas will continue to act as a multi-mission ship in support of Coast Guard activities worldwide. Homeland Security, Maritime Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Defense Operations, and Migrant Interdiction will continue to be the main focus of Dallas as she approaches the end of her service life. The Coast Guard's Deepwater initiative plans on decommissioning Hamilton class cutters during the next decade. Until that time Dallas will continue to serve the nations' interests both close to home and foreign shores.
Dallas has participated in numerous Search and Rescue cases throughout her thirty-seven year history. One of the most notible cases was the Shuttle Challenger disaster of 1986 in which Dallas was called upon to act as onscene commander for dozens of Coast Guard and Naval vessels and aircraft. Based on Dallas' operational capabilities she is frequently called upon to take charge of high profile cases.
Dallas has performed countless operations in support of National Defense both off the shores of domestic and foreign soil. Beginning with the Vietnam War where Dallas engaged in over 161 Naval gunfire support missions she has played an integral part of National Security at home and abroad. Dallas frequently deploys with US Naval and foreign naval units in support of this mission. Recent deployments have been to the Mediterranean where Dallas trains with the US Sixth Fleet and foreign naval and coast guard units in support of multi-national excercises to increase cooperation between the US and foreign countries.
Migrant Interdiction has been a large part of Dallas' history. She has assumed command of multiple task units during mass illegal immigrant migrations during her history.
Alexander J. Dallas
Born in Jamaica in 1759, Alexander J. Dallas would become a prominent American citizen with a far-reaching political legacy. The son of a Scottish physician, he was educated in Scotland and England. In 1783, as the American Revolution came to a close, Dallas immigrated to the United States after the death of his father and remarriage of his mother denied him any chance of inheritance. Seeking his fortune in the America, Dallas became a successful lawyer, author and statesman. He served in several state offices until 1814 when President Madison appointed him Secretary of the Treasury. It was an unenviable job. The countries finances were in disarray and the economy was further inhibited by a costly war with Great Britain. Dallas is largely credited with bringing the countries finances back into order through his strong advocacy of a national bank, effective utilization of loans for revenue and credit establishment, and pursuit of disciplined financial policy.
Key to the financial welfare of the United States was the collection of revenue for public works. To that end, Secretary Dallas had the additional responsibility of overseeing a small fleet of ships in Revenue Cutter Service. Created by predecessor Alexander Hamilton, the service was responsible for enforcing customs dues, controlling rampant smuggling and protect legitimate commerce against piracy.
The First Dallas
The first Revenue Cutter DALLAS was commissioned in 1816. With a length over all of just 57 FT and a draft of only 6 FT, this swift, maneuverable vessel was exactly what was needed to ferret out smugglers and privateers. DALLAS made history while serving on the East Coast when she intercepted and seized a Venezuelan slave runner with 280 slaves aboard. A hotly contested topic in the United States, the legal disposition of the slaves was argued through the judicial system to the Supreme Court. Presented before the Marshall Court, the slaves were represented by none other than Francis Scott Key. Though the majority of the slaves were not freed (37 were repatriated to Liberia and 120 died in captivity), the case tested the boundaries of American commitment to terminating the slave trade, and provided many legal foundations that would help build the landmark Amistad case a few years later.
No painted picture of the cutter seems to have survived. However, an eloquent epitaph left by Francis A Dewey, who had once served aboard, describing her as:
".A trim built vessel with black hull, painted ports, long raking masts and black yards. Her cabin was ornamented and decorated on all sides with cutlasses and swords, and around her masts were boarding pikes. On her main deck was the monitor gun, on the quarterdeck was the swivel gull, mounted for use. The complement of men in uniform was sixteen."
Though the fate of this vessel is not actually known, she was transferred from the East Coast to the Great Lakes, and it is believed she was sold out of the service in 1821.
The Second Dallas (ex-Vigilant)
In 1830, the Revenue Cutter VIGILANT was renamed DALLAS. The cutter served in New Orleans and the Florida coast. In 1836 the DALLAS served with army and naval assets in operations against the Seminole Indians including several armed forays on land. After completing operations and receiving a commendation from the Naval Commodore, DALLAS returned to New Orleans. On September 21, 1836, the DALLAS was lost at sea attempting to cross Tempico Bar while monitoring Mexican hostilities with naval assets.
By 1846, the revenue cutter service was looking for innovative means to propel vessels independent of wind and tide. In an attempt to create a completely modern fleet, the service commissioned eight ships to be built of iron and utilize either screw or horizontal paddle wheel construction, known as Hunter wheels. Due to numerous engineering problems and skyrocketing costs, this project was not successful. Consequently, DALLAS, originally designed to use the Hunter wheel, was converted mid construction to the tradition side paddle. With a crew of around 58, the 160 Foot cutter only saw two years of service on the Great Leaks from 1846-1848.
In July of 1874, third generation of DALLAS began. She would be one of the most enduring vessels to hold the name. Built in Maine, the DALLAS patrolled the New England coastline for the majority of her life changing homeports from Portland, ME to Boston, MA, thence to New London, CT. The DALLAS was finally decommissioned after three decades of service in November of 1907, finishing her career on the great lakes home ported in Ogdensburg, NY.
In the generation preceding the current cutter, Defoe Boat & Motor Works, of Michigan, built a 100 FT version of the DALLAS. This vessel saw service in Pascagoula, MS from 1925-1934 and Sault Ste. Marie, MI until 1936. At that time, the DALLAS was transferred to the US Navy, renamed YP-61 and served for another 10 years.
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