Throughout his career, CAPT Fred Herberg developed a deep appreciation for the Coast Guard’s history and heritage. He also noted a lack of methods to preserve that history and heritage. No national museum existed, and the historian’s office was under-resourced to do its job properly. For a service whose motto was “Semper Paratus, Always Ready,” when it came to its history, it was “Semper Paratus, Simply Forgotus.” So, with the help of his good friend and fellow Coast Guard officer, VADM Howard “Howie” Thorsen, he created the Foundation for Coast Guard History (FCGH) to help preserve and share Coast Guard history with others so that they could appreciate the significant value the Coast Guard offers to our nation. In 2000, the FCGH entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Coast Guard to support the Historian’s Office.
Starting any new organization isn’t for the faint of heart, but Fred had the vision, energy, and skills needed to do that. With the assistance of Howie Thorsen, LCDR Tom Beard, USCG (Ret.), and MSTCS Dennis Noble, Ph.D, USCG (ret.), the basic foundations of the FCGH were laid. There would be a newsletter, which evolved into our magazine, The Cutter. It started with just two pages. There would be an awards program, with only one unit recognized in the first year. And to support the primary goal of assisting the historian’s office, a grant was offered for a summer internship.
The Cutter continued to evolve from that early newsletter to a three-times-a-year magazine, often 30-40 pages long, with articles from well-regarded Coast Guard historians and subject matter experts in Coast Guard history. The awards program expanded to include categories for large and small units, individual efforts, and multimedia projects.
Over time, the support for the Historian’s office expanded. Artifacts were purchased and donated to the Coast Guard Collection, and research support was provided. The FCGH contributed the “coffee and sweets” and speakers for the quarterly “Coffee with the Historian” presentation at Coast Guard Headquarters.
The FCGH published a “coffee table” book entitled “The Coast Guard.” It quickly sold out, and additional printings were required. It became the go-to gift for Coast Guard history fans and was used in the exchange of gifts with visiting dignitaries.
In 2019, through the direct efforts of members of the FCGH, the United States Postal Service honored the Coast Guard with a “Forever Stamp.” The design included the USCG Eagle under full sail with a USCG helicopter providing escort.
The landscape of Coast Guard history is no longer “Semper Paratus, Simply Forgotus,” but much work still needs to be done. A National Coast Guard Museum will open soon and needs support in its operations. There remain too many untold stories of Coast Guard veterans to capture through our oral history program. More recognition of the efforts of amateur historians, authors, and others who are telling the Coast Guard story still needs to be given. There are still artifacts on eBay and other places that we can purchase and donate, returning them to the Coast Guard collection.