Russell R. Waesche

Russell Randolph Waesche Sr. (6 January 1886 – 17 October 1946) served as the eighth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1936 to 1946, overseeing the service during World War II. He was the U.S. Coast Guard's longest serving commandant, having served ten years in that post. In addition, he was the first officer to hold the ranks of vice admiral and admiral within the Coast Guard.

Early life and education

Waesche was born and raised in Thurmont, Maryland. He was fifth of the eight children of Leonard Randolph Waesche and Mary Martha Foreman. Waesche's grandfather George Henry Waesche was a German immigrant who had become a prominent figure in Carroll County, Maryland. Following graduation from high school, Waesche 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 School of Instruction in 1906.

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 as rear admiral on 14 June 1936, and was largely responsible for the merger of the U.S. Lighthouse Service with the Coast Guard in 1939. He was also instrumental in organizing the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a strong Coast Guard Reserve which underwent its greatest expansion in history. During World War II, Waesche served as commandant of the Coast Guard and received honors for his service. was a U.S. Coast Guard rear admiral who served as the commanding officer of USCGC Northwind from 1960 to 1962, with the rank of captain. Another son, Harry Lee Waesche (1915–2000), was a U.S. Air Force colonel who served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Awards and decorations

Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Commendation Ribbon
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Dates of rank

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"

!Third lieutenant (USRCS)

!Second lieutenant (USRCS)

!First lieutenant

!Lieutenant commander

!Commander

!Captain

!O-1

!O-2

!O-3

!O-4

!O-5

!O-6

| style="text-align:center; width:16%;"|

| style="text-align:center; width:16%;"| 60px

!27 October 1906

!2 September 1907

!2 April 1917

!12 January 1923

!1 July 1926

!Never held

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"

!Commodore

!Rear admiral

!Vice admiral

!Admiral

!O-7

!O-8

!O-9

!O-10

| style="text-align:center; width:16%;"| 60px

!Never held

!14 June 1936

!10 March 1942

!4 April 1945