USCGC Storis (WAGL-38/WAG-38/WAGB-38/WMEC-38) was a light icebreaker and medium endurance cutter which served in the United States Coast Guard for 64 years and 5 months, making her the oldest vessel in commission with the Coast Guard fleet at the time of her decommissioning.

World War II

The ship was laid down by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company of Toledo, Ohio, on 14 July 1941. Storis was launched on 4 April 1942 and commissioned on 30 September 1942 as an ice patrol tender. Initially assigned to the North Atlantic during World War II, Storis participated in the Greenland Patrols. She was tasked with patrolling the east coast of Greenland to prevent the establishment of German weather stations. During her first years, Storis operated in the very waters from which her name was derived. Originally to be named Eskimo, the U.S. Department of State objected to the name of the new cutter on the basis that the natives of Greenland would be offended by the name. "Storis" is a Scandinavian word meaning "great ice." Storis also had a cameo in the 2006 film The Guardian.

Decommissioning

Storis was decommissioned in a ceremony in Kodiak on 8 February 2007. The cutter then sailed to Alameda, California, where it was made ready for its immediate destination as part of the "Mothball Fleet" at Suisun Bay.

In July 2012 the nomination of the Storis for listing on the National Register of Historic Places was accepted by the State of California. It was formally listed on the Register on 31 December 2012. However the auction failed to reach its reserve price when the auction closed on 27 June 2013. The Storis was towed on 25 October 2013 from California to Mexico where the ship was scheduled to be scrapped.

After commissioning, the commercial icebreaker Aiviq acquired by the USCG in 2024 was renamed USCGC Storis (WAGB-21).

Awards

  • Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Device
  • Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award
  • Coast Guard Unit Commendation (8 awards)
  • Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (7 awards)
  • Coast Guard E Ribbon (11 awards)
  • Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
  • American Campaign Medal
  • European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one battle star
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • National Defense Service Medal with three service stars
  • Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal (8 awards)
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Special Operations Service Ribbon

See also

Victor Mature

Notes

;Citations

;References cited

  • Coast Guard Alaska News
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation online article about decommissioning the ship
  • EN3 Tom Hough website