USCGC Morgenthau ( WHEC - 722 ) USCGC " Morgenthau " ( WHEC 722 ) , commissioned on March 10 , 1969 , was the eighth of twelve 378 - foot turbine / diesel powered " Hamilton " - class high endurance cutters ( WHECs ) built by Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans , Louisiana . The ship was homeported at Governors Island , New York . In late 1970 the ship sailed to South Vietnam for service in the U . S . Navy ' s Operation Market Time . ( Operation Market Time was the United State ' s naval operation to intercept and halt North Vietnamese ships and boats using South Vietnam waterways to supply arms and ammunition to the North Vietnam army and Viet Cong . ) The " Morgenthau " was extremely active in the Vietnam War : boarding ships and boats suspected of running guns and ammo , providing naval gunfire support , providing medical care to Vietnamese villagers , and 24 / 7 patrol duties off the coast of Vietnam . The Morgenthau received a Meritorious Unit Citation for sinking a 180 ' gunning running ship in a multi - hour battle on Easter Sunday morning 1971 . The Morgenthau served in Vietnam until relieved by a 311 ' Casco - class cutter in July 1971 . In 1977 , " Morgenthau " became the first cutter to have women permanently assigned , followed shortly thereafter by . Her Pacific coast activities have included drug interdiction and seizures , foreign and domestic fisheries enforcement , search and rescue , and alien migrant interdiction . In 1989 , " Morgenthau " was decommissioned to undergo a major mid - life renovation , the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization ( FRAM ) to upgrade berthing and living spaces , rejuvenate engineering systems , and modernize her major weapons and sensors . Upon recommissioning in 1991 , " Morgenthau " resumed her missions in the Pacific Ocean . Her current motto , translated from Latin , is " Pride of the Pacific . " " Morgenthau " was homeported at Integrated Support Command Alameda , Coast Guard Island , Alameda , California until December 2012 . On December 13 , 2012 a hull swap was performed with the crew of the USCGC Jarvis and the new crew sailed the " Morgenthau " back to her new home port in Honolulu , Hawaii . Operational activities . In the fall of 1996 , " Morgenthau " was the first U . S . Coast Guard Cutter to deploy to the Persian Gulf . Participating in Operation Vigilant Sentinel , " Morgenthau " enforced Iraq ’ s compliance with United Nations sanctions . After returning from the Persian Gulf , " Morgenthau " continued her Pacific duties , often deploying to the Maritime Boundary Line in the Bering Straits to monitor Alaska ’ s valuable fisheries and environmental resources , as well as continued alien migrant and drug interdiction efforts off the coasts of Guam and Central and South America . During a drug interdiction patrol off the coast of Mexico in early 2001 , " Morgenthau " seized $ 32 million worth of cocaine . Also in 2001 , during a fisheries patrol , " Morgenthau " discovered a Russia n vessel fishing in U . S . waters . When the vessel refused to heave to and allow a Coast Guard law enforcement team aboard , " Morgenthau " pursued the vessel across the Bering Sea and up to Russian territorial seas . This resulted in a joint US - Russian law enforcement action , which further cemented cooperative law enforcement actions between the two nations . Later in 2001 , during an extensive dry - dock period , " Morgenthau " was the first 378 - foot cutter to install a stern flap , improving her fuel efficiency and ride quality . Because of the increased fuel efficiency , " Morgenthau " has never since been able to complete full power trials on turbines , as she reaches her maximum speed at a shaft horse power significantly lower than other ships in her class . After the terrorist attacks on September 11th , " Morgenthau " participated in Operation Noble Eagle to safeguard America ’ s prominent port cities through closer scrutiny of maritime traffic . In 2002 , " Morgenthau " traveled to Southeast Asia to assist , train , and teach law enforcement techniques to naval forces of several nations in the East Asian littoral . In November 2010 , " Morgenthau " provided an emergency escort along with medical and security assistance to passengers stranded aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor , which was rendered inoperable in the Pacific Ocean by an engine fire .