USCGC Pontchartrain ( WHEC - 70 ) USCGC " Pontchartrain " ( WHEC - 70 ) was an " Owasco " class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard . The ship was commissioned just days before the end of the war and thus did not see combat action until the Vietnam war . " Pontchartrain " was built by the Coast Guard yard at Curtis Bay , Maryland , one of only two " Owasco " class vessels not to be built by Western Pipe & Steel . Named after Lake Pontchartrain , Louisiana , the ship was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG - 70 on 28 July 1945 . Her ID was later changed to WHEC - 70 ( HEC for " High Endurance Cutter " - the " W " signifies a Coast Guard vessel ) . Peacetime service . " Pontchartrain " was originally named " Okeechobee " . She was stationed at Boston , Massachusetts , from 1 April 1946 to 17 October 1947 [ there is conflicting data that indicates station at Boston until 23 August 1948 ! ] and was used for law enforcement , ocean station , and search and rescue operations . She was subsequently decommissioned and stored at the Coast Guard Yard , Curtis Bay , MD , until 5 September 1948 . She was re - commissioned and homeported at Norfolk , Virginia until 12 November 1949 . From 12 November 1949 to 19 October 1973 , she was stationed at Long Beach , California . She was used for law enforcement , ocean station , and search and rescue operations in the Pacific . On 4 May 1950 , " Pontchartrain " assisted the disabled FV " Eta " near Catalina Island . On 20 August 1955 , she escorted the disabled American MV " John C " . On 26 and 27 August 1955 , she assisted the disabled FV " Nina Ann " . On 16 October 1956 , she rescued all on Pan American Clipper 6 , which ditched only ½ mile from the cutter . On 20 November 1956 , " Pontchartrain " assisted LSM - 455 aground on San Clemente Island . On 26 August 1957 , she assisted the disabled FV " Modeoday " 2 miles north of North Point Pinos . On 22 November 1957 , she assisted the disabled yacht " Gosling " at 33°59 ’ N , 120°16 ’ W . On 25 February 1958 , " Pontchartrain " assisted the disabled yacht " Intrepid " . From 11 to 21 August 1958 , she served on a reserve training cruise . She patrolled the Ensenada Bay Race on 10 May 1959 . On 10 July 1959 , she assisted FV " Carolyn Dee " at 33°N , 120°W . On 13 and 14 July 1959 , she assisted MV " Mamie " . On 17 August 1960 , she patrolled the Acapulco Yacht Race . From 20 August to 3 September 1960 , she served on a reserve training cruise . On 19 October 1960 , she rescued three from the ketch " Alpha " at 30°21 ’ N , 117°56 ’ W . On 22 January 1961 , she medevaced a patient from USNS " Richfield " . On 30 April 1963 , " Ponchartrain " assisted the disabled FV " Gaga " 10 miles east of San Nicolas Island . Vietnam war . " Pontchartrain " was assigned to Coast Guard Squadron Three , Vietnam , from 31 March to 9 November 1970 . http : / / www . uscg . mil / directives / cim / 1000 - 1999 / CIM _ 1650 _ 25D . pdf Decommissioning . " Pontchartrain " was decommissioned on 19 October 1973 . She was scrapped with the rest of the " Owasco " class in 1974 . Harold Linker , crewmember and expert .