USCGC Mendota ( WHEC - 69 ) USCGC " Mendota " ( WHEC - 69 ) was an " Owasco " class high endurance cutter built for World War II service with the United States Coast Guard . The ship was commissioned three months before the end of the war and did not see combat action until the Vietnam war . " Mendota " 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 Mendota Lake , Wisconsin , the ship was commissioned as a patrol gunboat with ID number WPG - 69 on 2 June 1945 . Her ID was later changed to WHEC - 69 ( HEC for " High Endurance Cutter " - the " W " signifies a Coast Guard vessel ) . Peacetime service . " Mendota " was stationed at Boston , Massachusetts , from April 1946 to January 1947 . She was used for law enforcement , ocean station , and search and rescue operations . She was stationed at Wilmington , NC , from January 1947 to 29 February 1972 with the same duties assigned . From 14 May to 23 July 1947 , " Mendota " shared an International Ice Patrol with the cutter " Spencer " . Another International Ice Patrol was shared with the cutter " Mocoma " from 26 April to 3 July 1948 . While serving on ocean station Charlie in early January 1949 , " Mendota " had to leave early due to an acute case of appendicitis . From 28 to 31 March 1950 , she towed the disabled MV " Edison Mariner " until a commercial tug arrived . On 21 and 22 August 1950 , she towed the disabled MV " South Bend Victory " until relieved by a commercial tug . On 2 January 1952 , she medevaced a crewman from FV " Silver Bay " at 44°47 ’ N , 56°22 ’ W . On 2 March 1952 , she provided medical aid to MV " Rachel Jackson " at 37°30 ’ N , 66°08 ’ W . On 9 March 1952 , she recovered a buoy and transferred it to the tender " Madrona " . On 12 and 13 March 1952 , " Mendota " medevaced a crewman from MV " Saxton Star " and transferred him to MV " Queen of Bermuda " . On 18 September 1953 , she medevaced a crewman from MV " Government Camp " . From 15 to 17 March 1954 , " Mendota " towed the disabled FV " Eagle " to Newfoundland . On 31 August 1954 , she towed the disabled tug " Ocean Prince " until relieved . On 11 and 12 January 1955 , she escorted the disabled MV " Flying Cloud " III to Frying Pan Shoals . On 13 January 1955 , she assisted the disabled FV " Stephen Margo " northeast of Diamond Shoals . On 14 January 1955 , she escorted an ammunition barge . On 15 and 16 August 1955 , " Mendota " rescued 46 crew members and one dog from the Portuguese FV " Ilhavense Segundo " . On 11 and 12 March 1957 , " Mendota " assisted the disabled FV " Stella Maris " southwest of Louisbourg , Nova Scotia . On 25 January 1958 , " Mendota " towed the disabled USN tug " Sagamore " and the destroyer escort " Stewart " to Southport , ME . On 22 May 1958 , while serving on Ocean Station ECHO , she rescued the pilots from two USAF jets that had collided . On 6 January 1959 , she assisted MV " Hillcrest " at 34°43 ’ N , 62°30 ’ W . From 1 to 22 August 1960 , she was employed on the reserve cruise visiting Veracruz , Mexico . She paid an official visit to Curaçao from 18 – 21 August 1961 . In 15 November 1962 , " Mendota " assisted the disabled schooner " Curlew " northwest of Bermuda . In March 1965 , she served as on - scene commander following a mid - air collision of two USAF aircraft south of Cape Race , Newfoundland . The body of one of the pilots was recovered and returned to Argentia . " Mendota " coordinated a search for the SV " Stella Maris " , a yacht with a single crew member sailing from Newport , Rhode Island to Bermuda , in October 1966 . The crewman refused assistance when found by " Mendota " , and " Stella Maris " later disappeared without a trace . " Mendota " participated in a medical emergency on board the SS " Michelangelo " in March , 1967 after " Michelangelo " was struck by a freak wave . On 24 April 1968 , " Mendota " took on board 26 survivors from " Irinis Luck " . In the fall of 1968 " Mendota " coordinated the rescue of the " Alberto Beneti " during hurricane Helen . Vietnam war . After assignment to Coast Guard Squadron Three " Mendota " departed Wilmington on 27 January 1969 , bound ultimately for the waters off the coast of Vietnam . Once in Vietnamese waters , " Mendota " conducted eight Market Time patrols during which time she detected 1 , 550 vessels , inspected 825 , and boarded 8 . " Mendota " also participated in Special Operation SEALORD missions twice , Navy SEAL support missions three times and Operation Silver Mace once . " Mendota " acted as a troop transport , operational base , and rest stop for Cambodia n and Chinese mercenaries and Hoi Chi troops on numerous occasions . The cutter steamed in the Western Pacific Ocean from March through October , 1969 , and was underway 70 - percent of that time . Combat operations summary " Mendota " also conducted naval gunfire support ( NGS ) missions during her tour . She participated in 31 NGS missions with her main battery , expending 2 , 527 rounds of ammunition . Additionally 731 rounds of 81 mm mortar were fired and 30 , 830 rounds of . 50 caliber machine gun ammunition . Although many casualty results were not able to be confirmed , Army spotters and ground troops confirmed that " Mendota " ' s guns were responsible for 4 Vietcong killed or wounded , while another 11 casualties were estimated . " Mendota " ' s guns also destroyed 20 structures , 6 bunkers , 3 sampans , and 9 bivouac areas , and damaged 27 structures and 10 bunkers . Humanitarian missions The crew of " Mendota " also participated in humanitarian missions while serving in Vietnam . These missions were concentrated on the village of Song Ong Doc , on the Gulf of Thailand . The medical team conducted MEDCAPS ( Medical Care of the Civilian Population ) , treating over 800 Vietnamese for every variety of medical malady during 14 visits to the village . The crew also helped rebuild a small dispensary . In addition , assistance was rendered to Vietnamese and Thai fishermen who were injured while fishing . U . S . and South Vietnamese forces were also treated by the medical personnel . Logistics missions " Mendota " was not only home to the 160 men who were permanently assigned as her crew . She also served as a " mother ship " to U . S . Navy " Swift " boats and their crews , and to a lesser degree the Coast Guard 82 - foot patrol boats , which operated in the inner barrier closer to shore . " Mendota " serviced the 82 - footers forty times during her stay while the " Swift " boats received logistic support daily , and the crews alternated being on board " Mendota " every other day . The medical staff also aided 51 men who had been wounded in action . Hong Kong station ship " Mendota " established an excellent record as Hong Kong station ship . For one month , from 6 May through 6 June 1969 , CAPT C . S . Marple , USCG , the commanding officer of Mendota , was Senior Officer Present Afloat for Administration , or SOPA ( ADMIN ) , Hong Kong , and the ship ' s personnel handled all administrative matters for U . S . naval vessels visiting Hong Kong . The crew also maintained a permanent Shore Party detachment to assist and supervise liberty visits ashore . Return to peacetime service . " Mendota " returned home to her homeport of Wilmington , NC , on 27 November 1969 . During her mission to Vietnam and back " Mendota " steamed over . She transited the Panama Canal in both directions , and visited Hawaii , Guam , Bangkok , Thailand , Kaohsiung , Formosa , and Subic Bay in the Republic of the Philippines . Decommissioning . " Mendota " was decommissioned on 1 November 1973 . She was scrapped along with the others of the " Owasco " class in 1974 .