March 14, 2021 —
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Robert Goldman man the rails during the commissioning ceremony in Key West, Florida, March 12, 2021. The ship will be the second Sentinel-class fast response cutter assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia and stationed in Manama, Bahrain. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Sara Muir.
The Coast Guard commissioned the 42nd fast response cutter (FRC), Robert Goldman, in Key West, Florida, March 12. The cutter is the second of six FRCs to be assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia and stationed in Manama, Bahrain.
In line with current social distancing requirements, the in-person ceremony – presided over by Vice Adm. Scott Buschman, Coast Guard deputy commandant for operations – was limited to the official party and VIPs. Those unable to attend in person could watch the ceremony live online.
Pharmacist’s Mate Robert Goldman reported for duty aboard the Coast Guard-manned Landing Ship, Tank-66 (LST-66), in July 1944. That autumn, LST-66 played a key role in landing troops and supplies on Leyte Island, a strategically important location in the Philippines during World War II. The amphibious campaign, known as the Battle of Leyte, was intended to cut off critical adversarial support forces and supply lines and ultimately help liberate the Philippines from adversarial control. On Nov. 12, 1944, LST-66 was hit by a kamikaze aircraft, killing or wounding many of the crew. Despite suffering severe burns and shrapnel wounds, Goldman immediately moved to treat and comfort his injured shipmates. He refused treatment of his own injuries until his shipmates were attended to. Goldman was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal for his heroism and devotion to duty.
The Sentinel-class FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping. The cutters are designed for multiple missions, including search and rescue; national defense; ports, waterways and coastal security; drug and migrant interdiction; and fisheries patrols.
The Coast Guard has ordered 60 FRCs to date. With the commissioning of Robert Goldman, 40 FRCs are in service: 12 in Florida; seven in Puerto Rico; four in California; three each in Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey; two each in Alaska, Mississippi and North Carolina; and FRCs Robert Goldman and Charles Moulthrope, which will transit to their Bahrain homeport later this month. Two additional FRCs have been delivered and will be commissioned at their new homeport in Guam later this year. Future FRC homeports include Astoria, Oregon; and Kodiak, Seward and Sitka, Alaska.
For more information: Fast Response Cutter Program page