Joseph Tezanos
| Joseph Tezanos | |
|---|---|
 Joseph Tezanos | |
| Born |
1920-07-06 Spain |
| Died |
1985 New York |
| Nationality | Spain, USA |
| Occupation | sailor, businessman |
| Known for | First USCG officer of hispanic origin |
Joseph Tezanos is the first American of Hispanic descent to join the United States Coast Guard's officer ranks.[1][2] During World War II Tezanos served as a gunner's mate aboard LST 20 during the invasions of Kiska, Alaska, Tarawa Atoll, Kwajalein Atoll, and in the Gilbert Islands. But it was his heroic participation in ad hoc rescue efforts on May 21, 1944 following a devastating explosion of ammunition back at Pearl Harbor that earned him a Navy & Marine Corps Medal for distinguished heroism.[3] It was following the receipt of this medal that Tezanos was sent to a four-month officer training school.
Following his commissioning Tezanos spent a year as a junior officer aboard the transport J.T. Dickman.[1] He was demobilized in early 1946, attending college and graduate school,
Namesake of the USCGC Joseph Tezanos
All the vessels of the Coast Guard's Sentinel class cutters will be named after heroic Coast Guard sailors, or heroes from the Coast Guard's precursor services.[4] The eighteenth cutter in this class will be the USCGC Joseph Tezanos.
References
- 1 2 Stephanie Young, William H. Thiesen (2014-01-16). "Coast Guard Heroes: Joseph Tezanos". USCG. Archived from the original on 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- ↑ William H. Thiesen. "From Santander, Spain, to Syracuse University: Coast Guard Officer Joseph Tezanos’s Pursuit of the American Dream". Arlington Cemetery. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
- ↑ "Joseph Tezanos: AWARDS AND CITATIONS". Military Times. Archived from the original on 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- ↑ "FRC Plan B: The Sentinel Class". Defense Industry Daily. 2014-05-02. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
All of these boats will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes, who distinguished themselves in USCG or military service. The first 25 have been named, but only 8 have been commissioned...