Group to Captain Kingdrel N. Ayers, USCG

[Paul R]

Outstanding early Coast Guard Commendation Medal with an original, hand-signed citation for a Cold War event with the Soviets. Commendation Medal citations were signed by the Commandant back then. Now, these are delegated to unit COs that are Captain or above.

The citation is for this event:

 In July 1965, Northwind, under the command of Captain Kingdrel N. Ayers, conducted an oceanographic survey between Greenland,Iceland, and Scotland and was the first western vessel to operate in the Kara Sea of the Soviet Union, for which she received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device. The (then) classified mission of Northwind was to attempt a transit of the Northeast Passage. This voyage involved transiting the Panama Canal. The effort was not successful and caused a diplomatic incident between the U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. (Petrow) 

 

 Petrow, Richard (1967) Across the Top of Russia, The Cruise of the USCGC Northwind into the Polar Seas North of Siberia. New York, David McKay Co. Inc. and Van Rees Press. Library of Congress Cataloge Number: 67-19909.