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PATCH HISTORY This is one of those long over due projects that has to be done, or much of the history will be lost and forgotten. This article is only a beginning. If anyone has any information to add to this article, it will be appreciated. There were a total of 5 different patch logo designs in the years spanning, 1968 through 2003.
This article had a picture of its contest entry. The
design was a circle with a banner across the top reading WILD GOOSE. In
the middle of the circle was a flying goose with flames exiting its
rear. Across the bottom of the circle,
CHASE. While this design did not win, the main theme of a JET POWERED
vessel did.
My research of military patches has yielded some interesting results. Emblems and crest have been traced back thousands of years. While some lay claim that United States Military patches date back to the Civil War era, there is always a dispute. They were readily used in World War One. A short history of Coast
Guard patches. What I accept as the first Coast Guard patch, in fact was a painted on leather patch made at the Air Station in Port Angeles in 1936. They still use a variant of it today. To the best of my knowledge, only one patch from a Coast Guard unit appeared during WWII, when a PBY squadron in Greenland produced one. I've heard about it and seen pictures. I think it was embroidered, but it might have been painted. In the late 1940s, Air Station Brooklyn had a patch for the helicopter experiments. Again it might have been a painted leather patch. The CGC NORTHWIND and CGC STORIS made up embroidered patches during the 1950s. In the 1960s, patches became more common when all kinds of afloat and ashore units began having them made. I've documented over 4000 varieties during my almost twenty years of collecting. The largest public collection I'm aware of, is in Seattle, Washington, at the Coast Guard Museum/Northwest at Coast Guard's support base on Alaskan Way South. Rex M. “WESS” Wessling, LCDR, USCG ( Ret), is the foremost expert on the subject of Coast Guard patches. He has a web site at: http://www.rexmwess.com/cgpatchs/cgpatchs.html You will find an impressive collection of Coast Guard Patches and books relating to the subject.
The second patch or patches of the CGC CHASE were produced during the WESTPAC Tour Cruise. The “NO CHALLENGE TOO GREAT” and the “VIETNAM TOUR” patches were produced in mid 1970, and only approximately one year after the Jet Engine Patch. Both were made at the same time, and were produced in Hong Kong. It is thought that a tailor that made suits for many of the crew produced the patches. Commanding Officer Wayne E. Caldwell wanted a ships seal that was more appropriate for various items, such as stationary, and plaques. So a new ships patch contest was held. LCDR Max E. Zbinden, our Engineering Officer is said to be the one that designed the new CHASE, "No Challenge To Great Patch." The designer of the "Vietnam Tour" Patch is unknown at this time. Like the No Challenge patch, it is clear a lot of planning went into this patch. The Vietnam on this patch was sewn in a pink thread. It is unknown as to the reason, but some of the crew think it might have been done for a little girl mentioned in Commander Caldwell's Familygrams, letters he wrote to our families back home while on tour in Vietnam. He told a story of a little 9 year old girl that was wounded and treated by one of our MEDVAC teams. The MEDVAC crew brought the little girl and her father back to CHASE for further treatment. This story is known as the 1969 CHASE Christmas Story.
The “NO CHALLENGE TOO GREAT” patch was the CGC CHASE unit patch for 21 years. Many variations have been collected. The first of these patches had a distinct metallic gold shield. Other years have brown and yellow shields. The original writing on the shield was, ASW, ( Anti Submarine Warfare ) SAR, ( Search And Rescue ) and OCEAN SCIENCE. In the 1980’s the OCEAN SCIENCE was changed to LAW ENFORCEMENT, and finally to OLE ( Ocean Law Enforcement ). This shortened version fit on the patch better.
In August 1999, CHASE was assigned to its present day home port, San Diego, California. With this came a new patch. More thought went into this design then many of the previous patches. The 5" CHASE Coat of Arms patch. The date is thought to be after 1999. It is a current patch as of the year 2003. It is thought the design could have been made by the Army's Institute of Heraldry, but take note, this is speculation. New information will be posted as received. The following is a description of the “CHASE Coat of Arms” patch. Suggested Design, Coat of
Arms, USCGC CHASE (WHEC 718)
BLAZON Shield: Azure a dolphin embowed naiant Or within a bordure wavy tierced in pairle Argent, Gules and Azure Celeste, debruised by a bezant charged with the silhouette of a 19th century cutter in dexter chief of the first. Crest: From a wreath Or and Azure, a demi-trident Proper enfiled by an annulet Gules and interlacing a laurel wreath Or all entwined with a length of broken chain of the third; overall a demi-gavel handle to base of the first. Motto: A scroll Argent garnished Gules inscribed NULLUM OPUS NOS SUPERAT in gold. SEAL The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white disc enclosed within a dark blue border edged on the outside with gold rope and inscribed USCGC CHASE above and WHEC 718 below in gold letters. SYMBOLISM Shield: Blue, white and red are the colors used by the Coast Guard. Light blue has been adapted from the Coast Guard seal. The dolphin symbolizes the tradition of assistance and support given to ocean travelers by Coast Guard personnel and the mission of protecting the environment and the ocean habitat. The wavy tripartite bordure highlights the three vessels named for Salmon Portland Chase. The bezant symbolizes Chase's appointment as Secretary of the Treasury to Abraham Lincoln, and bears a representation of the first cutter to be named Chase. Crest: The demi-trident signifies authority at sea, the tines representing the three Coast Guard cutters to bear the name Chase. The laurel wreath refers to the many honors awarded to WHEC 718. Secretary Chase's early career in public service is recalled by the red annulet, adapted from the flag of the State of Ohio of which he was twice Governor and twice-elected Senator. The broken chain represents freedom underscoring Secretary Chase's vigorous opposition to slavery and his zealous defense of runaway slaves in the courts of Ohio. The gavel represents Chase's most prestigious political appointment as Chief Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court and denotes authority and justice. Red signifies courage and sacrifice; gold is for excellence. *Updated information. October 2004.
New information has been received about this new CHASE Patch. MK3 Eddie Sanchez was the designer and artist for this new patch. The story goes that Eddie drew this patch for an Engineering Department Logo, but as you see it became the new addition to our collection of great CHASE patches. Eddies duties on the USCGC CHASE was a member of the "A" Gang and also the aviation fuel king. Thank you Eddie, a job well done.
I again stress the importance in sharing knowledge on
this subject. Many of the important facts have not been recorded. I hope
this article is only a first step to collecting more information in all
areas of the CGC CHASE history.
Remembering Patch. In May of 2009 to mark the 40th anniversary of the USCGC CHASE WESTPAC Tour, Christopher Wood and myself, the "USCGC CHASE Association History Committee," decided to have the CHASE Vietnam patch remade. We associate the Pink "Vietnam" with a MEDVAC case involving a little 9 year old Vietnamese girl that a CHASE medical team treated. The story is known as the CHASE 1969 Christmas story.
The fall of 2008, the USCGC CHASE Association History Committee held a contest on the USCGC CHASE to design the new Association logo. ET2 Jason Belcher submitted the winning design. The logo covers all facets of the WHEC 40 years of service. In May of 2009 the Association Patch was made to mark the 40 years the USCGC CHASE has served our nation. MEETING THE CHALLENGE FOR OVER 40 YEARS, and ONCE A CHASER, ALWAYS A CHASER, the Association motto's.
Thank you's to, Rex M. Wessling for information and picture scans in this article. Christopher Wood, and Clarence Croxell Jr. for sharing scans of their personal collection of CGC CHASE Patches. ENS Danny Tcheng, USCG for current information, and design write up. MK1 Mark Price for CHASE UNDERWAY design information. References: USCGC CHASE Ships News Paper, Short Timer, Issue 8, November 9th, 1968. Rex M. Wessling and his publication, Patches of the U.S. Coast Guard, Vol. 1-A, The White Cutters. CGC CHASE records. Rodney Young personal memories of patches, Ocean Science, Vietnam Tour and No Challenge Too Great.
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A
new patch for the USCGC CHASE, San Diego,
