Harry G. Hamlet

Harry G. Hamlet
Born	(1874-08-27)August 27, 1874 Eastport, Maine
Died	January 24, 1954(1954-01-24) (aged 79)
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1894–1938
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	Commandant of the Coast Guard
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Gold Lifesaving Medal

Harry Gabriel Hamlet (August 27, 1874 - January 24, 1954) served as the seventh Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, from 1932 to 1936.

Early life and career

Hamlet was born in Eastport, Maine and was the son of Oscar G. Hamlet, a Captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service. Upon graduation from high school in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He enlisted in the Revenue Cutter Service in 1894 and upon completion of training in 1896, was assigned to the USRC Bear. Hamlet was assigned to the Bear while she assisted the Overland Relief Expedition in 1897 – 1898.

In 1900, Hamlet became one of the Revenue Cutter Service officers to attend the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to duty on the Bear, serving on patrol duty with the Bering Sea Patrol.

World War I and postwar assignments

During World War I, he was assigned to the Third Naval District at Bensonhurst, New York and later joined U.S. Naval forces at Brest, France, assuming command of the USS Marietta (PG-15). While in command of Marietta in the Bay of Biscay on 28 April 1919, Captain Hamlet rescued a crew of 47 persons from the USS James (SP-429) which was sinking at sea. This rescue was made extremely difficult and hazardous owing to high seas, which threatened to send the two vessels crashing together. In effecting the rescue, Hamlet displayed admirable seamanship and on 5 January 1920 he was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal. From 1919 to 1922, he served as the Coast Guard's Chief Personnel Officer. In May 1922 Hamlet assumed command of USCGC Mojave (WPG-47) at Honolulu, Hawaii and took her on a cruise through the Far East on the way to her new homeport of Boston, Massachusetts. From 1924 to 1928, he served as Superintendent of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. From 1928 until his appointment as Commandant, he served as Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.

Coast Guard Commandant

Following the death of Frederick C. Billard, he was appointed as Commandant of the Coast Guard by President Herbert Hoover on 14 June 1932. As Commandant during the Great Depression, he struggled with low budgets and limited appropriations. In response, Hamlet implemented a cost-cutting plan which called for decommissioning of vessels, closing of Coast Guard stations, manpower reductions, and a 25% reduction in expenditures.

Unfortunately, these measures led to calls to merge the Coast Guard with the United States Navy. With the support of Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William V. Pratt, however, Hamlet succeeded in persuading President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress from taking such action.

Later career

Upon completion of his term, he was succeeded as Commandant by Russell R. Waesche, and reverted in rank to Captain on January 1, 1936. He was retained on special duty in the office of Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr.. He also served as Chairman of the Personnel Advisory Committee to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, which was responsible for studying maritime issues and recommending legislation on improving the United States Merchant Marine.

The Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman

The following creed was authored by Admiral Hamlet in 1938:

I am proud to be a United States Coast Guardsman.

I revere that long line of expert seamen who by their devotion to duty and sacrifice of self have made it possible for me to be a member of a service honored and respected, in peace and war, throughout the world.

I never, by word or deed, will bring reproach upon the fair name of my service, nor permit others to do so unchallenged.

I will cheerfully and willingly obey all lawful orders.

I will always be on time to relieve, and shall endeavor to do more, rather than less, than my share.

I will always be at my station, alert and attending to my duties.

I shall, so far as I am able, bring to my seniors solutions, not problems.

I shall live joyously, but always with due regard for the rights and privileges of others.

I shall endeavor to be a model citizen in the community in which I live.

I shall sell my life dearly to an enemy of my country, but give it freely to rescue those in peril.

With God's help, I shall endeavor to be one of His Noblest Works...

A UNITED STATES COAST GUARDSMAN.

Retirement

Hamlet retired from the U.S. Coast Guard on September 1, 1938, just after his 64th birthday. By virtue of his service as Commandant, his retired rank would have been Rear Admiral; he was, however, promoted to Vice Admiral in recognition of his four decades of service. Upon his death at the age of 79, he was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

See also

Military offices
Preceded by Frederick C. Billard	Commandant of the Coast Guard 1932—1936	Succeeded by Russell R. Waesche