Pablo Valent (January 15, 1892 – September 5, 1969) was an American Coast Guardsman best known for his part in the rescue of the crew of the Cape Horn in 1919.
Pablo Valent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch | Coast Guard |
| Awards |  Lifesaving Medal |
Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Valent joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912[a] and spent the bulk of his service at the Coast Guard station in Brazos, Texas.[1][2]
During the hurricane which made landfall outside Corpus Christi in September 1919, Valent was part of a Coast Guard crew credited with the rescue of the endangered schooner Cape Horn.[3] According to the official account of events, watchstanders at Coast Guard Station 222 spotted the Cape Horn in distress, whereupon the station's 36 foot Type E oar-powered surfboat was launched – Valent among its crew – into the hurricane force swells.[3] The surfboat reached the vessel two hours later, just as the Cape Horn began to sink, and safely rescued all aboard.[3] For his efforts, Valent was decorated with the Silver Lifesaving Medal and also received the Grand Cross from the American Cross of Honor.[4]
In 1935 Valent took command of the Coast Guard station in Port Isabel, Texas.[3] He retired in 1940 and went into business with his brother.[3][5] In 1944 he was appointed to the Brownsville, Texas housing authority board.[6]
Valent Hall, a facility at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, is named after Valent.[2] USCGC Pablo Valent was also named in his honor.[7]
Notes
edit- ^ The Life-Saving Service was consolidated with the Revenue Cutter Service to become the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915.
References
edit- ^ "Pablo Valent Dead at 77". Brownsville Herald. September 5, 1969. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Alexandria (March 2, 2018). "Coast Guard commandant returns to Corpus Christi for Valent Hall dedication". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
- ^ a b c d e Braynard, Katie. "The Long Blue Line: Brazos Station's hispanic lifesavers and the Florida Keys hurricane". Coast Guard Compass. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "Hispanic-Americans in Coast Guard History" (PDF). defense.gov. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ La Roche, Clarence (August 5, 1945). "Coast Guard in 155th Year; 62nd on Rio Grande". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
- ^ "Valent Named to Housing Board". Brownsville Herald. April 21, 1944. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
- ^ Sherbs, Diana. "The Long Blue Line: Fast Response Cutters – the mainstay of the Coast Guard's coastal patrol fleet". Coast Guard Compass. U.S. Coast Guard.