Russell R. Waesche

Russell Randolph Waesche, Sr. (6 January 1886 – 17 October 1946) served as the eighth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1936 to 1946, overseeing the service during World War II.[5] He was appointed Commandant as rear admiral on 14 June 1936, and was largely responsible for the merger of the U.S. Lighthouse Service with the Coast Guard in 1939.[7] During World War II, Waesche served as commandant of the Coast Guard and received honors for his service.[2] Waesche died on 17 October 1946, nine months after retiring as Commandant, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland due to complications of leukemia.[2] His eldest son, Russell Randolph Waesche Jr. (1913–1998),[9] was a U.S. Coast Guard rear admiral who served as the commanding officer of USCGC Northwind from 1960 to 1962, with the rank of captain.
Thurmont, MarylandNational Naval Medical CenterBethesda, MarylandArlington National CemeteryArlington County, VirginiaU.S. Revenue Cutter ServiceU.S. Coast GuardAdmiralCommandantWorld War IINavy Distinguished Service MedalNavy Commendation RibbonUnited States Coast GuardCarroll County, MarylandPurdue UniversitySchool of InstructionUSRC PamlicoWashington, D.C.U.S. Life-Saving ServiceWorld War I18th AmendmentUSCGC BealeUSCGC TuckerUSCGC SnohomishHarry G. HamletU.S. Lighthouse ServiceCoast Guard Reservevice admiralHarry S. TrumanUnited States Armed Forcesleukemiarear admiralUSCGC NorthwindU.S. Air ForcecolonelWorld War I Victory MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalLieutenant commanderCommanderCaptainCommodoreU.S. Coast Guard AcademyUSCGC WaescheUnited States Coast Guard AuxiliaryCommandant of the Coast GuardJoseph F. Farley