HOUGHTON — Ask someone to name the branches of the US military and chances are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will roll off the tongue pretty easily. It may take a moment to remember the other, perhaps less famous branches. The newest branch, Space Force and the United States Coast Guard round out the nation’s military branches.

For those of us who live on or near significant bodies of water — the Great Lakes certainly qualify — the U.S. Coast Guard is the military branch we most often encounter on a day-to-day basis. The Coast Guard plays a vital role in protecting the nation’s waters, coastlines and citizens every day. Often called the nation’s “maritime first responder,” the Coast Guard carries out missions that range from search and rescue operations to national security and environmental protection.

Founded in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service, the Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service in the United States. Today, it operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and can serve as part of the U.S. Navy during wartime.

Because the Upper Peninsula has shoreline on three of the five Great Lakes, the Coast Guard’s presence has been and continues to be important on several levels, from search and rescue to maintaining safe shipping channels.

From icy winter rescues on Lake Superior to protecting thousands of recreational boaters during the summer season, the United States Coast Guard remains a critical presence across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With the Great Lakes surrounding much of the U.P., Coast Guard crews stationed throughout the region serve as first responders, law enforcement officers, environmental protectors, and maritime safety experts. Their work often takes place in dangerous weather conditions that can change rapidly on Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron.

Protecting Lives on the Great Lakes

Search-and-rescue operations are among the Coast Guard’s most visible missions in the U.P. Heavy fog, sudden storms, cold water temperatures, and rough seas can quickly place boaters, anglers, and commercial vessels in danger. Any Yooper over sixty years old probably remembers November 10, 1975, when the Gales of November took the Edmund Fitzgerald and her 29-man crew, as a reminder of how dangerous the Great Lakes can be.

The responsibilities of the USCG are a year-round situation. Coast Guard stations and cutters, the term used to describe all commissioned Coast Guard vessels, operating in the region respond to distress calls throughout the year. During winter months, crews also assist ice fishermen and snowmobilers who become stranded or break through unstable ice.

“Lake Superior can become dangerous very quickly,” Coast Guard officials frequently remind boaters. Even during summer, cold water temperatures can lead to hypothermia within minutes. The Coast Guard urges mariners to wear life jackets, carry emergency communication devices, and check weather forecasts before heading onto the water.

Supporting Commercial Shipping

The Upper Peninsula’s economy depends heavily on Great Lakes shipping. Iron ore, limestone, grain, road salt and other cargo move through Soo Locks and regional ports every navigation season.

The Coast Guard works closely with shipping companies to ensure safe passage for freighters traveling through narrow channels and challenging waters. Icebreaking operations during winter and early spring are especially important in keeping commercial traffic moving.

The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie remains one of the most strategically important shipping corridors in North America. Coast Guard personnel help maintain safe navigation in the busy waterway connecting Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

Environmental Protection

Protecting the Great Lakes environment is another major Coast Guard responsibility.

Crews respond to fuel spills, monitor hazardous materials, and enforce environmental regulations designed to protect fish habitats and water quality. The agency also partners with state and local authorities during pollution incidents.

Because the Great Lakes contain nearly 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water, environmental protection efforts are considered vital to both the region’s economy and public health.

Homeland Security and Law Enforcement

Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has taken on an expanded homeland security role. In the Upper Peninsula, that includes monitoring international border waters shared with Canada and protecting critical infrastructure.

Coast Guard officers also enforce federal boating laws, conduct vessel inspections, and work to stop illegal activities on the Great Lakes.

Community Presence

Beyond emergency operations, Coast Guard members are active in communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Personnel often participate in public safety education, school visits, boating safety classes, and local events.

Many residents in the U.P. recognize the Coast Guard not only as a military branch, but as a dependable community partner willing to respond whenever emergencies arise on the water.

As another busy Great Lakes boating season approaches, Coast Guard crews continue to stand watch — protecting lives, supporting commerce, and safeguarding the waters that define Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The relationship between the USCG and the waters of the Keweenaw is more than a century old. According to the US Coast Guard website, the history of Coast Guard Station Portage began in 1885 when the government built the Portage Canal Life Saving Station. The station was built across the canal from the North Entry Light Station, on M-203. It was built to aid vessels that ran aground on the beach or sand bars on the outside of the break walls, or vessels which hit the pier on the inside of the break wall as it was difficult to navigate into the canal entrance at night. Portage Canal Life Saving Station was the fifth Life Saving Station built on Lake Superior.

In 1935, the break walls’ interior piers were removed and the station demolished in order for the canal to be widened. Station Portage operated in facilities located near the Portage Lake Lift Bridge until a new station was constructed in 1997 in Dollar Bay, where the station remains today and serves as a vital resource to the Keweenaw.