ALCOAST 268/19 - AUG 2019 DEATH OF THE COAST GUARD’S FIRST HISTORIAN

R 151231 AUG 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-092//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05360//
ALCOAST 268/19
COMDTNOTE 5360
SUBJ: DEATH OF THE COAST GUARD’S FIRST HISTORIAN
1. It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Truman R. Strobridge, who passed away
on 21 July 2019, in Jacksonville, FL, at the age of 91.
2. Strobridge was born on October 15, 1927, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he lived
through high school before entering the U.S. Army during World War II and serving in the
Philippine Islands. Using his “G.I. Bill,” he attended Michigan State University, University of
the Americas (Mexico) and American University (Washington, DC) to further his educational pursuits
before eventually devoting his professional life to the military and its history.
3. As the first official Coast Guard Historian of the modern era, serving from 1970 until 1976,
he was directly responsible for the development of a world-class service history program, and his
legacy remains today in the Coast Guard. Operating literally as a "one man shop," Mr. Strobridge
established the standard that the Coast Guard history program should be managed by history
professionals rather than spread around the Coast Guard and managed by individual offices.
4. Because of his strong personal efforts in developing a program for publishing Coast Guard
history within the service and assisting academic researchers and others outside the service,
Mr. Strobridge opened the rich Coast Guard history to America. He presented the significant
achievements of the men and women of the Coast Guard to many people who would never have
known of their stories.
5. Following his retirement as the Coast Guard’s Chief Historian, he remained a prolific author
of scholarly books and articles on the Coast Guard, its predecessor services and their iconic
service members. With a lifetime of support to military history across multiple services,
Mr. Strobridge remained a strong advocate for telling the Coast Guard story; teaching yet another
generation of the importance of the deeds and accomplishments of the United States Coast Guard
and its importance to America.
6. A stern advocate for getting details correct when telling the Coast Guard story, he was most
known for his willingness to take time out of his busy schedule to help anyone who needed
assistance.
7. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Louise Strobridge of Jacksonville, FL.
8. For more information on the Coast Guard Historian’s Office, please visit their webpage:
https://www.history.uscg.mil/.
9. RADM Melissa Bert, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the Coast Guard, sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.