MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard to present Purple Heart to World War I sailors

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB Office: (310) 521-4260 After Hours: (310) 781-0619 PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom

Coast Guard to present Purple Heart to World War I sailors

WHO: Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester, the Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach commander, and the families of Joseph Lieb and Benjamin Nelson.

 

WHAT: Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach personnel are scheduled to posthumously present a Purple Heart to the families of Joseph Lieb and Benjamin Nelson in recognition of fatal wounds received as a consequence of the sinking of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa Sept. 26, 1918.

 

WHEN: Friday at 10:45 a.m.

 

WHERE: Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach at 1001 S. Seaside Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731.

 

Editor’s Note: Media interested in attending the event are required to contact Coast Guard public affairs personnel at (310) 781-0619 to RSVP for access no later than Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Media who RSVP’d will be granted access to base at 10:15 a.m. on Friday.

 

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach personnel are scheduled to posthumously present a Purple Heart to the families of Joseph Lieb and Benjamin Nelson in San Pedro, Friday.

 

The families are receiving the awards in recognition of Lieb and Nelson who received fatal wounds as a consequence of the sinking of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa Sept. 26, 1918.

 

On Sept. 26, 1918, the Tampa was escorting a convoy to Wales via the Bristol Channel. During the escort, Tampa's crew became aware of a potential enemy submarine. The cutter was positioned in front of the convoy, where at approximately 8:45 p.m., it was struck by an enemy torpedo. Lieb and Nelson, along with all 130 people aboard, lost their lives.

-USCG-