First District Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
Media Advisory
Coast Guard District commander to present Purple Heart
BOSTON — The media is invited to the presentation of the Purple Heart to the family of a World War I Coast Guardsman in New Castle, N.H., Friday.
U.S. Senator for New Hampsire, Kelly Ayotte, and the 1st District commander, Rear Adm. Daniel Neptun, are scheduled to present the prestigious award to the family of Water Tender Fred Wyman, a crewman aboard the USS Tampa when it was hit and sunk by the German U-boat 91, Sept. 26, 1918, killing 111 Coast Guardsmen, four U.S. Navy men, a captain of the British Army, 10 seamen of the Royal Navy, and five civilian employee dock workers. This was reportedly the largest loss due to enemy action suffered by U.S. Naval Forces in World War I.
After the United States declared war with Germany the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa and other Coast Guard cutters were transferred to the U.S. Navy and received the designations as USS Tampa.
The Purple Heart is a U.S. military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military.
WHERE: Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor –
25 Wentworth Rd.
New Castle, N.H.
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
WHY: To honor Water Tender Fred Wyman for his service
WHO: U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte
Rear Adm. Daniel Neptun, 1st Coast Guard District Commander
Douglas Wyman Sr., will receive the Purple Heart on behalf of Fred Wyman.
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