The United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX-327) is a 295-foot barque that serves as a sailing training vessel for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. Originally built in Germany and known as the Horst Wessel, it was taken by the U.S. after World War II as a war reparation. It is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in the U.S. military.
The Eagle is notable not only for its role in training but also for its historical background. The ship's original German builders included a decorative wrought-iron swastika set into its decking, a remnant from its pre-war construction during the Nazi era. This feature has been a point of historical record and discussion.
This topic has recently been in the news due to a policy change within the Coast Guard. According to recent reports, the service has updated its guidelines and will no longer formally classify the swastika, among other symbols, as a hate symbol. This policy shift has brought renewed attention to historical artifacts like the one on the Eagle.
The Eagle itself remains an active and celebrated vessel in the Coast Guard fleet, with its historical elements preserved as part of its unique story. The recent news highlights the ongoing challenge of reconciling historical preservation with contemporary values and policies.
Latest related news
- Coast Guard guidelines no longer consider swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag to be hate symbols: report - The Independent 2025-11-21 03:57 · The Independent
- U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols - The Washington Post 2025-11-21 03:54 · The Washington Post