Joseph L. Tezanos (born José Tezanos, July 6, 1920 – March 21, 1985) was the first American of Hispanic descent to join the United States Coast Guard's reserve officer ranks. During World War II Tezanos served as a gunner's mate aboard during the invasions of

Kiska, Alaska Kiska ( ale, Qisxa, russian: Кыска) is one of the Rat Islands, a group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is about long and varies in width from . It is part of Aleutian Islands Wilderness and as such, special permission is required ...

, Tarawa Atoll,

Kwajalein Atoll Kwajalein Atoll (; Marshallese: ) is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island, which its majority English-speaking residents (about 1,000 mostly U.S. civilia ...

, and in the

Gilbert Islands The Gilbert Islands ( gil, Tungaru;Reilly Ridgell. ''Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.'' 3rd. Ed. Honolulu: Bess Press, 1995. p. 95. formerly Kingsmill or King's-Mill IslandsVery often, this n ...

. For participation in ad hoc rescue efforts on May 21, 1944 following a devastating explosion of ammunition back at Pearl Harbor that earned him a Navy & Marine Corps Medal for distinguished heroism. It was following the receipt of this medal that Tezanos was sent to a four-month officer training school. Following his commissioning Tezanos spent a year as a junior officer aboard the transport USS ''

Joseph T. Dickman Joseph Theodore Dickman (October 6, 1857 – October 23, 1927) was a United States Army officer who saw service in five wars, rising to the rank of Major general (United States), major general. Early life Dickman was born in Dayton, Ohio. He atte ...

''. He was demobilized in early 1946, attending college and graduate school. Upon graduation he became a successful international businessman. Tezanos is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.Burial Detail: Tezanos, Joseph L
– ANC Explorer

Legacy

Tezanos is the namesake of the

Sentinel-class cutter The Sentinel-class cutter, also known as Fast Response Cutter due to its program name, is part of the United States Coast Guard's Deepwater program. At it is similar to, but larger than the lengthened 1980s-era s that it replaces. Up to 58 ves ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tezanos, Joseph 1920 births 1985 deaths United States Coast Guard officers Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Coast Guard personnel of World War II Recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal United States Coast Guard reservists Spanish emigrants to the United States