United States Coast Guard Officer. A native of New York, Bertholf entered the United States Naval Academy in 1882, only to be dismissed within a year for a hazing incident. In 1885, he entered the Revenue Cutter Service School of Instruction, graduating in 1887 and ultimately receiving a commission to the rank of Third Lieutenant. For the next few years, he would serve aboard various vessels, eventually serving as Second Lieutenant aboard the Revenue Cutter Bear. In 1897, over two hundred sailors from a fleet of whaling vessels were trapped in ice out in the Artic Ocean and were running out of supplies. In December of 1897, Lieutenant David Jarvis, Second Lieutenant Bertholf, and Surgeon Samuel Call were ordered to carry supplies over the ice to the stranded sailors, ultimately succeeding in March of 1898. For their service, all three men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In June of 1911, Captain Bertholf was appointed to serve as the 4th Commandant of the Revenue Cutter Service, replacing the retiring Captain Worth Ross. In January 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service to form the United States Coast Guard. Bertholf, who was still Commandant of the Cutter Service at the time of the merging, was chosen to serve as the 1st Commandant of the Coast Guard. With the entry of the United States into World War One, he was received a promotion to the rank of Commodore, becoming the first Coast Guard Officer to ever be promoted to a flag rank. He would serve as Commandant throughout the war and until his retirement in June of 1919.
United States Coast Guard Officer. A native of New York, Bertholf entered the United States Naval Academy in 1882, only to be dismissed within a year for a hazing incident. In 1885, he entered the Revenue Cutter Service School of Instruction, graduating in 1887 and ultimately receiving a commission to the rank of Third Lieutenant. For the next few years, he would serve aboard various vessels, eventually serving as Second Lieutenant aboard the Revenue Cutter Bear. In 1897, over two hundred sailors from a fleet of whaling vessels were trapped in ice out in the Artic Ocean and were running out of supplies. In December of 1897, Lieutenant David Jarvis, Second Lieutenant Bertholf, and Surgeon Samuel Call were ordered to carry supplies over the ice to the stranded sailors, ultimately succeeding in March of 1898. For their service, all three men were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In June of 1911, Captain Bertholf was appointed to serve as the 4th Commandant of the Revenue Cutter Service, replacing the retiring Captain Worth Ross. In January 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service to form the United States Coast Guard. Bertholf, who was still Commandant of the Cutter Service at the time of the merging, was chosen to serve as the 1st Commandant of the Coast Guard. With the entry of the United States into World War One, he was received a promotion to the rank of Commodore, becoming the first Coast Guard Officer to ever be promoted to a flag rank. He would serve as Commandant throughout the war and until his retirement in June of 1919.
Bio by: G.Photographer
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