John Armstrong: Despite Secretary of War John Armstrong's assurances to the contrary, British forces were able to invade Washington and burn the Capitol and the White House during the War of 1812.

Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf: When the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service joined on Jan. 28, 1915, Bertholf became the first commandant of the new service -- the U.S. Coast Guard.

Lt. Cmdr. Nida Glick: While most SPARs left the service after WWII, high school teacher Nida Glick stayed on, becoming a backbone of the postwar Coast Guard Reserve.

Capt. David H. Jarvis: In 1897, Coast Guard Capt. David H. Jarvis led a group of rescuers who, using dog sleds, reindeer sleds, snowshoes, and skis, traveled 1,500 miles to save hundreds of whalers stranded in the Arctic.

Henry Knox: On August 7, 1789, the newborn U.S. Congress created the Department of War, appointing as its first Secretary of War the Revolutionary War artillery commander Gen. Henry Knox.

Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro: As enemy fire raked the Guadalcanal beach, Coast Guard Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro placed his boat to cover the Marines. His efforts would earn him the only Medal of Honor awarded to a Coast Guardsman.

Adm. Russell R. Waesche: During World War II, as commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Russell R. Waesche turned a small peacetime fleet into an able amphibious force that contributed to the defense of the U.S.

Capt. Quentin R. Walsh: Capturing the vital port of Cherbourg seemed impossible as long as the Germans held the French city's fortress. But then Walsh tried a daring bluff.