Sandy’s Mason White recognized at Coast Guard Academy commencement
On Wednesday, May 20, a select group of 266 men and women gathered to graduate in the U.S. Coast Guard’s 145th commencement exercises. Sandy’s Mason White was specifically mentioned during the commencement address given by current President Donald Trump.
By: Justin Andress
On Wednesday, May 20, a select group of 266 men and women gathered to graduate in the U.S. Coast Guard’s 145th commencement exercises. Held at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the prestigious event included a commencement address callout for one of Sandy, Oregon’s newest graduates.
Sandy’s Mason White was specifically mentioned during the commencement address given by current President Donald Trump.
“Every branch of our armed forces protects American lives, but the Coast Guard is the only service explicitly dedicated to saving them. Saving lives. You never leave an American behind, and you never would,” explained the president, pointing to the Coast Guard’s foundational commitment to the preservation of life.
As the only branch of the armed forces that simultaneously acts as an arm of federal law enforcement, the Coast Guard’s mandate sees them aid in search-and-rescue attempts, as well as maritime safety. The Coast Guard is truly unique; its mandate is spread across not just law enforcement, but environmental protection, and port security as well.
That commitment to safety isn’t a hollow pledge. As the president pointed out in his speech, “In the past year, our Coast Guard heroes have saved over 5,200 lives at least, and helped carry out and carry over 19,000 people to safety.”
That’s a big year for the agency, which saves over 3,500 lives every year. In fact, on a given day, the U.S. Coast Guard participates in about 45 search-and-rescue operations and saves roughly 10 lives.
Still, Sandy native Mason White stands out from the pack. As the president pointed out, White saved his first life before he graduated.
“One of the special cadets in this class has already saved his first life during his first class summer providing life-saving care to the person in distress off the coast of Alaska,” said Trump. “Job well done. That’s Mason White. Mason, thank you. Stand up, please. Thank you. Thank you, Mason.”
The Coast Guard’s first class summer takes place prior to a student’s senior year. During this period, they’re put to the test in real operational environments performing the duties of a junior officer. It was during one of these excursions that Mason White saved someone’s life.
It’s an extraordinary achievement for anyone, but especially for someone taking their first steps onto the ocean in an official capacity. In the aftermath, White has remained quiet about both the public praise and his heroic effort.
As a Coast Guard graduate, he’s officially a commissioned officer. From the academy, most cadets take one of three paths. The vast majority (about 90 percent) will set sail as deck watch officers or engineers in training. The remainder will either begin work in shore units or head to flight school.
Publicly available accounts have not yet provided additional details about the Alaska incident, including the date, location, or circumstances of the rescue. For now, the public record of White’s role comes from the commencement address, where he was identified by name and recognized for providing lifesaving care to a person in distress.
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Photo credits: U.S. Coast Guard Academy (publicly released photos should be good for source
Orange’s speech:
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