North Arabian Gulf - Coast Guardsmen onboard the U.S. Coast Guard Boutwell chat on the flight deck following refueling operations at sunset March 23, 2003.

The Long Blue Line: PATFORSWA – largest Coast Guard unit outside the US

Naval operations supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom began with the U.S. Navy in the summer of 2002. The Navy drew on its plans for combat operations in Iraq, and in September 2002, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command requested U.S. Coast Guard support for combat operations.