Pablo Valent
AllegianceUnited States of America
BranchCoast Guard
Awards Lifesaving Medal

Pablo Valent (January 15, 1892 – September 5, 1969) was an American Coast Guardsman best known for his part in the rescue of the crew of the Cape Horn in 1919.

Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Valent joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912[lower-alpha 1] and spent the bulk of his service at the Coast Guard station in Brazos, Texas.[1][2]

During the hurricane which made landfall outside Corpus Christi in September 1919, Valent was part of a Coast Guard crew credited with the rescue of the endangered schooner Cape Horn.[3] According to the official account of events, watchstanders at Coast Guard Station 222 spotted the Cape Horn in distress, whereupon the station's 36 foot Type E oar-powered surfboat was launched – Valent among its crew – into the hurricane force swells.[3] The surfboat reached the vessel two hours later, just as the Cape Horn began to sink, and safely rescued all aboard.[3] For his efforts, Valent was decorated with the Silver Lifesaving Medal and also received the Grand Cross from the American Cross of Honor.[4]

In 1935 Valent took command of the Coast Guard station in Port Isabel, Texas.[3] He retired in 1940 and went into business with his brother.[3][5] In 1944 he was appointed to the Brownsville, Texas housing authority board.[6]

Valent Hall, a facility at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, is named after Valent.[2] USCGC Pablo Valent was also named in his honor.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Life-Saving Service was consolidated with the Revenue Cutter Service to become the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915.

References

  1. ↑ "Pablo Valent Dead at 77". Brownsville Herald. September 5, 1969. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Rodriguez, Alexandria (March 2, 2018). "Coast Guard commandant returns to Corpus Christi for Valent Hall dedication". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Braynard, Katie. "The Long Blue Line: Brazos Station's hispanic lifesavers and the Florida Keys hurricane". Coast Guard Compass. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Hispanic-Americans in Coast Guard History" (PDF). defense.gov. U.S. Coast Guard. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ La Roche, Clarence (August 5, 1945). "Coast Guard in 155th Year; 62nd on Rio Grande". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Valent Named to Housing Board". Brownsville Herald. April 21, 1944. Retrieved April 1, 2019.(subscription required)
  7. ↑ Sherbs, Diana. "The Long Blue Line: Fast Response Cutters – the mainstay of the Coast Guard's coastal patrol fleet". Coast Guard Compass. U.S. Coast Guard.
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