Born on October 13,1935, Edgar Culbertson left Lincoln High School in November 1952 to join the Coast Guard. He served on active military duty for 14 years. From 1952 to 1956, and 1958-1967 he was on active duty, and from 1956 to 1958 he was on reserve service. In early 1960, Edgar reenlisted in the United States Coast Guard and was stationed in Duluth, Minnesota.

It was during Edgar's second enlistment period that tragedy struck. On April 30, 1967 during a major storm, he and two other guardsmen volunteered to go out and search for 3 missing brothers that were seen on a pier and it was reported that one of the brothers disappeared. During the search, a wave caught and swept Edgar off the pier. Edgar, at the age of 32, died in the rescue effort, and the three missing brothers' bodies have never been found. Edgar A. Culbertson was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard medal for his bravery in the rescue attempt.

Memorial in honor of
Edgar A. Culbertson
(click to see large image)

Coast Guard Medal

Edgar A. Culbertson during his service had received the National Defense Service medal with 1 bronze service star, the United Nations Service medal, the Korean Service medal, the Coast Guard Good Conduct with 2 bronze service star in 1956 and 1961, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon, and the Coast Guard medal.

Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Culbertson
accepted on behalf of their late
son the Coast Guard Medal
presented by Admiral
Charles Tighe (left)

On June 11, 2020, United States Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Edgar Culbertson WPC 1137 was commissioned in Galveston, Texas. The fast response cutter will serve on the Atlantic Coast from Carrabelle, Florida to the Mexican border near Brownsville, Texas and will be used for missions including counter drug, migrant interdiction, fisheries regulations enforcement, and search and rescue. More can be found HERE.