Charles Sexton

Charles Sexton, a United States Coast Guard machinery technician, died during the rescue of fishermen stranded off the treacherous Columbia River bar. A crew of Coast Guard seamen had proceeded to the fishing trawler Sea King in motor lifeboat 44381, because the trawler had lost power off the Columbia bar, and was taking on water. Sexton had helped treat a wounded fisherman, had helped bring over portable pumps to pump out the trawler, when the trawler unexpectedly turned over. Two of the trawler's crew, and other Coast Guard rescue workers, were thrown into the Ocean, and were eventually rescued, but Sexton and two seamen were trapped in the vessel's pilot house, and drowned.

USCGC Charles Sexton
In 2010 when the Coast Guard decided that all the new Sentinel class cutters would be named after Coast Guard personnel who had been recognized for their heroism Sexton was one of those to be honored. The 8th cutter in the class will be named the USCGC Charles Sexton. She will be homeported in Key West, Florida.