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Coast Guardsman

Karl Edwin Gustafson

United States Coast Guard — Washington, DC

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 2, 1925

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 · Column 2 · Line 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 23

Incident

Location: New York Weapon: Rifle; Machine gun Offender: Not available

Coast Guardsman Karl Gustafson was shot and killed while on prohibition patrol in Block Island Sound, approximately three miles southeast of Race Point Lighthouse, New York.

Guardsman Gustafson was on watch in the pilothouse of CG-237 and was following a small boat suspected of carrying illegal liquor at approximately 1:00 am when the occupants aboard the other boat suddenly opened fire without warning. Guardsman Gustafson was struck by a single round in the abdomen.

Other crew members immediately attended to his wound and set a course for New London, Connecticut. When they arrived at the base, Guardsman Gustafson was immediately taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his wound at 6:25 am.

Guardsman Gustafson had served with the United States Coast Guard for two years and held the rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate (Acting).

He was buried in the U.S. Navy section of Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother, who lived in his native Sweden.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Coast Guardsman Gustafson gave the United States Coast Guard 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Coast Guard

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity uscg.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1925

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Machine gun

Military Service

Karl Edwin Gustafson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Karl is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Karl was 33. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Karl had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; machine gun, in 0% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded