The U.S. Coast Guard Academy design features image taken by a petty officer who served on the cutters
A Coast Guardsman who took a photo during a 2024 deployment was surprised to learn that his image would appear on millions of Postal Service stamps.
Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier photographed the USCGC Bertholf on Feb. 29, 2024. His image is featured on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy stamp issued in September honoring the 150th anniversary of the maritime institution.
The Bertholf is a Legend-class national security cutter used for missions including maritime drug interdiction and border security. The stamp also features a photograph of the USCGC Eagle, the academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, taken by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme.
“I didn’t go out there with any intentions to take a picture exclusively for a stamp,” Strohmaier told Military.com.
He said he took that photograph during joint exercises with Singapore’s navy.
Antonio Alcalá, a USPS art director, worked with the Coast Guard Academy to find imagery appropriate for the stamp.
Strohmaier, who did not know his photo was being considered for use, learned about the stamp when it was announced in July. “I found out this summer, and I was obviously very surprised,” he said.
Strohmaier also served aboard the USCGC Eagle in 2017.
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