USCGC William Flores

USCGC William Flores (WPC-1103) is a Sentinel-class cutter cutter homeported in Coast Guard District 7, Miami, Florida.

Design
Like her sister ships, she is equipped for coastal security patrols, interdiction of drug and people smugglers, and search and rescue. Like the smaller Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat she is equipped with a stern launching ramp. The ramp allows the deployment and retrieval of her high speed water-jet powered pursuit boat without first coming to a stop. She is capable of more than 25 kn and armed with a remote controlled 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocannon; and four crew-served Browning M2 machine guns.

Operational history
On 1 April 2016, William Flores intercepted a small boat with twelve Cuban refugees on board. The refugees had gone off course, and had entered Bahamas territory.

Namesake
She is named after Seaman Apprentice William Ray Flores who died during the sinking of USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391). At the cost of his own life Flores stayed aboard the capsizing cutter and used his belt to tie open a life jacket locker door. This action allowed life jackets to float on to the water as the cutter went down. He further distributed life jackets to shipmates in the water. In November 2011 Flores was honored by having the third Coast Guard Sentinel-class cutter named after him.