7 May 2003: "Healy" received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation award for exceptionally meritorious service from January 2003 to April 2003, while conducting Operation Deep Freeze in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program. With less than three weeks' notice, "Healy" was deployed to Antarctica in support of the critical annual re-supply of McMurdo Station. "Healy" played an instrumental role in coordination with "Polar Sea" in resupplying the ice station. "Healy" successfully escorted the freighter and the tanker . "Healy" successfully escorted both ships in and out of the ice, and facilitated the delivery of resources to McMurdo Station.