John Guest was interviewed for the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project. John Guest, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain, was born in San Pedro, California, in 1926. Although he did not grow up in San Pedro, he returned to the area after getting married in 1955 and made a significant career with the Coast Guard in the Los Angeles Harbor area. The interview begins with Guest recounting his early years and the reason his family moved back to San Pedro. His father, who was in the Navy, had been stationed there, but the family moved away before Guest could remember much about the area. After marrying, Guest and his wife settled in the region, initially in Lakewood and then in Seal Beach. Guest details the extensive role of the Coast Guard in the Los Angeles Harbor, highlighting their responsibilities in maintaining aids to navigation, drug interdiction, search and rescue operations, merchant seamen licensing and documentation, and ship inspections, especially post-9/11. He shares his first assignment in the harbor in 1957 as the first lieutenant on the Coast Guard Cutter Pontchartrain, emphasizing the cultural and procedural adjustments he had to make transitioning from the Merchant Marine to the Coast Guard. Throughout the interview, Guest reflects on various assignments and operations, sharing anecdotes such as his challenging adjustment period reflected in his initial fitness report and the mentorship he received from a fellow officer. He describes the operational environment of the Coast Guard in 1957, including the presence of significant cutters like the Minnetonka and Pontchartrain and their roles in weather patrol and search and rescue. Guest recounts a humorous and memorable event involving a twenty-one-gun salute during a command change ceremony, illustrating the challenges and the camaraderie within the Coast Guard. He also talks about notable incidents during his tenure, such as the dramatic prison break rescue and the enhanced security measures during the 1984 Olympic Games, where the Coast Guard played a crucial role in ensuring safety. The interview covers the evolution of the port and the Coast Guard's operations over the decades, from the significant changes brought about by containerization to the heightened security post-9/11. Finally, Guest reflects on the changes in the port's infrastructure and the increased cargo handling capabilities, as well as the more recent emphasis on port security.