Mariel refugees disembark from their boat in Key West. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer escorts newly Mariel refugees; one is wearing fatigues. backs. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Four Cuban refugees walk on the dock in Key West. One is carrying a suitcase, an unusual item since many of the refugees arrived with only the clothes on their backs. U.S. Cost Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Refugees are interviewed by a U.S. Customs agent while still onboard their vessel. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Mariel refugees inside an airplane flash the victory sign. Most are men who have no relatives in the U.S. and are being sent to military bases across the country. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A U.S. Coast Guard utility boat assist broken-down exile boats. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy fo Gordon Winslow

Coast Guard petty officers lower themselves from a cutter to a utility boat during Mariel as they patrol the Florida Straits. U.S. Coat Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Group of Cubans are flown from Key West to Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy fo Gordon Winslow

Refugees arrive in key West and are taken for processing in a Key West hangar. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy fo Gordon Winslow

Refugees are process inside a hangar in Key West's Truman Naval Base. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Refugees are processed and housed inside a Key West hangar. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Refugees are processed and housed inside a Key West hangar. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The Big Bruce docks in a Key West marina on May 11, the busiest day of the Mariel boatlift when 4,588 refugees arrived aboard 58 vessels. National Guardsmen assist. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The loaded down Big Bruce pulls up to a Key West marina on May 11, the busiest day of the Mariel boatlift when 4,588 refugees arrived aboard 58 vessels. National Guardsmen assist the passengers. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The loaded down Big Bruce pulls up to a Key West marina on May 11, the busiest day of the Mariel boatlift when 4,588 refugees arrived aboard 58 vessels. National Guardsmen assist the passengers. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Elderly passengers of the Big Bruce are helped to shore. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The loaded down Big Bruce pulls up to a Key West marina on May 11, 1980, the busiest day of the Mariel boatlift when 4,588 refugees arrived aboard 58 vessels. National Guardsmen assist the passengers. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A sign put up in Key West thanking the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The Lady Virgo approaches the Key West harbor. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Marina parking lots in Key West are filled to capacity. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The Emper-or pulls into Key West. U.S. Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boat the Emper-or and its passengers arrive in Key West. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

With hundreds of Cuban exiles rushing to Key West to sail their own boats to Cuba to fetch relatives, marina parking lots fill to capacity with cars and empty boat trailers. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Refugees are processed and housed inside a Key West hangar. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A broken down boat is towed by a U.S. Customs vessel. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A Key West marina is jam packed with people coming and going. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boat Pedrito along with other boats approach Key West loaded down with refugees. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boat Foxy Lady arrives in Key West as scores of people await on the dock. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Scores of boats wait in a Key West marina for the trip to Mariel. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

With hundreds of Cuban exiles rushing to Key West to sail their own boats to Cuba to fetch relatives, marina parking lots are filled to capacity. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Cuban exiles gather at a Key West marina. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A broken down refugee boat is towed into port by a U.S. Customs boat. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow.

Refugees being processed and housed inside a Key West military hangar. U.S. Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Key West marina parking lot is filled to capacity. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Cuban exiles crowd a Key West ramp waiting for relatives and watching boats set out for Mariel. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Boats docked at Key West marina. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Cuban exiles gas up their boats to head for Mariel to pick up relatives. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

With hundreds of Cuban exiles rushing to Key West to sail their own boats to Cuba to fetch relatives, marina parking lots are filled to capacity with cars and empty boat trailers. Key West Library/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Some Cuban exiles wait for refugees to arrive in Key West. Others are there to charter boats to Mariel to bring back relatives. Key West Library/ Courtesy fo Gordon Winslow

Boats loaded down with refugees continue arriving in Key West. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Broken-down boat being towed. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

U.S. Coast Guard tows a broken down boat back to Key West. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Boats continue to arrive in Key West. U.S.Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Boats continue to arrive in Key West U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A steady stream of boats arrive in Key West. U.S.Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

U.S. Coast Guard boat patrolling the Key West marina. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The Lady Virgo,loaded down with refugees, is greeted by a U.S. Coast Guard boat. U.S. Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boat Pedrito returns to Key West with refugees. U.S. Navy/ Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The Foxy Lady and the Matilde pull up to a Key West marina. U.S. Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boats the Gabby Lady and the Lady Virgo arrive in Key West. U.S. Navy /Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A Key West marina is packed with people. U.S. Navy/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

The boat Pajaro Azul is stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Navy/Courtsy of Gordon Winslow

Boats head out as a Coast Guard boat and helicopter hover. It’s unclear if they are trying to stop the boats from leaving for Cuba. U.Navy./Courtesy of Gortdon Winslow

Cuban exiles on the dock pass the time waiting for relatives from Cuba to arrive. Key West Library/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

A copy of a pamphlet handed out to help identify the tattoos of Mariel refugees who had been released from Cuban prisons and sent to South Florida.

Cuban exiles on the dock pass the time waiting for relatives from Cuba to arrive. Key West Library/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow

Mariel refugees disembark from their boat in Key West. U.S. Coast Guard/Courtesy of Gordon Winslow