Rescue Warriors: The U. S. Coast Guard, America's Forgotten Heroes
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The first big, narrative nonfiction book about the U.S. Coast Guard, from its founding in 1790 to the present, including dozens of gripping stories of dangerous rescues and first-person reporting, by an award-winning journalist. School Library Journal Adult/High School–An informative history starting with the Coast Guard’s beginnings in the 18th century, written in straightforward prose. The emphasis is on the fifth armed service’s record during the 20th and 21st centuries, especially its unparalleled effectiveness and heroism during Hurricane Katrina. Readers will discover the avenues into its officer corps through its academy in Connecticut (a no-cost education). Helvarg notes particularly how the Coast Guard stresses command opportunities for its junior officers earlier than the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines for their second lieutenants and ensigns. He provides insights into enlisted careers open to young people. The marked differences in primary missions among the five services are accented–the other services underscore combat and the Coast Guard highlights mainly rescue and law enforcement. The author writes: “In addition to saving lives, the Coast Guard conducts port and waterfront security patrols, directs port traffic, responds to water pollution and oil spills, seizes illegal drugs and migrants at sea…licenses mariners, maintains and repairs…aids to navigation…,” and so on. This is an excellent title for students interested in the Coast Guard, especially as a possible career choice.–Alan Gropman, National Defense University, Washington, DC
Acknowledgments ixIntroduction: You Have to Go Out xi1 New Orleans Saints 12 The Boot and the Factory 313 Hamilton's Legacy 574 Calling All Boats 775 Gunners 1016 Warriors 1277 Surfmen 1538 Aviators 1739 Frontiers 19710 Duck Scrubbers 22511 Deepwater 24912 Red, White, and Black 27913 The Next Surge 307Select Bibliography 335Index 341
