Foreword by Adm. James M. Loy, USCG Commandant, 1998-2002 The U.S. Coast Guard suffered the highest percentage of losses of any American armed force in World War I, yet until now the extent of the Coast Guard's involvement in that war remains little known to the public. The author, an experienced Coast Guardsmen himself, makes extensive use of such primary sources as personal journals and letters, cutter logs, reports of commanding officers, personnel records, and interviews to compile this historic, first-time-ever account. To bring the history to life Alex Larzelere draws on his extensive seagoing background and fills the book with action narratives that document the heroism of men like Lt. Fletcher Brown, Warrant Officer Midgett, and their crews, who went to the rescue of ships torpedoed by German U-boats.
The Coast Guard was transferred to the Navy when war was declared in 1917. A small service of less than 5,000, it was made up of highly experienced cuttermen, sorely needed for the U.S. Navy's rapidly expanding fleet. This book describes the activities of the guardsmen and their units in the war zone and at home, from the time they were mobilized and transferred until the service was returned to the treasury department in August 1919. As explained by Larzelere, their many operations give readers a full appreciation of their contributions to the war effort. 240 pages. 22 photographs. Appendixes. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.
Winner of the North American Society for Oceanic History John Lyman Book Award for 2003 (U.S. Maritime History)
