The Coast Guard

From protecting our coastlines and inland waterways to drug interdiction, combat missions, and its position as guardian against terrorism as part of the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard maintains a constant vigil in the safeguarding of the American people, property, and way of life. Its roots stem from the establishment of the Revenue Cutter Service and Lighthouse Establishment in 1790 to regulate and protect commercial shipping as well as carry out maritime search and rescue, and the federalization of volunteer beach life-saving patrols as the Life-Saving Service in 1871. These two organizations merged in 1915 to form the Coast Guard. Now, the spirit and essence of the Coast Guard is celebrated in a definitive, magnificently illustrated, fully revised and updated book featuring a unique medallion-inlaid cover and published with the Foundation for Coast Guard History. Written by an outstanding team of historians and distinguished active and retired officers, including the current Commandant USCG Admiral Thad Allen, The Coast Guard has more than 350 pages of riveting and informative text, as well as stunning fullcolor photography and historically-inspired paintings. Essays on history, lighthouses, search and rescue, training, aviation, the drug war, and the war on terrorism all have one common focus: the incredibly trained and highly motivated people that make up the Coast Guard.