Customer Reviews

Coast Guard Action In Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a CG Vietnam veteran having served aboard the CG Cutter Chase, CG Squadron 3 in 1969-70. Paul Scotti's book is the definitive book about the CG operations in Vietnam. Paul gets you up front and personal to the point you can smell the smoke and hear the gunfire. His book vividly describes the everyday life of a Coastie in Vietnam be it on the water, in the air or at the base and will touch your hearts as you read not only about combat but about the many humanitarianism projects that the folks back home never new about. After reading this book you will realize just how important and diverse our Coast Guard is and have a new respect for the brave men and women of our oldest "Naval" military service. "I know, I was there". Read this book and you'll be there too!!

In peacetime, the invaluable service provided by our nation's fifth branch of the armed forces, the United States Coast Guard is certainly well known. Especially after 9/11, the Coast Guard shoulders the responsibility for protecting thousands of miles of coast line. Commercial and pleasure craft alike can count on the Coast Guard to respond to any distress in foul weather and in fair. It is befitting that President George W. Bush had recently bestowed such praise on the men and women that serve in the United States Coast Guard. In wartime, however, the accomplishments of the Coast Guard are often over-shadowed by the other branches of the service. Nowhere is this oversight more glaring than the Coast Guard's participation in America's involvement in Vietnam. In _Coast Guard Action in Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served_, Paul C. Scotti provides a remedy for this omission with an engaging narrative of a little known chapter in the Vietnam conflict. Scotti blends organizational, operational and oral histories splendidly in a fast-paced account that never gets bogged down in jargon. The author thoroughly outlines the five-fold mission of the U.S. Coast Guard in Vietnam: interdicting enemy supply lines at sea; providing security at South Vietnam's harbors and sea ports; implementing and tending to buoys and other navigational aids; ensuring quality control over civilian merchant shipping; and of course, conducting search and rescue missions. Scotti devotes a chapter to each of the five tasks while delegating others to individual combat missions. Scotti clearly demonstrates that it was the Coast Guard that squelched the North Vietnamese efforts the supply the south by way of open sea. It was the Coast Guard that brought efficiency to South Vietnam's chaotic and primitive harbor facilities, allowing merchant vessels to contribute to the United States mammoth logistical apparatus. And it was the Coast Guard that performed numerous humanitarian missions as well. Scotti writes from experience, having himself served as a gunner on an 82-foot CG patrol boat in Vietnam. It is this craft, the workhorse of the Coast Guard fleet, and the men who served aboard them that provides the nucleus of the book. Scotti became USCG public affairs officer and his observational and organizational skills as a journalist are evident throughout. Nowhere, however, does he allow unit pride to obscure an honest attempt at objective history. The book is generously sprinkled with maps, graphs, and photographs, many from the author's own collection. Numerous appendices containing historical and statistical data, bibliography and notes complete the package. One small criticism, however, it is regrettable that Scotti's work did not receive a hard cover edition for which it is certainly deserving. Reading Scotti's book will leave one with a whole new take on the Vietnam war at sea, and a whole new appreciation for our U.S. Coast Guard veterans. This book comes highly recommended.

CWO4 Paul Scotti has encapsulated the 9 years of Coast Guard involvement in Vietnam to an informative, action filled, and sometimes suspensful narrative. Reading this book would be a great learning experience for all patriotic Americans. Most citizens have no idea what the Coast Guard does, or has done, away from the shores of the United States.

Smooth flowing and vividly informative, I would recommend it as required reading at all military academies. I completed a tour in "Market Time" in 1967-68 and was never aware of our full Coast Guard involvement. Best book on Vietnam that I have read, thanks Paul..5 Stars!!

Paul Scotti presents a thoroughly researched and documented history of the Coast Guard in Vietnam. He expertly uses first-hand sources to supplement and tell his story. Real people with very human emotions and reactions. It is a historical overview but reads like a novel. You will enjoy.

Paul Scotti's interesting and well-researched work deserves to be read by all Americans. The Coast Guard is the smallest of the five Armed Services yet arguably provides the public with the most value, dollar for dollar, than any of them. Many Americans are unaware of the myriad duties and responsibilities assigned by law to the Coast Guard, and too many more are incredulous upon learning of the significant Coast Guard presence in Vietnam. This book goes a long way toward telling that story; a story without which the history of American involvement in Vietnam cannot be complete.

This book will interest all students of American military activity in Vietnam. US Coast Guard wartime accomplishments often get lost as reporters lump all seaborne operations as "Navy". Anyone interested in life at sea, in any setting, will love this book.

I could not put this book down. I was in the Coast Guard from 1974 to 1978. I spent my last year and a half on a 82ft WPB. The stories about the 82's peaked my interest. The Coast Guard did a great job in in Vietman. Even my 13 year old sons read the book and learned about the Coast Guards role in Vietnam.

Semper Paratus.....................

Yes, the Coast Guard was an active participant in the Vietnam War. Many of the routine Coast Guard duties are unique to this smallest of the five Armed Forces. It wasn't long before the Department of Defense was requesting Coast Guard assistance. The Coast Guard was involved on land, sea, and air with the DOD forces present. This is an exciting book with many stories of Coast Guardsmen in action. The humanitarian side of the CG in Vietnam is not neglected either. Scotti knows what he is writing about. He was there.

This book is an outstanding look at the role of the U.S. Coast Guard in the Vietnam war. Paul Scotti has written an excellent account of the CG's little known contribution to help win the war in southeast asia. All areas are covered here including Operation Market Time, ATON, Port Security, LORAN, as well as Search and Rescue (SAR is the primary mission of all CG assets and the mission most familiar to the public). This book is highly recommended to all those interested in the USCG, or the Vietnam war. Alex Larzelere's "The Coast Guard at War" is also recommended for further reading on the CG in Vietnam.

Excellent reading. Paul Scotti is commended on creating a fine piece of Coast Guard history. This book should be required reading for all high school students and their parents to educate them on the duties and responsibilities of the U.S. COAST GUARD. The section about the Army and Air Force miscommunication that lead to the friendly attack on the CGC Point Welcome came close to my heart. I had the privilege of being a shipment with one of the victims, LT Ross Bell on the CGC Courageous after he returned from Vietnam. I was the ship corpsman and on several occasions, I had to treat his wounds. THIS BOOK IS RATED 4.0 (5 stars)...John Davidowski, HSC, USCG Retired.