The United States Coast Guard in World War II: A History of Domestic and Overseas Actions [Paperback]

Thomas P. Ostrom (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786442565 | ISBN-13: 978-0786442560 | Publication Date: May 13, 2009

At home and overseas, the United States Coast Guard served a variety of vital functions in World War II, providing service that has been too little recognized in histories of the war. Teaming up with other international forces, the Coast Guard provided crewmembers for Navy and Army vessels as well as its own, carried troops, food, and military supplies overseas, and landed Marine and Army units on distant and dangerous shores. This thorough history details those and other important missions, including combat duties, kamikaze attacks, and typhoons. It also describes how the home front presented its own unique dangers and challenges, as Coast Guard personnel faced dangerous search and rescue missions, firefighting, explosives loading, and enemy espionage and sabotage. Also included are illustrations of aircraft, vessels, and combat action, maps of maritime combat theaters, and documents such as combat action reports and personal correspondence.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1961 to 1969, Thomas P. Ostrom taught anthropology, geography, and history at Rochester Community College in Minnesota before retiring. He is currently a member of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association, the U.S. Naval Institute, the National Maritime Historical Society, and the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (May 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786442565
• ISBN-13: 978-0786442560
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #528,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insprired, readable and thoroughly entertaining, July 17, 2009

By 

Alan Eggers "alan" (La Crosse Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The United States Coast Guard in World War II: A History of Domestic and Overseas Actions (Paperback)

What I liked most about this book is its ability to go from general characteristics of wartime Coast Guard service to specific missions such as Operation Hula and The Aluetian Campaign.
Ostrom conveys senses of action, deliberation and heroism. He doesn't have a slow moment in the entire book. The narrative style provides a current that flows the reader from page to page. Highly recommended to any and all World War Two afficianadoes.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative and eminently readable, June 13, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Plunkett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The United States Coast Guard in World War II: A History of Domestic and Overseas Actions (Paperback)

Ostrom creates a narrative that conveys the atmosphere of a peacetime service with a wartime mission. Well illustrated. Well researched. Both general doctrines and accounts of specific missions are well integrated.
Ostrom particularly achieves a striking account of how war differs from law enforcement, and also the striking similarities that exist for all men in uniform. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Have I Seen Such Intriguing, Broad Command of the Facts That Never Loses the Heroic Sensibility of the People Involved, August 12, 2010

By 

A. O. H. Stetzephandt "Setze" (La Crosse Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The United States Coast Guard in World War II: A History of Domestic and Overseas Actions (Paperback)

Both broadly authoritative and full of intriguing, unexpected particular facts. The author conveys the heroism of The Coast Guard fully intact throughout. A smashing performance!