U.S. Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard (Paperback)

~ Ralph Shanks (Author), Wick York (Author), Lisa Woo Shanks (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

I'll make no bones about it. I'm a Coast Guard historian, so I approach the reading of this book differently than most others. As editor of a magazine dedicated to the history of the U.S Life-Saving Service and early U.S. Coast Guard, I need handy reference books around at all times, and Shanks' and York's The United States Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard is by far the most important book ever published in this field. It doesn't matter what question comes up; if it has to do with the old surfmen and keepers, the answer is inevitably in this book.
The book is divided into chapters representing each of the old Life-Saving Service districts, and details the story of each region of the country through an unrivaled postcard and photograph collection and highlighted tales of heroism and tragedy. Interspersed are tales of other important issues regarding the history of the service: the development of life-saving technology, the role of minorities in this 19th century organization, and much more.
A special added feature is the end chapter on architecture - Mr. York's contribution - that expands on his master's thesis on the structures of the USLSS.
The USLSS is a forgotten institution, nationally, although the tales of its heroes once gripped the hearts of Americans across the country. Pick up this book to learn the full story of the predecessor organization to today's Coast Guard, and to understand the ethos behind the motto, You have to go out, you don't have to come back. --John Galluzzo

This great book won the first ever Foundation for Coast Guard History award in the category: Best Book on Coast Guard History!
It is hard to put this exciting book down. The stories of rescues, stations, boats, equipment and the people themselves are amazing and the illustrations of rare, never before published photos truly lavish Every area of the country is covered. You feel you actually get to know these heroic early Coast Guard surfmen personally. --Surfman

Product Description

U.S. Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard is the winner of the first Foundation for Coast Guard History Award in the category Best Book on Coast Guard History. This is the saga of the rescues, boats, equipment and stations. These were courageous early Coast Guard surfmen whose regulations said they had to go out no matter how storm-tossed the sea; the regulations did not say anything about coming back. The stories are unique and unforgettable. There was the brilliant and beautiful woman who changed the world s rescue work...the lone survivor of a life-saving crew...the day the surfmen saved the Wright brother s plane...the night Marconi filed the sky with strange sights and sounds and sent surfmen running...the unsung women rescuers...the strange dream that foretold a shipwreck...the surfman who traveled 25,000 miles in a survival suit.

The book is richly illustrated with rare, fine photographs of nearly every American life-saving station drawn from the archives of the Coast Guard, National Park Service, National Archives, universities and private collections, nearly all published for the first time. There is state by state coverage of the Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, and Great Lakes.

J. Revell Carr, long-time director of Mystic Seaport Museum described U.S. Life-Saving Service, as a book of extraordinary drama intriguing to anyone with an interest in the sea or in American architecture. Colin MacKenzie, director of the Natural Research Center called the book highly readable with great stories of life-saving. The best book by far on the subject.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Costano Books (April 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930268164
• ISBN-13: 978-0930268169
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #638,718 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Us All Look Like Geniuses, September 20, 2005

By	John Galluzzo "Surfman #2" (Hull, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'll make no bones about it. I'm a Coast Guard historian, so I approach the reading of this book differently than most others. As editor of a magazine dedicated to the history of the U.S Life-Saving Service and early U.S. Coast Guard, I need handy reference books around at all times, and Shanks' and York's The United States Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard is by far the most important book ever published in this field. It doesn't matter what question comes up; if it has to do with the old surfmen and keepers, the answer is inevitably in this book.

The book is divided into chapters representing each of the old Life-Saving Service districts, and details the story of each region of the country through an unrivaled postcard and photograph collection and highlighted tales of heroism and tragedy. Interspersed are tales of other important issues regarding the history of the service: the development of life-saving technology, the role of minorities in this 19th century organization, and much more.

A special added feature is the end chapter on architecture - Mr. York's contribution - that expands on his master's thesis on the structures of the USLSS.

The USLSS is a forgotten institution, nationally, although the tales of its heroes once gripped the hearts of Americans across the country. Pick up this book to learn the full story of the predecessor organization to today's Coast Guard, and to understand the ethos behind the motto, "You have to go out, you don't have to come back."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Coast Guard History Award Winner!, September 5, 2005

By	Surfman (Pacific Ocean) - See all my reviews

This great book won the first ever Foundation for Coast Guard History award in the category "Best Book on Coast Guard History"!

It is hard to put this exciting book down. The stories of rescues, stations, boats, equipment and the people themselves are amazing and the illustrations of rare, never before published photos truly lavish Every area of the country is covered. You feel you actually get to know these heroic early Coast Guard surfmen personally.