The Fighting Coast Guard

Main Themes and Topics

The Fighting Coast Guard by Mark A. Snell and a team of esteemed historians meticulously delves into the multifaceted roles that the United States Coast Guard has played in various wartime scenarios from its earliest days to the late twentieth century. The book is organized into three sections that each focus on pivotal periods in history. The section "Beginnings" explores the origins of the US Revenue Cutter Service, which laid the groundwork for what the Coast Guard would become, and its participation in World War I. The section titled "Conflagration" discusses the critical contributions and operational roles of the Coast Guard during World War II. Finally, "The Cold War and Beyond" examines the Coast Guard's involvement in post-World War II conflicts, including the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Through these essays, the book seeks to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of the United States' smallest military service during some of the nation's most challenging times.

Writing Style and Tone

Mark A. Snell and his contributors use a scholarly yet engaging approach throughout The Fighting Coast Guard. The authors adopt a precise and analytic style that makes complex military and maritime history accessible to the reader. While the essays are rich in historical detail and provide a rigorous examination of the subject matter, the tone remains personable and cogent, facilitating a deeper understanding of the Coast Guard's significant contributions to U.S. military history. The academic rigor is complemented by narrative elements that provide a comprehensive overview without compromising the readability of the text.

Brief Summary

The Fighting Coast Guard stands as a comprehensive anthology that sheds light on the vital yet underrepresented role of the United States Coast Guard in wartime. Divided into three sections, the book covers the evolution of the US Revenue Cutter Service into a modern fighting force and its pivotal activities during World War I, World War II, and subsequent conflicts of the twentieth century. Each essay offers unique insights into how the Coast Guard not only supported but played crucial roles in America's military operations across different periods. By providing this detailed account, the collection seeks to offer substantive contributions to the historiography of the Coast Guard's wartime engagements.