Digest>Archives> October 2001

Prints in the Sand

The U.S. Coast Guard Beach Patrol in World War II

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This is a fascinating book about America’s unknown heroes of World War II.

Much has been written about World War II, the well-known leaders, the great battles, the famous ships and planes, the far places of action and the men and women who traveled thousands of miles to fight for and save our way of life.

However, very little has been written about those that stayed behind to guard our shores against saboteurs and possible invasion. Theirs are the amazing stories that would make for great movies, stories that are unbelievable, which very few Americans know about. These men, ages 17 to 73 were truly part of the greatest generation.

Read how Operation Pastorious, a plan by German saboteurs to enter the United States and blow up the Aluminum Company of America plants in Alcoa, TN, East St. Louis, IL, and Massena, NY, plus the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City and the locks in the Ohio River, was thwarted by Coast Guard Beach patrols.

The Army was given the job of defending the land areas and the Navy maintaining inshore and offshore patrols. Because, during war, the Coast Guard is part of the Navy, it was assigned the task of operating an “informational system” by means of beach patrols, picket boats and lookout watchtowers.

The Coast Guard, more than any other of America’s armed forces, is part of the communities around the nation. Because the stations and lighthouses, which were staffed during World War II, are distributed in different parts of the country, they were already set up to watch remote areas of our coastline.

Learn how the Coast Guard actually became the cavalry of World War II, their expert horsemanship in patrolling our beaches, stories of their patrol dogs, lookout towers and expert marksmanship.

Packed with amazing historical photographs, you will not be able to put this book down until you finish reading it. It will give you a whole new appreciation of the United States Coast Guard.

Soft cover, 8 1/2” x 11”, 80 pages, many vintage photos. This great book can be ordered on line at www.LighthouseDepot.com or the old fashioned way at Lighthouse Depot, PO Box 427, Wells, Maine 04090. 1-800-758-1444. Our item number #91215 for $9.95 plus shipping.

This story appeared in the October 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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