Reviewed by CWO Patrick Higgins ......... This is an excellent book about the real life of those at CG small boat stations. Between my grandfather, father and myself, the Higgins' family has over 40 years serving at these units; the book tells it like it truly is. A great read for those who really want to know what it's like serving at a CG SAR station; I'd give it a 5 rating........................Semper Paratus.

Reviewed by Greg Mactye ......... On the evening of February 11, 1997, USCG small boat Station Quillayute River, Washington, received a Mayday call from a sailboat in distress outside of the treacherous bar near that desolate station. Four brave men responded to that call, in 44-foot motor lifeboat #44363, one of the station's two self-righting motor lifeboats. By the following morning, only one of those men, Seaman Apprentice (SA) Benjamin F. Wingo, was still alive. The other three, Boatswain's Mate Second Class David A. Bosley - the boat's coxswain, Machinery Technician Third Class Matthew E. Schlimme - the engineer, and Seaman Clinton P. Miniken, were lost overboard and drowned when their boat's superstructure was torn away as she rolled and struck a large rock in the tossing surf. My friends, I have just finished reading a most unique, and unfortunately, distressing book dedicated to the men and women of the USCG small boat rescue stations all over the United States. The title of that book is Lifeboat Sailors, (disasters, rescues and the perilous future of the Coast Guard's Small Boat Stations), by Dennis Noble, PhD. Copyright, Brassey's, Wash. DC 2000. Dr. Noble is a retired USCG Sr. Chief who went on to earn his degree in history, and who has written a number of books about water rescue agencies around the world. The book details the work performed by the people in these stations, the very backbone of what many of us envision when we think of the Coast Guard, and the problems they face. Unfortunately, according to the author, many of the serious concerns faced by these people are the direct result of an allegedly prevalent attitude of neglect and misunderstanding on the part of the service's higher administration. I can not hope to adequately describe in a short time the many allegations made as examples of exactly what is happening or why, but I will try to briefly summarize the author's primary point. Dr Noble claims that because duty at a small boat station is not part of the "fast-track" of advancement for the service's senior officers -almost all of whom come from the USCG Academy - the small boat stations receive the "short end of the stick" in many ways, not the least of which is in financial support. He says that due to the way things happen in the service, by the time those assigned to these stations have advanced in rank and experience enough to truly understand and become expert at the job of rescue, they are moved on to other duty stations and replaced, often by new, untrained personnel. i.e. - just when they get good at their job, they're shipped-out, and the CO has to start all over training new people in the often extremely dangerous job of surf rescue! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to obtain a more complete understanding of the Coast Guard, and the fine men and women who every day place their lives on the line "That others may live". Heck - the chapter devoted to Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Thomas D. McAdams, who is apparently a living legend if ever there were one, is worth the cover price all by itself! As one who loves and respects the sea, and greatly admires those who have dedicated their lives to the job of rescue in and on it, this is a man I would absolutely and without any question, love to meet!! "The man with the Cigar" is described as one of those crusty old breed of sailors who "came up through the hawsepipe" and who exemplify the last of the best. To Boatswain's Mate Second Class David A. Bosley, (1960 - 1997) Machinery Technician Third Class Matthew E. Schlimme, (1973 - 1997) and Seaman Clinton P. Miniken. (1974 - 1997), God bless and keep you and to all of the dedicated members of the United States Coast Guard, past and present, active or retired, who every day in so many ways, put it on the line in service to their country and we the boating public - thank you, and -Semper Paratus!

Reviewed by PO Robert Gross ......... Incredible book. Most accurate book I've read. As a boatswain's mate, Dennis Noble has written the words they I have never been able to explain. I wish everybody would read this book.. A definite five.. I wish I could rate it higher..

Reviewed by Steve Sabel ......... I give it a 5. Having been at a lifeboat station and gone though the Motor Lifeboat School, I can relate to some of the situations in the book. The book would give anyone who has never experienced the thrill and fear of the surf a very good perspective of what the boat crews endured during SAR calls.