This chronicle of the US Coast Guard's contributions to national defense examines participation in World War I, World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the War on Terror. Among the topics explored are defense threats, drug trafficking, and border security, as well as Coast Guard personnel, training, leadership, and assets.

Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Foreword by Commander Gary M. Thomas, USCG      Preface      Introduction      1. The Coast Guard: 1790 to World War I      2. World War II on Land, Sea and Air      3. Korea: The Forgotten Cold War Conflict      4. The Cold War from America to Vietnam      5. Logistics and Tactics in Indochina      6. Cold War, Terror and Interdiction      7. National Defense on the Great Lakes      8. Natural Disasters and the War on Terror      9. Coast Guard Aviation and National Defense      10. Homeland Security      11. The Coast Guard in Kosovo, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf      12. Port Security, Pirates and Commandos      13. Budgets, Assets, Missions and Training      14. The Arctic and National Security      15. The Coast Guard Heritage      Appendix A: Team Coast Guard and Commandants to 1990      Appendix B: Team Coast Guard and Commandants, 1990 to 2010      Appendix C: Always Ready: Coast Guard Personnel      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index