"The United States Coast Guard served a variety of vital functions in World War II, providing service that has been too little recognized in histories of the war. This history details those and other important mission. It also describes how the home front presented its own unique dangers and challenges"--Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Prelude to Pearl Harbor -- The day of infamy : Pearl Harbor -- U.S. Coast Guard organization -- Port security, navigation, and aviation -- Coast Guard crews and navy ships -- Defense from the Great Lakes to the oceans -- Admiral Russell R. Waesche : wartime commandant -- Coast Guard air and sea warfare -- The greenland patrol -- The Atlantic war -- Guarding the convoys -- The Mediterranean : North Africa, Sicily, Italy -- D-Day at Normandy -- The Aleutians and the Bering Sea -- The Pacific campaign -- Pacific reminiscences -- Return to the Philippines and victory.