~ MMGM U.S. COAST GUARD NON-FICTION FEATURE ~

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~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE

MONDAY NON-FICTION FEATURE ~

--  'THE U.S. COAST GUARD'  --

A BOOK IN LERNER PUBLICATION'S

'U.S. ARMED FORCES' SERIES FOR

YOUNG READERS

AUTHOR MICHAEL BENSON

~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight,

Author Bio & My Review~

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK {from Google Books}:

The U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of protecting U.S. coastlines and harbors. They operate search and rescue missions, stop boats that are smuggling illegal drugs or aliens into the country, and help during wars and natural disasters. This comprehensive book details the history, recruiting, training, and daily life of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR {from Amazon.com}:

Michael Benson is the former editor of the Military Technical Journal and the author of 18 books, including the Encyclopedia of the JFK Assassination and Ballparks of North America. He was a contributor to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Professional Wrestling, Second Edition. Originally from Rochester, N.Y., Benson has a B.A. in Communications Arts from Hofstra University and currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife and two children.

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MY REVIEW:

I found this book in the local library's online catalog when I was searching for research materials for an adult novel I am planning for the future. I like to do some of my research for my adult fiction by reading children's non-fiction because the information is packaged in a concise, no-nonsense fashion, and the books often include a list of web resources for further perusal.

 

The older generations in my family were members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. I have a good background in those branches of the military, but I wanted to learn more about the U.S. Coast Guard. This book was chock full of details about the history of this branch of the military which was established on August 4th, 1790, and was originally named the 'Revenue Cutter Service.'

 

The U.S. Coast Guard has bases located on all United States shores:  Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes.  

In 1878, the U. S. Government created the 'U.S. Life-Saving Service' to help boaters on U.S. waterways. This service rescued passengers of ships that had been wrecked or were sinking.

In 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service and U.S. Life-Saving Service were combined into one service--the U.S. Coast Guard.

In 1928 the service began using seaplanes for patrolling and for performing rescue missions. 

In 1976, the Coast Guard Academy became the first U.S. military academy to admit women. Graduates from this academy become officers.

In 2003, President George W. Bush established the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Coast Guard became a part of this new department.

I was surprised to learn about the scope of the U.S. Coast Guard's responsibilities:

 

• It assists the U.S. Navy during wartime;
• It helps with homeland security;
  
• Performs search-and-rescue missions;
• Keeps people safe during natural disasters at sea such as hurricanes;
• Stops boats that are operating illegally; and
  
• Breaks up ice on U.S. waterways.

 

Although this book was published in 2005, I felt it gave me the type of background information I was looking for. The statistics as far as salary amounts, demographics on the individuals who join this branch of the U.S. military, etc., are dated. However, the basic facts and the photographs are valuable resources for young learners. 

 

The excellent back matter includes a glossary, a timeline, web resources, and an index.

 

Recommended for classroom teachers, librarians, and families who are in this branch of the military or any other branch of military.

 

❓❓❓❓ Do you have a friend or a relative who was or is in the U.S. Coast Guard? 

 

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 Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog. 

 

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