Product Details
So Others May Live: Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death

So Others May Live: Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death
By Martha J LaGuardia-Kotite, Tom Ridge

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Product Description

Dramatic, compelling, downright unbelievable accounts of the Coast Guard's often unsung heros.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #181700 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-09-02
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 272 pages

Features

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Commander LaGuardia more than earns her stripes with an extremely well researched and documented book describing the inside story of how and why the U.S. Coast Guard jumped into the rescue swimmer business. I strongly suggest keeping a towel nearby to wipe off the salt water after each rescue is described.”—PTEROGRAM, journal of the Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl (U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Association)

From the Back Cover

Fourteen true, amazing, and inspiring stories of some of the bravest men and women you’ll ever meet So Others May Live is the untold story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s quiet but resolute rescue swimmers. From deep ocean caves on the Oregon coast to the panicked and chaotic streets of post-Katrina New Orleans, here are their stunningly heroic stories—some of the greatest maritime rescues attempted since the program was started in 1985. These feats, told through the eyes of the heroes, reveal an understanding of how and why the rescuer, with flight crew assistance, risks his or her own life to reach out to save a stranger. Covering diverse environments—oceans, hurricanes, oil rigs, caves, sinking vessels, floods, and even Niagara Falls—this is truly a can’t-put-it-down collection.

About the Author

Martha J. LaGuardia-Kotite is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a writer with hundreds of magazines articles to her credit. This is her first book. She lives in Niceville, Florida.

Customer Reviews

She got it right.5
When we first heard about this book, some of the guys in the shop were skeptical about how it would turn out. We have all read articles and stories about the work we do and wondered how the writers got it so wrong. Embellishments, mis-quotes, and cheesy bravado injected into stories about Coast Guard swimmers have often left us cold to the idea of a book about the job. But Laguardia-Kotite got it right.....way right.

Her book is meticulously researched, well-organized, and tells the story of Coast Guard rescues without overstepping the facts in exchange for reactions. She simply put to paper the heart of the program through stories of actual men and women engaged in the unique job of aviation rescue crewmembers. Also refreshing was the way she (better than anyone I have ever read) tells the story of the rescue swimmer as part of a team, giving all due credit to the pilots and flight mechanics that make rescue at sea possible.

A history of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer5
SO OTHERS MAY LIVE: SAVINGS LIVES, DEFYING DEATH WITH THE COAST GUARD'S RESCUE SWIMMERS provides a history of the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer, pairing this history with twelve stories which chronicle maritime rescues. Swimmers tell these stories of perilous rescue and while SO OTHERS MAY LIVE would also qualify to be featured in our 'True Adventure' section, it's featured here for additional value as a history of Coast Guard efforts overall.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Coast Guard Aviation Association5
Reviewed by Captain George Krietemeyer, USCG (Ret.),
President, U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Association


Commander LaGuardia more than earns her stripes with an extremely well researched and documented book describing the inside story of how and why the U.S. Coast Guard jumped into the rescue swimmer business. I strongly suggest keeping a towel nearby to wipe off the salt water after each rescue is described.
Her research starts in the early 70's with SARWET teams - early pilot programs testing concepts of improved rescue capability using specially trained crewmembers in helicopter operations. She names all the people who put their ideas forward and tested the concepts. Most of them are members of the Coast Guard Aviation Association.
The author then describes the full story behind congressional `guidance' accelerating efforts to get a full fledged Coast Guard rescue swimmer program underway. I happened to be the Commandant's Chief of Training at Coast Guard Headquarters at the time and played a small part in focusing attention on this effort.
Once the reader is introduced to a full understanding of the background, Martha expertly guides the reader through the next 20 years with exciting and well written examples of some of the hairiest rescues our crews have accomplished. Once again, she names the people and describes their heroic efforts on a case-by-case basis. Many of you will know these people!
This is a book which will delight history buffs and adventure seekers. Her writing style is action oriented. A MUST READ for military types and others "with a liking for the sea and its lore."

Cover JPEG attached separately

For source purposes:
Review from PTEROGRAM, journal of the Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl (Coast Guard Aviation Association),
Editor Captain Ray Copin, USCG (Ret.), (rjcopin@aol.com).