US Coast Guard Recruiting Poster

Courtesy National Archives

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States Coast Guard was serving in harm’s way. Tasked with life saving duties, regulating maritime safety and administration of ports, the Coast Guard became the primary enforcers of the Neutrality Acts in American waters when war broke out in Europe. Over the next two years Coast Guard operations expanded until they were fully incorporated into the United States Navy in November 1941. By 1945, the Coast Guard served in every major naval theater of the war, escorting convoys, sinking submarines, providing weather data, manning amphibious assault ships, piloting landing craft, and performing life saving duties. In 1939, the Coast Guard consisted of 17,022 servicemen. By the end of 1945, over 200,000 men and women were serving in the Coast Guard. The importance of the Coast Guard’s contribution to victory in the war was made possible by the men and women who responded to recruiting ads such as this one.