The post-1945 survey first recounts a Coast Guard PBM seaplane that crashed during takeoff after rescuing survivors from a downed US Navy aircraft off mainland China, killing nine servicemen including five Coast Guardsmen. It then describes Coast Guard cutters and Navy units stopping four North Vietnamese trawlers during Operation Market Time, sinking three and forcing one to return without landing its cargo. That action is presented here as a major naval success of the Vietnam campaign. Brief references to Desert Shield, Desert Storm, the response to the 2001 attacks, and Operation Iraqi Freedom show the service continuing to move between rescue, interdiction, and national-security duties.
Chapter · 11:40-13:14
Coast Guard service from Korea to Iraq
A rescue loss during the Korean War and maritime interdiction in Vietnam lead into later Coast Guard participation in Gulf and Iraq operations.