USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard's Flagship by Will Sofrin

The story of how the Coast Guard transformed a captured WWII ship into a national symbol and a platform for diplomacy “A fine book about an extraordinary sailing vessel." —Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and author of An Army at Dawn and The Liberation Trilogy USCG Cutter Eagle has been an integral part of the United States Coast Guard since her commissioning in 1946, serving as both a training ship and a representation of the Coast Guard’s commitment to excellence. Originally built in Germany as the Horst Wessel and sailed under the Nazi flag, she was taken as a war prize after World War II and transformed into a vessel that reflects America’s democratic ideals. Eagle trains USCG Academy cadets, offering instruction in navigation, ship handling, and the rigors of life at sea. She embodies the hard work, discipline, and sacrifice that members of the Coast Guard dedicate to protecting the nation, often in less publicized yet critical roles. This book traces Eagle’s history from her origins in WWII through nearly eight decades of U.S. service, told through the lens of cadet and crew experiences. It captures the transformative nature of life aboard, where young men and women confront the sea while learning to lead, endure hardship, and work together as a team. Leadership is a central theme in Read more