I spent four years in the Coast Guard in the early nineties, and when I think of it now it's usually the institutional craziness I recall, and my frustration with it. These videos are a reminder that there really is a purpose to it all, and they do their job 24/7, 365.
Semper Paratus. posted by chronkite at 6:25 AM on December 21, 2009
My vote goes to the rescue swimmer who was in the heavy surf at 5:35. I wouldn't want to go into that stuff for my day job. posted by procrastination at 8:00 AM on December 21, 2009
My vote goes to anything they do that saves the lives of people at sea. The newer trend of them being gung ho military drug interceptors, not so much. posted by Burhanistan at 9:24 AM on December 21, 2009
I'm still in awe of what the Coast Guard did in the aftermath of Katrina. Those guys saved a lot of lives during that tragedy. posted by zzazazz at 9:41 AM on December 21, 2009
Heh. Coast Guard goes to 11. sorry, somebody had to do it
Seriously, though, the Coasties are awesome. In the original, most respectful sense of the word. I loved the part where the US Navy called the Coast Guard to rescue a sick crewman off one of their submarines. I'm sure there was a perfectly good reason they didn't do it themselves, but still that must have hurt. posted by Quietgal at 11:45 AM on December 21, 2009
Oof. Should be a paragraph break in there - snarking on the Navy is not part of the awesome. posted by Quietgal at 11:57 AM on December 21, 2009
Semper Paratus.
posted by chronkite at 6:25 AM on December 21, 2009