1918-1941 - Mobilizing the Coast Guard for War: An Analysis of the USCG's Wartime Preparation Activities from 1918-1941

The U.S. Coast Guard has a unique role as a military armed force with extensive peacetime missions. In nearly every U.S. Conflict, the service has been a part of wartime naval operations. The most notable occurrences were during World War I and World War II, where the entire service integrated into the Department of the Navy. Beginning with World War I, this thesis traces the Coast Guard’s development and expansion throughout the interwar period up until World War II. It examines the hearings and proceedings of the General Board of the Navy to show how Coast Guard cutters were prepared for combat. It also analyzes strategic war planning documents to show the Navy’s intent to mobilize, organize and employ the Coast Guard during war. A Master's Thesis by LCDR Nolan V. Cain, USCG.