CG 41332: Surfmen, the Cape Disappointment Motor Lifeboat School, and the Forgotten Tragedy That Transformed U.S. Coast Guard Boat Operations
$29.99
by John M. Kopp
HELL ISN’T HOT: Twenty minutes into a night navigation exercise at Cape Disappointment, Washington, Coast Guard utility boat 41332 tracked off course, strayed into breaking surf, and capsized, trapping eight of its 10-person crew inside a dark, slowly flooding cabin. Over the next hour, the survivors fought their way underwater to the outside. Three students lost their lives. Beginning with the historical origins of the U.S. Coast Guard’s rescue boat community, CG 41332 offers the first book-length accounts of this 1977 accident, the lineage of surfmen, and the evolution of the service’s National Motor Lifeboat School. Meticulously prepared by a former Cape Disappointment surfman, CG 41332 brings new light to the relationships between these interconnected histories and also explores healing after adversity. " Kopp shines a spotlight on this community and deftly tells the story of the CG 41322's foundering in a holistic sense, always mindful that, at the end of the day, the men and women who set out in heavy surf—both in the years before the accident and years since—do what they love and in the best way they can. His book is a testament to that courage and, in some cases, sacrifice ." — Proceedings
U.S. Naval Institute "John's book is a relevant part of Coast Guard history, and as the former chief of boat forces, and later as the Atlantic Area Commander, I encourage you to give a read. History repeats itself unless we learn from its lessons." —Vice Admiral William "Dean" Lee, USCG (Retired)
former Atlantic Area Commander "John Kopp has written the definitive history of this tragic event—the capsizing and sinking of a 41-foot Coast Guard utility boat in the notorious Columbia River bar and the loss of three young Coast Guardsmen. The details he provides are not only accurate but also incredibly in depth. I should know—I was the Coast Guard Medical Officer on the safety investigation for this event . . . . But this book is so much more than just a recounting of the accident. It is actually three books in one: a history of Coast Guard small-boat operations and the origins of the National Motor Lifeboat School; the CG-41322 capsizing; and the history of how the title, 'Coast Guard Surfman' came to be as coveted a title as Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Coast Guard history, and especially for those who have served in small-boat operations along the Pacific Northwest coast—the notorious 'Graveyard of the Pacific.'" —Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, MD, USPHS/USCG (Retired)
former Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard "John Kopp's comprehensive writing of this history of the U.S. Coast Guard's small boat rescues provides the reader with rare insights into the evolution of one of the most dangerous and selfless professions. . . . John's writing skill allows us to be forever changed by this true disaster as told, as only a real member of the Coast Guard's small rescue boat teams can, by sharing honest experiences of real 'life and death' events. . . . Buy this book, take a deep breath, and climb aboard to see how real Small Boat Coasties risk everything, even during training, to protect all of us who venture out upon the waters." —Jerry Ostermiller
Director Emeritus of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Ore. "Kopp spent countless hours interviewing participants, shipmates, family, and friends of those involved in the narrative that he has woven. His attention to detail shows. . . . If you want to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of working [in] the harsh environment of the Northwest this is the book for you." — gCaptain "Generous with photographs, generous with diverse perspectives, generous with detail, 'CG 41332' offers a wealth of information." — Our Coast Magazine "Kopp has written an excellent, much needed, book on the art and science of the Surfman's world. Any who work in this field, or are responsible for managing programs like this should use this book as a primary reference. " — Wreck and Rescue
U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Associaiton "This heart-rending tale of bravery, miscalculation, and hard earned seamanship brings together the history of the USCG Motor Lifeboat School, the gripping moments involved in the 1977 mishap, and the legacy of changes to the service that make current rescue training safer. It is also the story of how individuals and communities heal from the maritime tragedies which occur with devasting frequency along the Pacific Coast. Kopp skillfully shifts through these gears propelling the reader on a sure course through shipwreck and death to land in a place of acceptance and resolution. " — The Sea Chest
Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society When it comes to the deep inclinations of soul, conscious will doesn't stand a chance. When John Kopp was six years old, he first visited Station Cape Disappointment, Washington,
U.S. Naval Institute "John's book is a relevant part of Coast Guard history, and as the former chief of boat forces, and later as the Atlantic Area Commander, I encourage you to give a read. History repeats itself unless we learn from its lessons." —Vice Admiral William "Dean" Lee, USCG (Retired)
former Atlantic Area Commander "John Kopp has written the definitive history of this tragic event—the capsizing and sinking of a 41-foot Coast Guard utility boat in the notorious Columbia River bar and the loss of three young Coast Guardsmen. The details he provides are not only accurate but also incredibly in depth. I should know—I was the Coast Guard Medical Officer on the safety investigation for this event . . . . But this book is so much more than just a recounting of the accident. It is actually three books in one: a history of Coast Guard small-boat operations and the origins of the National Motor Lifeboat School; the CG-41322 capsizing; and the history of how the title, 'Coast Guard Surfman' came to be as coveted a title as Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Coast Guard history, and especially for those who have served in small-boat operations along the Pacific Northwest coast—the notorious 'Graveyard of the Pacific.'" —Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, MD, USPHS/USCG (Retired)
former Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard "John Kopp's comprehensive writing of this history of the U.S. Coast Guard's small boat rescues provides the reader with rare insights into the evolution of one of the most dangerous and selfless professions. . . . John's writing skill allows us to be forever changed by this true disaster as told, as only a real member of the Coast Guard's small rescue boat teams can, by sharing honest experiences of real 'life and death' events. . . . Buy this book, take a deep breath, and climb aboard to see how real Small Boat Coasties risk everything, even during training, to protect all of us who venture out upon the waters." —Jerry Ostermiller
Director Emeritus of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Ore. "Kopp spent countless hours interviewing participants, shipmates, family, and friends of those involved in the narrative that he has woven. His attention to detail shows. . . . If you want to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of working [in] the harsh environment of the Northwest this is the book for you." — gCaptain "Generous with photographs, generous with diverse perspectives, generous with detail, 'CG 41332' offers a wealth of information." — Our Coast Magazine "Kopp has written an excellent, much needed, book on the art and science of the Surfman's world. Any who work in this field, or are responsible for managing programs like this should use this book as a primary reference. " — Wreck and Rescue
U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Associaiton "This heart-rending tale of bravery, miscalculation, and hard earned seamanship brings together the history of the USCG Motor Lifeboat School, the gripping moments involved in the 1977 mishap, and the legacy of changes to the service that make current rescue training safer. It is also the story of how individuals and communities heal from the maritime tragedies which occur with devasting frequency along the Pacific Coast. Kopp skillfully shifts through these gears propelling the reader on a sure course through shipwreck and death to land in a place of acceptance and resolution. " — The Sea Chest
Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society When it comes to the deep inclinations of soul, conscious will doesn't stand a chance. When John Kopp was six years old, he first visited Station Cape Disappointment, Washington,