of the war. in 1897 when 265 whalers were trapped in ice and the icefields of alaska were closing up, courageous officers trekked 1,500 miles through the frozen frontier to rescuer the starving men from certain death. in 1942, the coast guard manned landing craft for invasions in the pacific. when the enemy attacked u.s. marines from the shores of gaudle canal, coast guard singleman first class douglas monroe used his own boat to shield his dplads are pounding gunfire. monroe gave his life. hundreds of marines were saved. as he lay dying on the deck his final question embodied the devotion that sails with every coast guardsman. did they get off?