The story of how the Coast Guard transformed a captured WWII ship into a national symbol and a platform for diplomacy 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 Eagle's mission. Serving as a floating classroom, the ship cultivates leadership skills in future officers by teaching them to lead under pressure, make critical decisions, and motivate others in a demanding environment. Training aboard goes beyond military command--it prepares cadets for roles in diverse sectors, helping them meet the challenges of teamwork, resilience, and communication. The lessons prepare leaders for any career that requires purpose and the ability to guide others toward a goal. Eagle also represents a unique intersection between leadership and international diplomacy. She sails to ports around the world, participating in goodwill missions that promote cultural exchange, mutual respect, and cooperation among nations. As tensions rise and new challenges emerge, the need for skilled leaders has never been more pressing. Eagle is more than a symbol of the Coast Guard's legacy; she is a tool for shaping leaders who can contribute to peacekeeping, crisis management, and cooperation across borders. In this sense, Eagle embodies not just national pride but also a broader vision of global leadership and diplomacy.
Will Sofrin is a master shipwright who has taught at MIT and has built boats for Billy Joel and Estee Lauder. As a former professional sailor and licensed captain, he has tracked more than 30,000 blue-water miles. Today he is a freelance writer for numerous maritime periodicals, continues to race sailboats, and explores the coast of California with his wife and daughter. He is the author of All Hands on Deck (Abrams) and an advisor on the exhibit committee for the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. He lives in Santa Barbara, California. From its founding in 1887 through today, the USCG Alumni Association connects Coast Guard Academy alumni across the generations to further their philanthropy and engagement with the Academy and beyond. Their proud and connected alumni, cadet, and Academy communities thrive as leaders of character in service to their peers, the Coast Guard, and humanity.
"Every American should treasure the long and powerful history of the Coast Guard cutter Eagle. She is truly 'Semper Paratus' and every sailor in the US Navy looks across the pier at her with deep admiration and affection. This book tells her story with truth and beauty!" --Admiral James Stavridis, US Navy (Ret.), vice chairman, Global Affairs, The Carlyle Group; chair of the board of trustees, The Rockefeller Foundation; former Supreme Allied Commander, NATO (2009-2013); dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (2013-2018) "A fine book about an extraordinary sailing vessel. Through the tale of the cutter Eagle, flagship of the United States Coast Guard, the reader sets sail with generations of young mariners committed to serving their country."--Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of An Army at Dawn and The Liberation Trilogy "A legendary ship deserves an excellent biography. Will Sofrin provides that, not only detailing Eagle's fascinating history and the vital role she plays in supporting the Coast Guard's mission but also profiling the exemplary men and women who have served on her decks over the years."--Eric Jay Dolin, best-selling author of Leviathan, Rebels at Sea, and Black Flags, Blue Waters "As captain of this magnificent ship, I have seen young Coast Guard men and women develop extraordinary confidence and leadership skills in their time onboard Eagle, climbing aloft to the royals, furling sails, and when in port, proudly escorting visitors around. The best years of my career were spent in command of Eagle, and Will Sofrin's writing illustrates so well the opportunity that she provides for officers to fulfill the Coast Guard Academy's mission, to pass along to cadets 'a liking for the sea and its lore.'"--Captain Ernst M. Cummings, US Coast Guard (Ret.), commanding officer, USCGC Eagle (1983-1988) "For the past eight decades, Eagle has served as the flagship of the Coast Guard fleet and a tool of international diplomacy while helping to grow the future leaders of the Service. Sofrin's impressive and lively account of the men and women who sailed onboard--of how they were pushed to their limits and found ways to grow, and how their stories trace a course through our nation's history--is a fitting tribute to those who earned their salt on America's tall ship." --Captain Kristopher Ensley, USCG, commanding officer of USCGC Eagle "I spent three summers on Eagle, America's premier national laboratory for leadership. From coordinated team actions to maneuver the ship to opportunities to develop, hone, and perfect leadership skills, Eagle sets the gold standard. Big thanks to Will Sofrin for ensuring that we understand and remember the value of this national treasure."--Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.), twenty-third commandant of the US Coast Guard, who led the federal responses to Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill "Reading this book, I couldn't help but think of my own time in the Coast Guard--and that of my brother and father--and of the long nautical tradition in my family. For me, Eagle is more than a ship--she's a living reminder of that legacy of courage, seamanship, and service that has guided so many of us through our own voyages in life."--Beau Bridges, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award-winning actor, director, and US Coast Guard veteran "This is a long-overdue history of a US national treasure. By describing a series of dramatic events over the past eighty years, the author moves Eagle's narrative from her German origin into the twenty-first century. Through sailing with the crew and talking with many who served on board, he has absorbed the soul of a marvelous ship. Every page is a learning experience." --Paul Stillwell, naval historian and author of Battleship New Jersey: The Complete History; longtime editor at the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings
