Forgotten Heroes, The U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes – From 1874 until 1915 when it became the U.S. Coast Guard, the men of this remarkable organization displayed incredible courage and bravery in rescuing over 55, 000 people from potential death on the Great Lakes. Despite personal danger or difficulty, the Life-Savers invariably accomplished the rescue. This is their story of courage in the face on nearly insurmountable odds. Their unofficial motto was, “Regulations say we have to go out, they say nothing about coming back.” It was a motto they lived and in some cases, died by. I am a founding board member and past president of the U.S. Life-Saving Heritage Association dedicated to saving and telling the story of this most remarkable organization.
Frederick Stonehouse has authored over thirty books on maritime history. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and are regional best sellers. Wreck Ashore, the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Great Lakes is the predominant work on the subject.
He has also been an “on-air” expert for National Geographic, History Channel and Fox Family. He has been honored with the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History award for historic interpretation and as the Marine Historian of the Year by the Detroit Marine Historical Society.
Most recently he was given the 2014 “Distinguished Alumni Award” by Northern Michigan University.
Fred teaches Great Lakes maritime history at Northern Michigan University and is an active consultant for numerous Great Lakes oriented projects and programs.