Fred Tanner was born just over a year before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, but that world-changing event foreshadowed his life's journey. In this memoir, Tanner narrates the story of serving thirty-four years in the U.S. military, primarily in the U.S. Coast Guard. "Launch the Ready " recalls the events and friendships that have made him the person he is today-from growing up in an orphanage with other boys and girls to enlisting in the U.S. Army and then the U.S. Coast Guard. He reflects on how his experiences in the orphanage contributed to his character and affected his military service. He narrates a host of events that illustrate the personal risks he and his fellow guardsmen took to protect the dignity of the Coast Guard and safeguard the country and the lives of its citizens.
Filled with photographs and details of other military personnel, this memoir not only reflects the richness of Tanner's life, but also illustrates the sacrifices and hardships men and women make for their country every day.