The Finest Hours by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman is a non-fiction book that tells the story of the greatest small-boat rescue in U.S. Coast Guard history. The book recounts the events of February 18, 1952, when two oil tankers, the SS Fort Mercer and the SS Pendleton, were caught in a severe storm off the coast of Cape Cod. The storm split both ships in half, leaving their crews stranded in the middle of the ocean.

The book follows the rescue mission launched by the U.S. Coast Guard to save the crew members of both ships. The mission was led by Bernie Webber, who piloted a small lifeboat with three other crew members through treacherous waters to reach the Pendleton. Despite facing enormous odds and battling against Mother Nature, Webber and his team managed to rescue 32 men from the sinking ship.

The authors use first-hand accounts from survivors and Coast Guard officials to provide a detailed and gripping account of this incredible rescue mission. They also provide background information on the history of the U.S. Coast Guard and its role in maritime rescues.

Overall, The Finest Hours is a thrilling and inspiring true story of heroism and bravery in the face of extreme danger.

• The Finest Hours

• The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue
• By: Michael J. Tougias, Casey Sherman
• Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

In the winter of 1952, New England was ravaged by the most brutal nor’easter storm in years. As weather ravaged land, the frozen Atlantic became a treacherous, windy region, setting the stage for one of the most heroic rescue stories to ever exist.

On February 18, while the storm raged, the oil tankers Pendleton and Fort Mercer were in a similarly appalling predicament. Built of “dirty steel” and unprepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in half, leaving dozens of people on board completely at the mercy of the Atlantic. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of a courageous attempt to rescue the souls huddled inside the broken halves of two ships.

The enchanting story is filled with breathtaking scenes, as boats capsize, bows and sterns collide, and men plunge into the sea furiously in a terrifying battle for survival.

Not all of the 84 men caught at sea in the midst of that brutal storm survived, but considering the odds, it’s a miracle – and a testament to their bravery – that any at all came home to tell their tales.

A riveting story about extraordinary deeds done by ordinary men. Once again the book is better than the movie, although a great watch. I found that I couldn’t stop listening, dragging my device around with headphones swinging around, plugging into the car jacks, disinclined to turn off the car. This book sent me looking for more information about the time and events.

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