Master Chief Thomas McAdams: The Stories That Made the Legend Triumphs and Tragedies at Sea

Wonderful to read the history of BMCM McAdams. I served in the USCG, and had the pleasure of meeting him. I also served with the author, Joe Novello, who did a wonderful job of putting the Chief's stories together in an easy to read format. If you are at all interested in the Coast Guard and it's mission, this is one book to put in your library. You'll get the unvarnished truth of what it was like to rescue people in some of the most dangerous waters on earth, along with some great personal history.

Master Chief McAdams is a living legend in a unforgiving business, United States Coast Guard surf station operations. The author captures the excitement and humor of many of the cases that helped make the Master Chief and his shipmates famous throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Great read.

This man is legendary where I live and beyond. I remember his stories, to this day, from almost 50 years ago when I was a student at Newport High in Newport Oregon. Glad someone wrote them down! Used to watch him and his crew practice with the 36 foot, wooden surf rescue boat including rolling it over....it always righted itself!

The Chief's stories, told in his words, are fascinating, hilarious, sad, dramatic, sorrowful, etc. The entire book is easy reading and keeps you wanting to turn the page and head for the next chapter. Joe Novello did an excellent job writing the stories as told by the Chief and the many pictures related to the stories are perfect. What an amazing career and yes, a true Legend of the Coast Guard.

Chief McAdams was larger than life. His USCG lifeboat training at Cape Disappointment Base, Washington Base helped train lifeboat crews, saved multiple lifeboat crew's lives as well as boater's lives. Once a crewman asked "How did we know when to hang on and hunker down?"He was answered by another crewman, " When the Chief spits out his cigar !!."A well-written book of USCG Lifeboat history.

The Master Chief has been a legend through the Northwest Lifeboat Community. This book is worth reading, not only to see the challenges the Master Chief went through, but helped me reflect on all the search and rescue cases that I have participated in.

I met Chief Mac Adams in August 1970 when my Boat tied up at his dock. The Book was a joy to read and was proud i could add it to my collection of Coast Guard History. It was well written and a good story of a great Man.

Just as Bernie Webber was known as the Legend of the East Coast (Book & Movie “The Finest Hour”) Master Chief McAdams became the Legend of the West Coast. The words on these pages from his lips, are just some of the stories that chronicle a legendary career in the U.S C.G. This is truly an inspirational read of courage, fortitude, leadership, inclusiveness, and a true love story. Highly recommend .