Introduction

How would any of us react when faced with having to make a decision about risking our own life to save a stranger? And, why would we make such a decision? That is a decision which those in the life-saving services make each day. Who are these people and why would they risk their life to save another? Those are questions that are dealt with in this exciting and thought-provoking novel.

Setting and Themes

The backdrop of this story is the exciting adventures at sea of men serving in the U. S. Coast Guard along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. It is a story of heroism, self-sacrifice, enduring friendship, and romance. But, men in the Coast Guard also have their dark side; it is also a story of humanity dealing with drugs, alcoholism, suicide and even murder. Mostly it is a story about fear and one''s determination and ability to understand and overcome it.

Historical Context and Main Character

The story is set in the Vietnam war era, and in an attempt to avoid the horrors of war, Cody Stiles, the main character, joins the U. S. Coast Guard. But, there, he is forced to face his most ghastly fear, that of not only drowning but drowning in water that is dark and mysterious. Tragedy as a young boy, watching his older brother drown in a farm pond in Kansas, making no attempt to save him, and his father believing that he is a coward, shaped the young life of Cody Stiles. In the end, he makes an unconscious decision that affects the lives of many.