Master Chief Thomas McAdams

The Stories That Made the Legend Triumphs and Tragedies at Sea

By: Joe Novello

Narrated by: Maximillian Breed

Chief McAdams is a legend in the ranks of the United States Coast Guard. His career spanned twenty-seven years from 1950 through 1977.

During that time, he operated numerous patrol and motor lifeboats.

He commanded stations, wrote training manuals, and assisted in designing and testing new boat designs. Throughout his career Chief McAdams is credited with participating in over 5000 rescues and saving over 100 lives. Chief McAdams received numerous awards and medals, including The Legion of Merit, Gold Lifesaving Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, The Coast Guard Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Over the years, numerous articles have been written about the Chief’s adventures in magazines such as Men’s Magazine (1954), Life Magazine (1957), True Magazine (1971), and National Geographic Magazine (1974). Chief McAdams has been mentioned in numerous other books and training manuals. This book is a chronological history of Chief McAdams’ experiences throughout his career in the Coast Guard. The stories are all true memories, eliciting emotions that run the gamut from exciting to frightening, hilarious, and devastating. These are the stories behind the legend of Chief McAdams.

©2021 Joe Novello (P)2025 Joe Novello

Wonderful story!

This is a wonderful story of a true American hero. The author's inside knowledge of the US Coast Guard surely added to the in-depth descriptions of operations, boat, and equipment, helping the reader get a true feel for events. The inclusion of the song The Angry Sea was a treat!

The stories were very interesting and entertaining

The book was a great read and offers great insight into what life was like for coast guardsmen in the 1900s