Michael G Walling
Mike’s expertise encompasses leadership, international terror, trans-national crime, human trafficking, piracy and counter piracy operations as well as geo-political and military history. He is an internationally recognized historian, author, and speaker.
His book, Bloodstained Sea: The U.S. Coast Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic 1941-1944, received critical acclaim by reviewers and veterans. The Naval Order of the United States honored him with its 2005 Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature.
On the lighter side, he published, in conjunction with Flat Hammock Press, a new edition of “Sinbad of the Coast Guard,” the adventurous, true story of the USCGC Campbell’s mascot whose exploits during World War II became legend. Appropriately, Sinbad's story was told by a fellow member of the Coast Guard, Chief George F. Foley, Jr., while the fine pictures were drawn by the outstanding Coast Guard Reserve artist, George Gray.
Mike’s first novel Choke Points (Cutter Publishing, 2009) addresses the real threats to Maritime and Port Security overlooked or ignored by other maritime security experts.
In 2005, he appeared on the History Channel series Man, Moment, Machine episode about Andrew J. Higgins, the designer and builder of the vital landing craft used in World War II, and, as a script consultant for the episode, reviewed the material for accuracy.
After graduating from Montclair State University with a BA in Biology, Mike served in the U.S. Coast Guard for six years as a commissioned officer and a senior petty officer. His assignments included buoy tending, search and rescue missions, search and rescue coordination, drug law enforcement, and oceanographic operations in the Arctic. As part of the Boarding Party and Prize Crew teams on two cutters, he participated in the seizures of a Panamanian drug-runner and a Cuban fishing boat. His decorations include the U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal (O) for counter-drug operations, the Arctic Service Medal, the Sea Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the U.S.C.G. Cutterman's insignia.
Mike has spent more than 45 years collecting stories from veterans from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and Iraq as well as those of pilots, merchant seaman, civilian personnel with NATO and EUFOR in the Balkans. His research has included visits to London, England; Sarajevo, Bosnia i Herzegovina; Baska Voda, Croatia; Halifax, Nova Scotia, and New Orleans.
He can be reached through his web site: (www.mikewalling.com).
Latest Articles
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Native American Pirates of New England
For more than two years in the 1720s members the Abenaki, Micmac and Beothuk tribes of northern New England out witted and out fought the Colonists.
May 24, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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Sinbad of the Coast Guard
Throughout the centuries there have been many mascots and during World War II there were a profusion of them, but none achieved Sinbad's stature or lasting fame.
Apr 22, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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Operation TORCH
Allied troops from the greatest armada ever put into a military operation, swarmed ashore on the Vichy-controlled shores of North Africa before dawn on November 8, 1942.
Apr 20, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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World War II Amphibious Operations
Homer recorded one of the first amphibious operations in history when the Greeks attacked Troy in 1183 BCE. Weapons and equipment have changed, but not the principles.
Apr 20, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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Guadalcanal CACTUS Navy
Shortly after the invasion of the Solomon Islands on August 7, 1942, Coast Guard LCRD Dwight Dexter established Naval Operating Base (NOB) CACTUS at Lunga Point.
Apr 20, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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U.S. Coast Guard Amphibious Operations
U.S. Coast Guard Amphibious Operations started at Culebra, Puerto Rico in February 1935 and ended ten and a half years later on Japan's devastated shores in August 1945.
Apr 12, 2009
- Michael G Walling
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