During the Korean War (1950-53), the Coast Guard performed a variety of tasks. The Service established air detachments throughout the Pacific. These detachments, located at Sangley Point in the Philippines, Guam, Wake, Midway, Adak, and Barbers Point in the Hawaiian Islands conducted search and rescue to safeguard the tens of thousands of United Nations troops that were being airlifted across the Pacific. In January 1953 a PBM flying from Sangley landed in 12-foot seas in an attempt to rescue a Navy P2V crew. The Coast Guard amphibian crashed on takeoff when an engine failed. Five Coast Guard and four Navy men lost their lives. Additional weather station sites were established in the Pacific to help guard the flow of troops and supplies to Korea. Twelve destroyer escorts were transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard to help carry out this duty. Also, a team of about 50 Coast Guardsmen were stationed in Korea, helping establish the Korean Coast Guard, which has since evolved into that country's Navy. The Coast Guard also provided communications and meteorological services plus assured port security and proper ammunition handling.

The United States Coast Guard, as one of the nation's armed forces, has seen combat with the enemy in virtually every conflict fought by the United States. World War II saw the Coast Guard come to grips with the empire of Japan as well as the naval might of Nazi Germany. During the war the U.S. Navy credited Coast Guard forces with sinking eleven of Hitler's U-boats, nicknamed by Coast Guardsmen as "hearses," although they probably sank at least twelve. They also captured two enemy surface vessels at sea and can take pride in knowing that they were the only United States' service to do so during World War II.

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