Primarily documents Lucy Pugh's early life and her service with the Coast Guard SPARS (from Semper Paratus-Always Ready) during World War II. Pugh discusses her life before the war, including her father's general store; playing basketball in high school; working in a cotton mill; and four of the eight children in her family joining the military during World War II. " Pugh remembers her decision to join the Coast Guard; her time in basic training, including the daily routine, obstacle courses, and drills; getting her uniform; and women not being allowed to work on the ships. She discusses working in a machine shop in St. Louis; being transferred to sentry and switchboard operating duties; living in a converted woman's club with little privacy; free entertainment; and saving leave time for a trip home at Christmas. Pugh also recalls not becoming a radio operator; playing on the SPARS basketball team; rushing back to the base on D-Day; and her discharge. " Other topics include the Roosevelt family; the emotional impact of combat on her brothers; her perspective of the German and Japanese troops; the definition of a hero; and the benefits she gained from her service.