The men and women of the United States Coast Guard were the true heroes during the months following Hurricane Katrina. In preparation for the Hurricane\'s landfall, their families were sent deep in to the heart of Mississippi where they ended up staying for a few months. The Coast Guard members remained in New Orleans and were ready to assist with search and rescue. Most of them worked tirelessly day and night saving the lives of residents from their rooftops and transporting families to safety. The demands on them were so great, that they were unable to go and assess their own damage for many weeks. One member, upon returning to his home, was initially relieved to find the outside structure unscathed; however, when he opened the door he found his house ransacked by burglars and everything of value had been taken. \r\n\r\nWithout the dedication of these service members, many more lives may have been sacrificed.