On The Edge Of War

About the Book

On The Edge of War is a World War II memoir laced with fine storytelling, engaging wit and everyday observations that allow the reader to enter the serviceman’s world as our country approached the day of infamy, Dec 7, 1941. 

          Larsen joined the Coast Guard on October 29, 1939, and four months later was transferred to the Hawaiian Islands where he became a radio operator. He was engaged in intercepting Japanese military code for US Navy Intelligence while stationed at the Diamond Head Radio Station.  He was at this radio station during the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7, 1941.

          During World War II Larsen traveled around the world, through the South Pacific, Tasmania Sea, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.  He spent time in Calcutta, India and La Havre, France.  Larsen tells his story so that you feel you are sitting across the table from him.  You feel the peril and laugh with the good times as he recounts life for the enlisted man during World War II.  His storytelling reminds the reader that we all need to enjoy life, even during time of war.

About the Author

George Larsen was born in San Francisco in 1918 and joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939.  He became a radio operator and was stationed at Diamond Head Radio Station during the Pearl Harbor attack.  Recently his story was featured in newspapers across the world when the U.S. Postal Department wanted information about what he did at the Diamond Head Lighthouse, which was part of the new issue of stamps honoring historic lighthouses.   After World War II George Larsen got married and had two children.  He worked as a lighting director and cameraman for K.R.O.N. television in San Francisco for almost 30 years.  Highlights of his career in television include an Emmy and involvement in the first television transmission from the United States to Paris, France. Larsen was in charge of studio camera production and part of the television crew for many major sporting events in the Bay Area.  He retired in 1985.  He is the President of the Bay Area Chapter Two Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.  Larsen has spoken about his experiences during World War II to Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, schools, women's clubs, men's clubs and even the Marin County Jail where the inmates were studying U.S. history.