Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, Cape Cod National Seashore. NPS photo.

Few rigors matched those endured by the men of the U.S. Life-Saving Service. They spent the harshest months of the year in remote coastal locations watching for ships that had run aground. Then, typically when the weather was worst, perhaps in the middle of a storm in the middle of the night, they had to row out to sea through the surf with hopes of saving lives.

This short film, produced by Cape Cod National Seashore, provides a brief glimpse into their lives.

Editor's note: Patience is definitely a virtue, as this video might take a little while to load. Also, there is no audio.