About Turk's Forging the Star

U.S. Marshal Service Historian David S. Turk joins History Personified to discuss his new book, Forging the Star: The Official Modern History of the United States Marshal Service.

What do diverse events such as the integration of the University of Mississippi, the federal trials of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, the confrontation at Ruby Ridge, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have in common? The U.S. Marshals were instrumental in all of them. Whether pursuing dangerous felons in each of the 94 judicial districts or extraditing them from other countries; protecting federal judges, prosecutors, and witnesses from threats; transporting and maintaining prisoners and detainees; or administering the sale of assets obtained from criminal activity, the U.S. Marshals Service has adapted and overcome a mountain of barriers since their founding (on September 24, 1789) as the oldest federal law enforcement organization.

Forging the Star is a comprehensive official modern history of the U.S. Marshals, the oldest federal law enforcement organization. Their daily duties include pursuing dangerous felons in each of the 94 judicial districts or extraditing them from other countries; protecting federal judges, prosecutors, and witnesses from threats; transporting and maintaining prisoners and detainees; and administering the sale of assets obtained from criminal activity.

“Turk takes the reader on an informative, easy-to-read round-up of federal marshal activities through the decades, covering the marshals’ roles in such events as the American Indian Movement’s takeover of Alcatraz and occupation of Wounded Knee, the kidnapping and trial of Patty Hearst, the integration of the University of Mississippi, the trials of International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, Watergate, various hostage negotiations, transportation of prisoners and administration of the Witness Protection Program.” —Wild West

“Turk advances our understanding of the U.S. Marshals Service into the modern era, heretofore a time generally overlooked, and he does it admirably.” –—Bob Alexander, former special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department and author of Rawhide Ranger, Ira Aten and Six-Shooters and Shifting Sands