Coast Guard plans growth, reorganization.

Byline: David Lerman

WASHINGTON _ The Coast Guard plans to swell its ranks by thousands of new recruits over the next two years as it prepares to take on increased missions to protect U.S. shores from terrorist attacks.

The planned addition of some 4,100 people comes as part of a major reorganization that will put the Coast Guard under the newly created Department of Homeland Security on March 1.

But even before the change takes effect, lawmakers are questioning whether the Coast Guard will have all the resources required to combat what many say is a major vulnerability in America's war on terrorism: the nation's seaports.

With the nation …