Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I really didn't expect a lot from this book, as such memoirs are often full of historical mistakes or cover events that the author finds interesting, but I don't. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn't the case.
The authors covers in detail the learning experiences of men who have not only never been in the service before, but who live in extremely close quarters on a U.S. Navy ship with all its rules and regulations.
The author was a "keel owner," in that he was part of the first crew of the USS Rall. Plus he served aboard her until her decommissioning.
In addition to sinking a Japanese submarine. The Rall also performed in many other combat-related duties. Her luck ran out off Okinawa when a Japanese kamikaze hit her after the Rall's gunners had shot down three other planes attacking the ship at the same time. To give you an idea of that action the Japanese planes attacked her and the crew had only 20 seconds to shoot down three of the four planes and then they quickly changed priorities as they assumed their damage control duties for the heavily damaged ship.
For these actions the Rall and her crew received the Navy Unit Commendation award.
I did find two very minor errors early in the book. In one case, the author lists Charles Lindberg as the leader of the "America First Committee." Actually, he was its spokesperson, while Robert Wood was its chairman. On the same page he has President Wilson realizing the League of Nations "...was doomed to failure." However, Wilson was the chief proponent of the League and fought to get Congress to approve it and join the League. But Congress voted against that. But the author was right in calling the League a failure.
If you don't want to read the book, then check out the USS Rall's Wikipedia page.
The authors covers in detail the learning experiences of men who have not only never been in the service before, but who live in extremely close quarters on a U.S. Navy ship with all its rules and regulations.
The author was a "keel owner," in that he was part of the first crew of the USS Rall. Plus he served aboard her until her decommissioning.
In addition to sinking a Japanese submarine. The Rall also performed in many other combat-related duties. Her luck ran out off Okinawa when a Japanese kamikaze hit her after the Rall's gunners had shot down three other planes attacking the ship at the same time. To give you an idea of that action the Japanese planes attacked her and the crew had only 20 seconds to shoot down three of the four planes and then they quickly changed priorities as they assumed their damage control duties for the heavily damaged ship.
For these actions the Rall and her crew received the Navy Unit Commendation award.
I did find two very minor errors early in the book. In one case, the author lists Charles Lindberg as the leader of the "America First Committee." Actually, he was its spokesperson, while Robert Wood was its chairman. On the same page he has President Wilson realizing the League of Nations "...was doomed to failure." However, Wilson was the chief proponent of the League and fought to get Congress to approve it and join the League. But Congress voted against that. But the author was right in calling the League a failure.
If you don't want to read the book, then check out the USS Rall's Wikipedia page.
