Merchant Mariners at War: An Oral History of World War II
Publisher: University Press of Florida
From Baird Maritime:
The authors are closely connected to the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Their book looks at a collection of 59 audio and video recordings of interviews with graduates of that institution who participated in World War II.
It is not, then, taken from a lower deck perspective. It does however offer an in-depth view of World War II from a US Merchant Marine perspective.
As with their equivalents in other Allied and Axis merchant "navies", American merchant mariners did not project the glamour of the "fighting" navy people. Their war was one of dogged persistence in the face of great danger and privation. Many were killed but the survivors ploughed on with considerable bravery.
It is a great story that is well presented by very sympathetic and empathetic authors.
Ordering Information:
University Press of Florida Gainesville, USA Web: www.upf.com