Twenty-Three Minutes to Eternity: The Final Voyage of the Escort Carrier USS Liscome Bay

by James L. Noles

A long-overdue history of America's "forgotten flattop."

 

On November 24, 1943, a Japanese torpedo plunged into the starboard side of the American escort carrier USS Liscome Bay. The torpedo struck the thin-skinned carrier in the worst possible place the bomb storage area. The resulting explosion could be seen 16 miles away, literally ripping the Liscome Bay in half and killing 644 of her crew. In terms of lives lost, it was the costliest carrier sinking in United States naval history.

 

Liscome Bay's loss came on her first combat the American invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Despite her short career, she touched a number of remarkable and famous lives. Doris Miller, the first black American sailor to win the Navy Cross, lost his life, as did Rear Admiral Henry Mullinax, one of the Navy's first "air admirals." John Crommelin was the senior officer to survive the sinking. Later in his career, Crommelin, a decorated naval aviator himself, sparked the famous Revolt of the Admirals, which helped save the role of naval aviation in America's Cold War military.

 

James Noles's account of the Liscome Bay and those who served aboard her is based on interviews with the ship's survivors and an unpublished memoir that the ship's pay officer made available to the author. This readable, compelling book pays homage to the crew by telling their story of experience and sacrifice.

 

To follow Jim Noles on Twitter, access his stream

272 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 2004

Reviews

[Linda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

My uncle was a survivor of the Liscome Bay sinking. All I knew of his experience was from a letter he wrote to his parents after arriving in San Francisco. After reading this account of the disaster, I am in awe of the heroism displayed by the officers and sailors on the ship.

[Zach Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most complete record of the story of the USS Liscome Bay and its crew that I'm aware of.

This book really filled in the gaps of the stories told by my family and through the letters of my great uncle who died on the carrier.

I'm thankful for Mr Noles and his efforts researching and writing this book.

[Wes Hollingshead · Rating 5 out of 5]

My great-great uncle Donald G Allen was aboard as a young ensign and didn't make it. His second time being torpedoed. It was great to have such a detailed account of how things went down to shed some light on his final moments and moments that lead to the incident.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish all military history stories would include an Aftermath chapter as complete as this one.
Would have liked more maps.

[ALG Ginger805 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncle Robert Lopez lost at sea in USS Liscome Bay
1943 Gilbert Islands

This was a hard book to read because now I know what and how my uncle, my moms brother went through trying to survive on the USS LISCOME BAY. He did not survive and was never recovered from sea and he wasn’t alone. So many young men died when the USS LISCOME BAY was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Today in history this is the largest men in the military lost at sea. Being WWII my grandparents got their letter their first born had died and was not coming home because he was lost at sea. They were also told Theo was a shortage of Purple Hearts 💜 because of so many soldiers who lost lives. It to took over 40 years for her to receive her son’s purple 💜. It was as though she was holding on to life till that day came. She passed shortly after. I’m so glad and proud in ways of the survivors who got together to write this book. I admit because it so close to home I had to set it down at times. I now know how my uncle and other soldiers sacrificed their lives for our country that day!

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