An Ocean of Courage and Fear

by Jerry Borrowman

Based on survivor accounts, this gripping novel opens days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and details three years of sea battles that spanned between Hawaii and the shores of Okinawa with the crew of one of the most decorated ships of the Pacific War.

Onboard the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier was 230 miles west of Pearl Harbor accompanying the USS Enterprise on a secret mission when Japan attacked the United States. Upon his return to Honolulu, the gravity of the war begins to change him, as does every subsequent mission, including a rare beach landing with an Army infantry division. He fears his wounds of war, both physical and mental, will be incurable.

Meanwhile, on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, hundreds of wounded men lay scattered in cots and stretchers in and around the naval hospital, and volunteer nurse Heidi Collier feels overwhelmed by the number of casualties. She had watched the bombing by Japanese planes as she huddled with her two children in front of their home, hoping that her husband aboard the USS Salt Lake City was safe wherever he was. In her prayers, she feels he is still alive.

Lieutenant Riley Bracken feels the sudden g-force of his catapult-launched observation floatplane with each harrowing mission. Alerting the USS Salt Lake City of enemy ships gives him purpose, which is why no one can know about his recent bouts of vertigo. He can't risk losing what he loves most.

Fifteen-year-old Al Jowdy lied about his age in order to join the Navy. Whatever he believed Navy life would be was shot out of the water—twice—when his ships were torpedoed. Now aboard the Salt Lake City, he fears his luck may have run out.

An Ocean of Courage and Fear reveals the harrowing, never-before-told events that surrounded the crew of the USS Salt Lake City as they endure all the major action in the Pacific War.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure, World War II, Historical

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Jerry Borrowman is an award-winning author of 21 commercially published books including military fiction, non-fiction, and co-authored biography. Jerry is a two-time recipient of the prestigious George Washington National Medal from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge "for his contribution to the cause of freedom through his writing." Compassionate Soldier was the 2019 Gold Award Winner from Foreword Reviews in the War and Military category, and Invisible Heroes of World War II was the 2022 Silver Winner.

Jerry is known for his meticulous attention to historical detail, including the technology that is unique to each story.

Reviews

[Jennifer Maxfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written historical war novel. I wanted a bit more “story” than all the “ins and outs” of a naval ship. Just a personal opinion, those that love that kind of stuff will love this book.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another incredibly moving story that recounts events from World War II during the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. It follows the crew of one of the most decorated ships in the Pacific War, the USS Salt Lake City. Based on several true survivor accounts, the novel includes fictional characters like Justin Collier and his family stationed in Hawaii who are the heart of the story.

The novel gave me a fresh perspective on WWII that examined unexplored territory for me, specifically the war on the Pacific Front. Readers are immersed in the tension of Pearl Harbor being bombed, and experiencing the Pacific battles firsthand. The intense action and split-second decisions during the battles dictated life or death for the sailors.

Author Jerry Borrowman's storytelling has such rich detail and emotional depth. He does precise research which adds authenticity to the plot and overall story, which is evident in the accuracy of even the smallest details. There were notes at the end of the book which recount the historical events and honors the true heroes of that time. It was fascinating to read more of the real stories the book was based on. This enriched the overall reading experience for me.

This book is recommended for enthusiasts of WWII history, especially the Pacific Front, and of course, battleships. This book honors the real men and women who influenced the nation's future through their many sacrifices, which I'm so grateful for.

[Sharyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book followed the story of the Cruiser Salt Lake City throughout World War II. Several of the characters were actual sailors on the ship. The fictional characters blended well with the actual ones.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy books about WWII, I highly recommend reading this one. It was a very moving story about the USS Salt Lake City. I loved the author's notes and explanation about the survivor accounts that he used for basing this book on. It was such a heartbreaking moment in history, especially at Pearl Harbor. I really enjoyed seeing the several different view points this book was written from. My heart ached for them and their families.

I have several family members who served in WWII, and several friends who did as well. Some of them I met and some I didn't. But hearing about their experiences and their desire to serve through the unknown to help others was truly inspiring and brought about much respect from me to them and to all those who serve their country for good.

Content: Talk about battles and war and death but done in a very sensitive way. I would consider it a clean read.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice historical fiction story that follows the USS Salt Lake City throughout WWII. I liked that it mixed in a lot of real life figures from the history – especially Al Jowdy, who wrote down the wrong birth year and joined the Navy at 15. One of the fictional elements was actually easily predictable and some of the writing felt a bit wooden due to Borrowman's explanations, but I still liked it.

[Berkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was definitely interesting to learn about the men who served on the USS Salt Lake and the vital role they played in helping the United States win the war. My only complaint was I felt like there wasn't any character development so it was hard for me to get into the story when I didn't really care about the characters in it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives an excellent account of the history of the USS Salt Lake City. There is a bit of back and forth throughout the book jumping from one perspective to another. I did like that each chapter or section lists the location and/or time so that the reader can better follow where the author is taking the story. I felt like this book read a lot like a young adult novel. It seemed to be simplified writing and also a lot more of a telling then really getting to know the main characters. I found the history to be very interesting and I like how the ending tied everything together. There are some excellent chapter notes in the back of the book that you have to read. Those that love history I think will really enjoy this book. If you are interested in the USS Salt Lake City specifically you need to pick up this book!


Four Stars.


"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of the USS Salt Lake City until reading this book. I enjoyed the focus of this historical novel and everything I learned from reading it.

[Frank Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed other books by Jerry Borrowman, I was particularly interested in An Ocean of Courage and Fear. This book is a skillful blending of the stories of both actual and fictional crew members of the USS Salt Lake City. It is a story about the ship itself, its operation, and the crew that manned her. The USS Salt Lake City is a heavy cruiser and was on station when World War II began. From that point in time, she and her crew participated in nearly every major operation in the central and northern Pacific area including the final push towards Japan. The USS Salt Lake City saw duty as a carrier escort, as well as participating in several ship-to-ship naval battles. The cruiser was involved in anti-submarine warfare, troop escort and beach landing support. She was so widely used and skillfully commanded and staffed that some referred to the USS Salt Lake City as a “One Ship Fleet.”

The descriptions of the ship’s operation and the details of the activities of the crew while under way in both attack situations and defensive operations is fascinating. It is something not often covered in such detail in typical maritime histories. The stories of the crew are so nicely and realistically interwoven that in order to tell actual crew members from the fictional characters, one must constantly refer to the list of characters which is conveniently provided as a part of the introduction. The descriptions of the ship’s operations before, after and during engagements is particularly interesting. These details bring the characters to life and show an unusual attention to routine and mundane activities on a ship during wartime.

This book is not a history of World War II nor the war in the Pacific. It is not even about the city for which the ship is named. This is the real-life story of a warship and its crew during a period of extreme stress and how both the men and the ship handle and react to the stress and danger of conflict. No one in this story becomes famous. A few receive medals. Some die. Most don’t. But in this story, all are real, even the fictional ones, and each has their own story, all of which show an ocean of courage and fear.

[Monica H at The Readathon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean of Courage and Fear is a novel based on the lives and experiences of two of the men that served on the USS Salt Lake City. Al Jowdy lied on his application and entered the war when he was just 15 years old. He served as a Gunner’s mate. Sandy Oppenheimer served as a storekeeper on the ship. In his author’s notes, Borrowman says, “While the settings for these scenes are based on Al’s and Sandy’s actual experiences in the war, such as their duty assignments and battle stations, the dialogue is invented to support the storyline.”

Many of the characters in the book were real people who served on the ship, but there are also fictional characters added to enhance the storyline. I loved the characters in the story! They brought the story and the history to life! Each character is well developed, real, and seems authentic. I cannot get over Al enlisting at 15 years old!! I have a 15-year-old, and I cannot imagine her leaving to go fight a war right now! Seriously. I’m scared for her to drive a car, let alone enlist in the Navy to fight in a world war!

Although I have read many books about WWII, there were battles and theaters in An Ocean of Courage and Fear that I had never heard of. I learned so much! It was interesting learning about the ship and what it takes to run a ship like that. The USS Salt Lake City was a heavy cruiser and it helped support the aircraft carriers. Being on a ship like that, shooting the guns, and being shot at would definitely scare me!

I enjoyed reading An Ocean of Courage and Fear by Jerry Borrowman. He did a great job of bringing the story to life for me (an average reader—not specializing in ships or the Navy). I thought it might be boring, but I found the story compelling and I loved the characters. If you’re looking for a historical fiction/WWII book with a different angle, this is the book for you!

Rating: PG-13+
-Profanity: None
-Intimacy: None (Brief Kissing)
-Violence: High (Several deaths, burn victims, explosions, wartime violence)
Age Recommendation: 16+

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean of Courage and Fear
By Jerry Borrowman

This book opens on December 7, 1941, before word of the attack on Pearl Harbor had reached anyone outside of Hawaii. Word of the utter destruction of the US Naval fleet stationed and docked shocked the world. And those who were serving are about to have their world forever altered, going from a state of peace in the Pacific Ocean to a state of war in mere minutes.

This book mixes fictional characters with the historical events adding more depth and bringing the reader's emotions into play as the fears and uncertainty pull the Pacific nations into the war. We are introduced to Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier, assigned to the USS Salt Lake City, and his wife Heidi, who volunteers as a nurse following Pearl Harbor. But there are so many more people whose lives are changed as the United States and Japan are drawn into war, a war that will cost many much.

The title An Ocean of Courage and Fear describes the emotions those onboard the naval ships have to deal with daily during the days of World War 2. I appreciated that the author provided a listing of which characters were fictional and which were historical. The book takes us from December 1941 into June 1945. The USS Salt Lake City along with Honolulu is the main setting, and getting a glimpse of life aboard a heavy cruiser during a time of war is interesting, especially as when the book opens war is mere minutes away though no one is aware of it.

This book would be of interest to those who are into World War 2 or Naval history. This would be an excellent selection for a High School book report when the topic is Historical fiction. Events aren't glamorized but are presented in a way so as to engage the reader's interest throughout.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Elaine Boulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Borrowman is a gifted and talented author. His book, An Ocean of Courage and Fear, may be his best so far. He has written many books and I have read most of them. This book is about the USS Salt Lake City, a destroyer and its crew that played a key role during World War II. I was born in Salt Lake City and remember as a child reading headlines about the war. However, I was not aware until I read this book that there was a Destroyer named for our fair city. Like all of Borrowman's books, it is filled with accurate information, this time about about the role of the Navy during the war. The book starts with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and ends with the surrender Japan, effectively bringing an end to a war that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Like all of Borrowman's books you will find a riveting story about ordinary people who did extraordinary things. Although this book is historical fiction, some of the characters named, served in the Navy. This is a compelling story of adventure, romance, fear and tragedy. While I was reading, I couldn't help but feel the pride and sacrifice for those who helped bring a tenacious foe to its knees. Spoiler alert: as in most of Borrowman's books the worst often happens the best people. This is a quick read and upon completion you will feel pride in our nation and those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice. The book is filled with many small details that enhance rather get in the way of the story. After reading this book, you will probably have a desire to read others written by this wonderful historian and excellent author.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“An Ocean of Courage and Fear” by Jerry Borrowman is a historical novel about World War II, featuring a combination of historical and fictional characters. The book is about the adventures, for lack of a better term, of the USS Salt Lake City, in WWII. It opens with the bombing of Pearl Harbor (the Salt Lake City was based in Pearl Harbor, but not in port at the time of the attack), and we see the reactions of both (fictional) Lieutenant Commander Collier aboard the ship, and his wife who is in Oahu to that event.

The book continues to tell the story of both Lieutenant Collier and other crew members throughout the book. To avoid any confusion, the author has provided us with a list to which characters are real and which are fictional at the front of the book.

The events described throughout the book, battles, journeys, etc., are all taken from the historical record. The book includes brief biographies (and a few photos) of the real characters at the end of the book, along with notes for each chapter, to help in understanding the narrative.

The characters are well-written, and I quickly forgot which were real and which were fictional. This is a different view of WWII than most I have read. Learning about the war from the naval aspect gave me a new perspective, especially since the naval battles were such an integral part of the Pacific theater.

This is a good introduction for fans of military history. It does not diminish at all the stresses and dangers of war, without focusing on detailed descriptions of gore and horror. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about the time period, and would give an age range of high schoolers to adults.

[Wendy Almond · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were no boring information dumps because the factual information was expertly woven into the smooth reading dialog. The characters were well written and gave me a much more personal view of the war. It reminded me that today we still have courageous men and women who risk their lives for our freedom.

I learned how terrifying it was for not one, but two ships to be sunk out from under Al Jowdy. He was interviewed by Jerry Borrowman so this story is how Al remembered it. He also included many other interesting stories including one that made me laugh out loud and chuckle for awhile after that.

The battle station for Sandy Oppenheimer, who was also interviewed for the book, was in the Crow’s Nest. The story takes us high above the rocking deck of the ship where Sandy kept a lookout. He was the early warning for the approach of enemy ships and planes. I imagine it could be fun up there for a short time. The rest of the time the rocking platform would be exposed to the weather as well as machine gun fire from enemy planes.

Life on a military ship and the physical mechanics of the ship were fascinating to learn. The daily routines were well described. The action during battles brought with it the tense feelings and the quick decisions that meant life or death for the sailors. I learned about many true adventures and courageous deeds that occurred during the service of the USS Salt Lake City.

Thank you for the incredible research and attention to the details that made this book hard to put down.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Salt Lake City participated in battles across the Pacific during WWII. From Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier on the bridge to Lieutenant Riley Bracken in a scout plane to Al Jowdy swabbing the deck, no one knew when the war would end—or whether they would live to see it.
Borrowman includes real events and first-hand accounts throughout the book (including Jowdy’s experiences), though the main characters (like Collier and Bracken) are fictional. Points of view from all over the Naval ship, and even a couple from different branches of the military, are included and give readers a good idea of what it would have been like to fight in WWII or be the loved ones left at home, even while Borrowman spares readers the gory details. While reading of the sacrifices can be heartbreaking, those who continued to move forward in doing their duty are all heroes.
The characters are American and Japanese. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and kissing. The violence rating is for blood and gore, assault, gun and bomb use, discussions of war, death, corpses, and mentions of suicide.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels especially serendipitous to be talking about a WWII novel on the heels of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. While this book covers a different geographical area of the war, it just makes the story that much more somber. I think this book is perfect for avid WWII readers and people who haven’t read much about it. The historical facts are detailed enough to be interesting and informative, without being dry or inaccessible. The fictional characters and their stories written in by Borrowman fit the narrative and the stories so well, and I was fully invested in the story.
I learned a lot in reading this book. It’s amazing how there is always something new to learn about the war, isn’t it? I admit I haven’t read as much about the Pacific theater, specifically what it would have been like on one of the ships. I loved the historical details and information included, and especially loved the author’s note at the end.
My husband has also been completely hooked on this book, and picks it up to read every chance he has. It’s a book that will have you cheering for our soldiers, and grieving for the fallen ones. I laughed; I cried; I feared; I ached. I felt the gambit of emotions in this one, and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in WWII fiction.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

This book is a good blend of true history and historical fiction with some of the characters being real people and some being inspired by real people. Anyone familiar with the WW2 historical fiction scene knows that it tends to focus on Europe so the fact that this book is based in the Pacific theater is already different. Furthermore the decision to focus on one ship through the eyes of those on board adds to its uniqueness. The narrative begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor and continues through the rest of their time at war. There are parts that are surprisingly funny and some that are devastating giving what I would imagine is a realistic insight into life onboard a massive heavy cruiser. This book reads more like an accumulation of memoirs than a novel but I’m not mad about it.

It would have been nice to have a map of the Pacific with notable locations marked out. The USS Salt Lake City covered some incredible distances and would have been cool to see it on print.

Thank you NetGalley and Jerry Borrowman for this ARC!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a fictional recounting of historical events and real people during WWII, specifically in the Pacific theatre. I was really fascinated by the story and the way it sort of read like a log of events, focusing on the USS Salt Lake City and some of the men and their families connected to this ship. The different point of views really brought to life what it was like for these service men during WWII and for their families. I often read historical fiction during this time set in Europe, but this was really special as it focuses on the Pacific war and the way things played out between the American and Japanese militaries. It definitely made my heart hurt, but I found it overall inspiring. I am grateful to have read this book as it just makes me appreciate even more those individuals who past and present sacrifice for the freedoms I enjoy in this country.
While this is a historical fiction novel focused around war, I didn't find it graphic and it reads like a clean, yet realistic and informative novel based on true events.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jerry Borrowman's historical books. I love the way his characters seem like they are real. And his books help me to understand the situations that are being faced. One thing about this one for me was that I recently found out that my grandfather served in World War II near Alaska. So the parts where they were in that area were all the more special to me.

This book is about the service of the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City. Some of the characters are real. But most of the ones the book follows are made up. I love that it talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor from the vantage point of those that lived there during that time. It helped that come alive for me even more.

The characters in this book seem as though they could have been real. I could feel their pain as they went through hard things. I almost felt as though I were right on the ship during some of the battle scenes.

I loved this one. I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a good, quick read, packed with lots of interesting facts and stories! I learned a lot. I did feel like it was a bit disjointed as it jumped around, though all the perspectives were interesting. I liked how there was a date and place to tell me where it was jumping, but it still made it hard to get sucked in and immersed in the story. Still, I hadn't learned most of the stuff in here, and it's rare to find a WWII book that follows the events in the Pacific Theater. I appreciated the list of people, and the pictures of ships to help me keep track of things, but I would have loved maps, too! Definitely recommend this one if you'd like to learn more about this time/place.

Content: mild violence, references to suicide (mildly graphic).


I received this book free from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Janet Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so how can a true story also be historical fiction? By tossing fictional characters into the true story of the USS Salt Lake City, a heavy cruiser that was stationed in and around Pearl Harbor during World War II. The fictional characters; Lieutenant Comander Justin Collier and his family, and his cousin, Riley Bracken, a pilot are thrown together with the stories of real life sailors aboard the ship, including 15 year old Al Jowdy who lied about his age to enter into military service.
The book follows stories of people serving in different capacities on the ship. I would call it more a man's book; lots of facts, figures, and war stories; any personal stories are short and casual. What amazed me is that this man could write a war story that was pretty clean of language and activities, and make it interesting enough for me to read it and enjoy it. I give it 5 stars for the readability, and the purity of the story.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a remarkable job the author did in combining fact with fiction.
We are there as Pearl Harbor is attacked, and the loss of life, I could almost hear the bombs that were being dropped on the Island.
There are fictional people that we get to know and care about, and there is some truth to what happens to them, with some of it being wow moments.
While this is a WWII story and the Japanese attack on the US, it is also the USS Salt Lake City's story, and we follow this ships battles that help win the war.
This is a read that at times had me holding my breath, and page turning for the answers, the guns getting so hot they need to stop firing, and the miracles that happened!
Be sure to read the Author's Notes, and we learn the fate of the ship that help win the war!
I received this book through the Publisher Shadow Mountain, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction based on true events. I have read many books about World War II but none that have focused on the Navy, Pearl Harbor, and Japan. It mainly focuses on the experiences of the USS Salt Lake City. I was very impressed with the amount of research and information I gathered from this book. I was also drawn into the storyline of the characters, some fictional and some real life individuals. There were a few parts that I inadvertently skipped over, that didn’t quite hold my attention but I didn’t feel like I lost any thing from the story. I appreciate the notes at the end about all the events that took place during this timeline and the updates on the true heroes of the time. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Rorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fictional book, based on true events. I typically enjoy stories like this, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. While I did enjoy the story, in several places, the author has whatever character is speaking give basically a textbook explanation for something instead of a normal conversation. If I were reading a non-fiction book, that would fit in perfectly, but it would take me out of the story each time he did it. The information was interesting, but I think it could have been presented in more of a story-telling way to make it flow with the novel better.
Other than that, I enjoyed the story, and enjoyed learning about what the USS Salt Lake City took part in during the war.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the historical information in the book--what battles the USS Salt Lake City was in, etc.--to be very interesting, but I didn't love the writing style. The short passages that jumped from character to character and that were told from an omniscient point of view made it hard for me to really connect with the characters; as a character-driven reader, that didn't work well for me. Plot-driven readers might embrace that style much more than I did. It was interesting to find out in the endnotes that Al Jowdy was a real person; he was probably the most fun character to read about, as he got himself in and out of some scrapes.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Ocean of Courage and Fear by Jerry Borrowman

The USS Salt Lake City is one of the most decorated ships of the Pacific War. This book details 3 years worth of battles - beginning just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The details are unbelievable, and given by survivors of the battles. These are never before told stories and events that follow a Lt. Commander, a scout pilot, and even a 15 yr old who lied about his age to enlist.

If you like war stories- details of the ships and the battles, and want to read about the effects that war has on those involved- families included, you will enjoy this.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ebook for my honest opinion.

[Escape to Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a mix of fictional and real characters, about their experiences aboard the USS Salt Lake City during the war with Japan. A vessel that claimed many distinctions in battle thanks to its courageous crew. These are a few of their stories mixed in with a cohesive storyline that doesn't info dump and the whole thing was enjoyable to the last.
Having been on the USS Alabama recently I really enjoyed this and even surprised myself with how accurately I could now picture this whole narrative. I highly recommend it and even though these men are no longer around to thank in person for their service this book among others will help contribute to their memory and sacrifice.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing account. The individual stories were a combination of funny and light hearted to serious and heavy. To see another aspect of WWII from yet another perspective and on a different front brings more depth to an already eye opening and heartbreaking era. It still amazes me that anyone survived what they did. The little known heroes and the little acts of courage, both on the ocean and at home base are incredible. Living with the aftermath and moving forward takes courage. This book has the whole range of emotions in it. Highly recommend it.

[Marinda (rindasreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book paints an in depth picture of the role of the USS Salt Lake City, a naval ship during WW2. While I found it to be meticulously researched, I do think it might have been better presented as nonfiction than as fiction. For me the story lacked a depth of human emotion and tended to gloss over important emotional scenes and details, meaning that the character with the most development in the plot was the ship itself and not the men and women connected with the ship. I’m glad I read it but I did feel let down. This book had so much potential and is based on a truly fascinating story, but the missing emotional connections bothered me.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

[Norm Jenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I he read an ARC of this book. It is at its core the Story of the USS Salt Lake City during the Second World War, from Hawaii to the Aleutians with timeout for repairs in San Francisco. The history makes it fascinating but it’s the stories inside the story that make it special. One character Al Jowdy his real name, and still living provided his personal stories that are both heroic and hilarious. I learned, I laughed, and shed a tear or two reflecting on their sacrifice.