Overview

More than 16 million Americans served in the military during World War II--and nearly 3 million of them spent time in the Pacific theater. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States looked to graduates of the naval academy to fill its need for qualified officers. To supplement the number of academy graduates, new programs were created, including the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program, the Civilian Pilot Training Program, the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and what were later called ""V"" programs. Despite these efforts, the military buildup was slow. After Pearl Harbor, all branches of the military became dependent upon officers rushed through training programs, some of which hardly lasted longer than the enlisted men's boot camp--the so-called ""ninety day wonders"" are just such an example. Recruited and trained in a variety of ways, the officers came from varied backgrounds. From a Japanese language officer and a Marine Corps fighter pilot, to a master rigger and a Navy weatherman, the author presents the tales of more than 20 Navy and Marine officers, offering the story of the war through their personal experiences.

Full Product Details

Author:   Bruce M. Petty
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.10cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.286kg
ISBN:  

9780786423736

ISBN 10:   0786423730
Pages:   207
Publication Date:   11 November 2005
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Preface      Timeline of the War in the Pacific      Glossary of Terms      Senior Officer Aboard the USS Nevada, BB-36, Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941—Rear Admiral Francis Thomas, USN (Ret.)      From the USS Honolulu to Senior Aviator of Scouting Squadron Ringbolt—Capt. Larry Pierce, USN (Ret.)      Marine Corps Fighter Pilot—Lt. Col. H.A.P. Langstaff, USMC (Ret.)      Carrier Air Group Sixteen, USS Lexington, CV–16—Lt. Cmdr. James Arquette, USN (Ret.)      Navy Fighter Ace—Cmdr. Alexander Vraciu, USN (Ret.)      Landing Signal Officer, USS Chenango, CVE-28—Cmdr. Frank Malinasky, USN (Ret.)      Sailor/Marine/Fighter Pilot—Capt. Bernard W. Peterson, USMCR (Ret.)      Aboard the USS Bailey, DD–492—Stanley M. Hogshead      USS Arizona Survivor—Joseph K. Langdell      HMAS Canberra and the Battle of Saveo Island—Lt. Cmdr. MacKenzie Jesse Gregory, Royal Australian Navy (Ret.)      “The Helena Doesn’t Answer”—Cmdr. Bill Barnett, USN (Ret.)      Aboard the USS Zane, DMS–14—Capt. Joseph B. Drachnik, USN (Ret.)      Aboard the USS Long, DMS–12—Benjamin F. Cator      Aboard the USS Charles Carroll, APA–28—Lt. Kenneth Barden, USNR (Ret.)      USS LCI (L)–981—John F. Harrington      My Flight with Lt. Arthur G. Elder—Bernard Isaacs      The Mustanger—Lt. Cmdr. Warren Decious, USN (Ret.)      The Rescuers—Capt. William C. Meyer, USN (Ret.)      Japanese-Language Officer—Willard H. Elsbree      Navy Weatherman—Dr. Gaylord Whitlock      Master Rigger, Mare Island Naval Shipyard—Cmdr. Eddie Martinez, USNR (Ret.)      Selected Bibliography      Index     

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Author Information

Bruce M. Petty served for two years on the U.S.S. Yorktown during the Vietnam War. A California native, he has lived in Saipan. His writings have been published in The Pacific Daily News, The Marianas Variety, Umanidat: A Journal of the Humanities and Journal of the Pacific Society. Formerly a nuclear medicine technologist, he currently writes in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

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