Overview

A deeply personal and never-before-told account of one of America's darkest days, from the bestselling author of The Admirals and MacArthur at War. The surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 remains one of the most traumatic events in American history. America's battleship fleet was crippled, thousands of lives were lost, and the United States was propelled into a world war. Few realize that aboard the iconic, ill-fated USS Arizona were an incredible seventy-nine blood relatives. Tragically, in an era when family members serving together was an accepted, even encouraged, practice, sixty-three of the Arizona's 1,177 dead turned out to be brothers. In Brothers Down, acclaimed historian Walter R. Borneman returns to that critical week of December, masterfully guiding us on an unforgettable journey of sacrifice and heroism, all told through the lives of these brothers and their fateful experience on the Arizona. Weaving in the heartbreaking stories of the parents, wives, and sweethearts who wrote to and worried about these men, Borneman draws from a treasure trove of unpublished source material to bring to vivid life the minor decisions that became a matter of life or death when the bombs began to fall. More than just an account of familial bonds and national heartbreak, what emerges promises to define a turning point in American military history.

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9781478922810

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Reviews

Irresistible.... A necessary read for anyone who attempts to understand the man. --Joseph C. Goulden, Washington Times A no-holds-barred portrait of a controversial figure and a feast for World War II aficionados. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for MacArthur at War As he did with his previous WWII narrative, The Admirals, Walter Borneman does full justice to yet another colossus of WWII. It took flawed giants to forge victory and this account of the legendary Douglas MacArthur, warts and all, is superb history and an enormously enjoyable read. You can't ask for more. --Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter Borneman's extensive research turns up interesting details about the history of the battleship...The subject matter makes the book sometimes difficult to read-as it was no doubt difficult to write-but Borneman's broad knowledge and sensitive touch make it an entirely worthwhile experience. --Booklist Walter Borneman is one of our finest historians, and in Brothers Down he has given us his most personal and affecting story-and one so immersive I often found myself holding my breath while reading his powerful account of the attack on the Arizona. It's that good. --James Donovan, author of Shoot for the Moon and A Terrible Glory

Many other books have detailed the events leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But few of them have done so from the perspective of the sailors and Marines who were victimized that day, and none has used the unique point of view of the thirty-eight sets of brothers who were on board the ill-fated USS Arizona. By focusing on these eighty or so individuals from small towns and big cities, Borneman provides not only a unique frame of reference on the day of infamy, but a rich portrait of America in 1941. --Craig L. Symonds, author of World War II at Sea A fresh account of a well-documented historical event...Borneman's extensive research turns up interesting details...Borneman's broad knowledge and sensitive touch make it an entirely worthwhile experience. --Kirkus This well-organized book is a poignant look at the brothers who were serving aboard the USS Arizona...The moving and unusual angle, excellent research, and the prose's clarity and emotion make this one a winner. --Publishers Weekly Irresistible.... A necessary read for anyone who attempts to understand the man. --Joseph C. Goulden, Washington Times A no-holds-barred portrait of a controversial figure and a feast for World War II aficionados. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for MacArthur at War As he did with his previous WWII narrative, The Admirals, Walter Borneman does full justice to yet another colossus of WWII. It took flawed giants to forge victory and this account of the legendary Douglas MacArthur, warts and all, is superb history and an enormously enjoyable read. You can't ask for more. --Alex Kershaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Bedford Boys and The Longest Winter Walter Borneman is one of our finest historians, and in Brothers Down he has given us his most personal and affecting story-and one so immersive I often found myself holding my breath while reading his powerful account of the attack on the Arizona. It's that good. --James Donovan, author of Shoot for the Moon and A Terrible Glory

Author Information

Walter R. Borneman is the author of nine works of nonfiction, including MacArthur At War, The Admirals, Polk, and The French and Indian War. He holds both a master's degree in history and a law degree. He lives in Colorado.

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