Overview
Thousands of cargo ships sailed in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II manned by young men who braved blockades, torpedoes, and bombings to deliver vital supplies to the Allied forces and make victory possible. These mariners have received little if any credit; they are the forgotten group of 'the greatest generation.'""""Merchant Mariners at War"""" offers firsthand accounts of the wartime experiences of veterans who graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - the largest supplier of ships' officers in WWII. Gathered over more than a decade at the academy in Kings Point, New York, the interviews offer a unique portrait of the young officers who delivered the vital war materiel and provide a valuable window into the world of the merchant marine during WWII. The stories often include startling accounts of privation and endurance.Their stories give voice to a new perspective on WWII maritime history. The chapters cover such subjects as Liberty ships, U-Boats, the Battle of the Atlantic, D-Day, the Philippines, the vast Pacific, and the Murmansk Run. Throughout the book, interesting anecdotes from the veterans enliven the narrative and add to its contribution to the historical record - heretofore non-existent.It offers rare, first-hand accounts of World War II.
Full Product Details
Author: George J. Billy ,
Christine M. Billy
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Imprint: University Press of Florida
Dimensions:
Width: 15.60cm
, Height: 3.30cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.665kg
ISBN: 9780813032467
ISBN 10: 0813032466
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 07 September 2008
Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
General
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Awaiting stock
The supplier is currently out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out for you.
Reviews
A valuable source for maritime scholars, persons interested in World War II and the war at sea, and WWII veterans, particularly the merchant marine community. An important contribution to the field of maritime history. - Robert M. Browning Jr., chief historian, U.S. Coast Guard An epic account of survival against the enemy and the elements of nature. - Gene Allen Smith, series editor
"A valuable source for maritime scholars, persons interested in World War II and the war at sea, and WWII veterans, particularly the merchant marine community. An important contribution to the field of maritime history. - Robert M. Browning Jr., chief historian, U.S. Coast Guard """"An epic account of survival against the enemy and the elements of nature."""" - Gene Allen Smith, series editor"
Author Information
George J. Billy is chief librarian at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the author of Palmerston's Foreign Policy: 1848 and the annotated bibliography Sources of Information in Transportation, Shipping. Christine M. Billy, formerly assistant to the public information officer at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
