By Robert J. Winklareth, Casemate Publishers, Philadelphia, PA. (2012). Reviewed by Richard P. Hallion, Ph.D The fateful encounter between the Bismarck, Prinz Eugen, Hood, and Prince of Wales at 0600 on the morning of 24 May 1941 midway between Iceland and Greenland has drawn the attention of numerous authors and analysts. It even inspired a now-classic
By Robin L. Rielly, McFarland & Co. Inc., Jefferson, NC and London, UK, (2013) Reviewed by Samuel Loring Morison The sub title of this work, A History of LCI and LCS(L) Ships in the Pacific, is a more appropriate title for the subject. With the exception of Rielly’s previous book on LCS(L)’s, very little (if
Edited by Gary W. Neidhardt. AuthorHouse, Bloomington, IN, (2013) Reviewed by Charles Bogart Editor Gary Neidhardt transcribed and annotated 115 letters that his father, Lt. Paul W. Neidhardt, wrote to his wife, Phyllis, between September 1943 and November 1945. Neidhardt, commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in July 1942, went on to serve
Hosted by the Greenwich Maritime Institute Link to the detailed draft agenda are included here.
FIGHT Colds! FIGHT Fatigue! FIGHT Weakness! FIGHT Infection! FIGHT Absenteeism! One of the more fascinating aspects of the Second World War was the use of propaganda on home front society. In Propaganda, Edward Barnays notes the limited use of the practice prior to the First World War. By the time hostilities erupted in 1914, however,
By Philip Kaplan, Pen & Sword Books, Ltd, South Yorkshire, UK, (2013) Reviewed by Jan Churchill Eminent aviation historian Philip Kaplan, an American living in Cheltenham, England, wrote a compelling book that explores the most significant aspects in the development of naval aviation over the past century. When air power became a major factor during
By Kurt Gross, Edited by Simone C. De Santiago Ramos, Gerhard Hess Verlag, Bad Schussenried, Germany, (2013) Reviewed by Ingo Heidbrink, Ph.D. The diary of Kurt Gross, a petty officer of the German navy (Reichsmarine), covers the journey of the cruiser Karlsruhe to North and South America between November 1931 and December 1932. It is
By Mark Stille, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, United Kingdom, (2013) Reviewed by Diana L. Ahmad, Ph.D. This second volume about Japanese World War II destroyers continues Mark Stille’s excellent work. Once again, the book provides many details about when the Japanese built the vessels, the changes implemented, and ultimately what happened to the ships. As with
Every November, men around the world abstain from shaving to raise awareness of men’s health issues. “Movember,” or “moustache November,” is now a global sensation, raising millions of dollars for awareness since it began over a decade ago. How does this relate to the United States Navy? Well, it doesn’t really. The growing of moustaches
By Steve O’Brien, Self Published, (2002). Reviewed by Commander Paul W. Murphey, CHC, USN (Ret), Ph.D. It was only four years in the long life of Father John P. Foley, S.J. For many of “the greatest generation,” it was the most momentous time of his life. After the arduous years of becoming a Jesuit and serving
By Ray Woods, RoseDogBooks, Pittsburgh, PA (2013). Reviewed by Charles Bogart This book might be best classified as an autobiography of Ray Woods’s service on USS O’Brien (DD 725) from 1943 to 1945. During this period, O’Brien saw action in both Pacific and Atlantic theaters of warfare. O’Brien was off the Normandy beachhead during the
