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Historical “Murderer’s Row” Photograph at Ulithi Update

We have received some updates from a blog post written in July 2012. The original article, “Looking for Assistance on WWII Ship Recognition at Ulithi Atoll,” caught the eye of David Stubblebine, a contributor to the World War II Database. According to Stubblebine, he cross examined several war diaries with a berthing chart of the

BOOK REVIEW – Destroyerman

By John T. Pigott, (2006) Reviewed by Rear Admiral Peter B. Booth, U.S. Navy (Retired) The whaleboat was deep in the water, grossly overloaded with sailors hauled from the ocean. I grabbed the oil-soaked life jacket of the sailor who would have brought our total to thirty-five, and had started to heave him aboard when

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Angels of the Airfields: Navy Air Evacuation Nurses of World War II

By Andre Sobocinski, Historian, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery   When the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) R4D broke through the clouds of volcanic dust and smoke to land on Iwo Jima on March 6, 1945, it carried more than whole blood and medical supplies for the wounded. On board this flight was a

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BOOK REVIEW – Normandy Crucible: The Decisive Battle that Shaped World War II in Europe

By John Prados, NAK Caliber Division of New American Library, New York, NY (2011) Reviewed by Captain Roger F. Jones, USN (Ret.) One of the meanings of the word “crucible” is “severe test,” and the Allied invasion of France in WW II was certainly every bit of that for each side. Prados draws on both

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BOOK REVIEW – Among Heroes: A Marine Corps Rifle Company on Peleliu

By First Sergeant Jack R. Ainsworth, USMC, Edited by Ambassador Laurence Pope (Retired), U.S. Marine Corps History Division, Quantico, VA (2011) Reviewed by Colonel Curt Marsh, USMCR Retired This small book Among Heroes, published by the U.S. Marine Corps History Division,  is a fairly quick read and well worth the effort. The book is actually

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BOOK REVIEW – Battle of North Cape, the Death Ride of the Scharnhorst, 1943

By Angust Konstam, Pen and Sword, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England (2008) Reviewed by Alberto R Savoretti MD Angus Konstam’s Battle of North Cape brings to light this forgotten engagement with balance and flair. The lack of primary sources of the German side of which there were only a few dozen survivors has made it difficult for historians to

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Marine Corps Aviator’s Wings of Gold Returned to Descendants

The Naval Historical Foundation, the Association of Naval Aviation, and the Marine Corps Aviation Association recently had the opportunity to commemorate the service and sacrifice of a World War II Marine Corps aviator, and honor the families who were directly affected by his death nearly 70 years ago. A solemn ceremony was held on 6

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BOOK REVIEW – Joe Rochefort’s War: The Odyssey of the Codebreaker Who Outwitted Yamamoto at Midway

By Elliot Carlson, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD (2011). Reviewed by Capt. John A. Rodgaard USN (Ret.) Joe Rochefort is a legend to all United States Navy intelligence professionals and Elliot Carlson’s outstanding biography finally introduces the man behind the legend. The author also lifts the veil of mythology and mystery that has surrounded the

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BOOK REVIEW – Dark Seas: The Battle of Cape Matapan

Introduced by J. E. Harrold , University of Plymouth Press, Farnham, UK, (2012). Reviewed by Joseph Moretz. Ph.D. Dark Seas is a reprint of a British Admiralty Battle Summary monograph originally published in 1950 intended for the private use of serving officers (B.R. 1736(35) The Battle of Cape Matapan). As a summary, it eschewed any

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BOOK REVIEW: The Role the USS Casablanca (CVE-55) Played in World War II in the Pacific

By Dr. Barbara G. Jones. 2010, The Edwin Mellen Press, Box 450, Lewiston, NY., 515pp. Reviewed by Charles H. Bogart Dr. Barbara Jones has penned a well-written and interesting history of the escort carrier USS Casablanca (CVE 55). The story is told using official records, personal reminiscences, and secondary sources. The author divides her account

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USS Sterett Flag From World War II Finds Its Way Home

We were contacted last month by the Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) about an historic artifact that once belonged to the Naval Historical Foundation. Commander Stewart L. Bateshansky, USN, recently assumed command of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, homeported in San Diego. He was shown a tattered 5 foot

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BOOK REVIEW: British Heavy Cruisers 1939-1945

By Angus Konstam, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, (2012). Reviewed by Charles H. Bogart British Heavy Cruisers 1939-1945 is one of a series of books Osprey has published during the last 5-years covering various classes of warships. This book follows Osprey’s standard format of text, photos, and colored artist plates. The book is divided into four

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BOOK REVIEW: Pilot Error – A Naval Aviator’s Career – WWII Black Cats to Korean War PBYs to Annapolis Professor

By Capt. Vadym V. Utgoff., NRA Associates, Annapolis, MD. (2006). Reviewed by Charles Bogart This is the story of one man’s love affair with flying. We follow the author’s path from growing up as the child of an immigrant Russian naval officer; entrance into the Naval Academy; winning his naval wings; service in PBYs in

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Leadership Under Duress: Richard Antrim and the Medal of Honor

Author Michael Mink recently contacted us about articles he writes for Investors Business Daily’s Leaders & Success page.  “Leaders and Success,” looks at great leaders of today and the past, from fields as diverse as computer technology, professional sports, and the military. Just last week, Mink wrote a story on Rear Admiral Richard Antrim. As