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MWSA Review
On Board the U.S.S. Boise in World War II takes readers from pre-war Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, through some of the most harrowing naval engagements of the early Pacific War. From there, the ship plays a vital role in the invasions of Sicily and Italy, providing critical naval gunfire to landing troops when distance and resources precluded effective airpower. Upon returning to the Pacific, supporting MacArthur’s army, the ship and its crew start the long road towards Tokyo, by way of Manila, to destroy the military forces of the Japanese Empire.
The author, a U.S. Air Force pilot with a graduate degree in history, uses the “log” of his wife’s grandfather, Donald “DB” Fitch, to thread through the story of the Boise. Using the wartime log of the enlisted sailor, the author is also able to pinpoint, in both place and time, other firsthand descriptions of the ship’s actions and exploits, along with detailed historical research. Through the story of Boise, a detailed account of many critical actions and campaigns emerges, and readers are given both the “big picture” and individual accounts, from pre-war to the end in 1945. Interspersed with the military action are glimpses of the life of an enlisted sailor, from exotic Pacific ports to scenes of the U.S. home front during wartime.
This book will be of interest to historians and fans of naval history, World War II history, and anyone who wishes to understand the hardships, bravery, and sacrifices on board a combat ship during war.
Review by Terry Lloyd
Author's Synopsis
The story of the USS Boise (CL-47) is one of fear, loss, endurance, fame, triumph, and pain. The light cruiser endured a remarkable career through the entirety of World War II, with a redemption arc that took its crew from the position of scapegoats to heroes, and ultimately to the vanguard of America's liberation forces.
One man, Donald "DB" Fitch, witnessed the entire conflict from his battle-station on the bridge. The ship conducted secret missions and fought at Guadalcanal, Sicily, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Through Fitch's eyes, this book relives the terrors and thrills of naval combat along with the pranks, shenanigans, and the rumors that were the lifeblood of a ship through four years of war. Fitch and his friends fought for each other and their country, and in the end, they left their mark on history.
Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—History
Pages/Word count: 235 / 100,000