The U.S. Merchant Marine at War, 1775-1945

Rating:
Summary: The real stuff
Review: Bruce Felknor takes you into the real world of the merchant marine at war, drawing on obscure ship company documents and often letting the words of the seamen speak eloquently themselves. Felknor lists himself as editor of this book, yet without his fine hand and "bridges" and commentary the parts would be far less than the whole he presents. This is the real thing, folks.

Bob Frump, former maritime writer, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Rating:
Summary: The real stuff
Review: Bruce Felknor takes you into the real world of the merchant marine at war, drawing on obscure ship company documents and often letting the words of the seamen speak eloquently themselves. Felknor lists himself as editor of this book, yet without his fine hand and "bridges" and commentary the parts would be far less than the whole he presents. This is the real thing, folks.

Bob Frump, former maritime writer, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Rating:
Summary: A must read for history lovers
Review: Felknor has put together a treasure which covers the role of the Merchant Marine in war from the privateers to the Murmansk Run through excerpts and even entire chapters from hard-to-find books. For example, the story of Raphael Semmes, Master of the very successful Confederate raider "Alabama," comes from books published in 1886, 1900, 1913, and 1985. Fully 165 of the 335 pages of text cover the Revolutionary War to World War I period. Organizing convoys and strategies to overcome U-Boats and surface raiders were learned with great loss of life during the "War to End All Wars." Unfortunately this knowledge was lost by the start of World War II: due to lack of foresight and stubbornest on the part of Naval leaders (both British and American). The chapter "Inside Battles" covers this topic with great insight and honesty. While Felknor's World War II chapters cover some of the well known stories such as the SS Stephen Hopkins, there are many not so well known, but just as poignant. Fascinating was Felknor's extensive discussion of Mulberries, Gooseberries, Lobnitz pierheads, and Phoenixes -- all part of the Normandy harbor created to supply the invasion. There's much more, all very well chosen. Bruce Felknor was a radioman in the merchant marine in World War II. I highly recommend The U.S. Merchant Marine at War, 1775-1945 as a very readable addition to your bookshelf, and an excellent reference book that puts the Merchant Marine role in American history in perspective.