Hidden Treasure in a Vermont Bookstore...

[Beemerguy53]

So...last week, my lady and I took a little vacation to northwestern Vermont, and stopped by The Eloquent Page, a used bookstore in St. Alban's. While browsing, I found a first edition copy of the 1942 book They Were Expendable, by W.L. White, for only $4.00!

They Were Expendable is the story of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, which operated in the Philippines in the early days of World War II. The movie, which starred Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, and Ward Bond, has long been one of my favorites, and it was very interesting to read the book and compare it to the movie.

Lieutenant John Bulkeley, the squadron commander, was awarded a Medal of Honor for his exploits in MTB3, which culminated in his evacuation of General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor just before it fell. And Lieutenant Robert Kelly, Bulkeley's Executive Officer, was awarded a Navy Cross for his own combat heroism. (Ironically, both Kelly and Lieutenant Beulah Greenwalt, the Army nurse portrayed by Donna Reed in the film, sued the producers over their respective depictions.)

The book is terrific, yet another inspirational story of the Greatest Generation...

John Duncan Bulkeley | World War II | U.S. Navy | Medal of Honor Recipient

TogetherWeServed - CAPT Robert Bolling Kelly

Kelly v. Loew's Inc., 76 F. Supp. 473 (D. Mass. 1948) :: Justia

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbC7PXhANbQ[/ame]

 

[Bald1]

Never heard of this movie. But the link hooked me. It's a gray rainy day and my wife is working so I'll search for it on tv

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Pretty well done video as a follow up to the movie:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aulG5u-x6W8[/ame]

 

[DWalt]

During my long ago youthful experience in south Florida, I met a man who had worked on the production crew of Expendible. It had been filmed on Key Biscayne. At the time, it probably passed as being in the Philippines. I once saw the movie but remember little about it.

 

[Skeet 028]

Beemerguy53. Not too many people in Md know it now but there was a company near Annapolis the made PT boats. There were a few on the Cheasapeke after the war till the early 60s. I saw 2 at one time racing?? in the early sixties when I was on an oyster dredging boat(sail)...culling oysters. The oyster boats are gone now too. oh hell...the oysters are pretty much gone too

 

[glenwolde]

Nice. I've seen the movie dozens of times I'm sure.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have seen the Movie several times.
Have been to Corregidor and seen the pier they departed from , I think.
Just amazing the Navy could keep those big Packard Aircraft Type Engines going!
They burned huge amounts of high octane Clean Gasoline!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Never heard of this movie. But the link hooked me. It's a gray rainy day and my wife is working so I'll search for it on tv

It's a gritty, dark movie, sad but inspirational. I've seen it many times over the years (I own the DVD) and every time I watch it, it fills me with pride as an American, and an even greater appreciation of the Greatest Generation...

 

[Beemerguy53]

Beemerguy53. Not too many people in Md know it now but there was a company near Annapolis the made PT boats. There were a few on the Cheasapeke after the war till the early 60s. I saw 2 at one time racing?? in the early sixties when I was on an oyster dredging boat(sail)...culling oysters. The oyster boats are gone now too. oh hell...the oysters are pretty much gone too

Well, actually, the oyster population is doing well, as I understand it. Let me hasten to add that no oyster is in any danger from me...I can't imagine eating one of those slimy things!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Have seen the Movie several times.
Have been to Corregidor and seen the pier they departed from , I think.
Just amazing the Navy could keep those big Packard Aircraft Type Engines going!
They burned huge amounts of high octane Clean Gasoline!

During the very first Japanese air attacks in the Philippines, MTB3 lost all their spare parts and spare engines. Furthermore, their gasoline had been deliberately sabotaged with paraffin wax.

The book explains in detail that they had to perform engine repairs re-using gaskets, and they had to stop every so often to clean the wax out of their engines' filters. By the time they ended operations, several of the boats could not make full power, and a couple were running on only one or two engines.

Their ingenuity and resourcefulness was almost as remarkable as their raw courage...

 

[Beemerguy53]

Fall River, Massachusetts, is home to Battleship Cove, a terrific naval museum, which I visited back in 2007. While the centerpiece of Battleship Cove is the USS Massachusetts, BB-59, there are also two restored PT Boats on exhibit there...

PT-617 and PT-796 | Battleship Cove

 

[Geeorge]

Was a good movie

 

[Rustyt1953]

The movie was bound for success with John Wayne playing "Rusty".

 

[NYlakesider]

Fall River, Massachusetts, is home to Battleship Cove, a terrific naval museum, which I visited back in 2007. While the centerpiece of Battleship Cove is the USS Massachusetts, BB-59, there are also two restored PT Boats on exhibit there...

PT-617 and PT-796 | Battleship Cove

Were going there in a couple weeks, wife got it for a fathers day present. Going on a tour bus. Been on the Missouri our last trip to Hawaii.

 

[boykinlp]

I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
Larry

 

[raljr1]

Great story. We love old book stores. Years ago I spent an afternoon in a Flagstaff, Arizona bookstore named "Dragon's Plunder".......


I am not sure that i've seen the movie. I would love to find a copy of the book.

Robert

 

[DWalt]

It is scheduled to be shown on TCM on Friday 5/26, 11:15PM CDT. Set your timer.

Looking up some history about it, John Ford is credited as being the director. But he was somehow injured early in production, couldn't work, and Robert Montgomery not only starred in it, but he also took over as director.

 

[Skeet 028]

The local library has one day a month or so of overflow books new and old...5 dollars a bag full. A month or so ago I got a great old gunsmithing/reloading etc book. Happened to be an original not a modern reprint. Also got 7 of the Hodgdon reloading magazine/reloading manuals. Sent 'em to a friend. I already had 'em. Wish I had TCM channel just to watch the movie

 

[Skeet 028]

Well, actually, the oyster population is doing well, as I understand it. Let me hasten to add that no oyster is in any danger from me...I can't imagine eating one of those slimy things! [/QUOTE

Beemerguy I agree with you...Oysters are inedible. I worked on the water for lots of years. After the age of 11 I never ate another oyster. Got my first deer and ate real meat. My father was a Chesapeake waterman and I did it too. I had to eat seafood cause that is what we had. I even liked musrat better than any fish. Believe me...the oysters are nowhere near the population they were or could be. Nice to hear they may be doing better. Those PT boats were bigger than you would think. I was surprised when I saw the first one. I guess they had to be to carry torpedoes and ply the open seas

 

[Golddollar]

Well, actually, the oyster population is doing well, as I understand it. Let me hasten to add that no oyster is in any danger from me...I can't imagine eating one of those slimy things!

Don't worry, I'll eat your share.