Great WWII Navy Memoir Book.

[VaTom]

Just finished a great book. “Crossing the Line” Have had in my personal library for at least 20 years. Memoir of a sailor / aircrew gunner who served on Aircraft Carriers beginning in 1940 through the war in the Pacific. Was on the Hornet when it was sunk. He was in ordnance and in one part tells about retrieving a case of 1911s from the armory on the ship and cleaning them up of cosmoline for the pilots and air crew. As the Hornet was sinking he ran back to the ordinance shack on the hanger deck and retrieved one for himself as he didn’t know what would happen. Brought it home on leave tucked into his uniform blouse.

Recommend for you military history buffs.

 

[smoothshooter]

Very interesting story.
Wonder what ever became of it?

 

[VaTom]

Very interesting story.
Wonder what ever became of it?

The author upon discharge in 1945 as a Chief went to college on the GI bill and eventually earned a PhD and taught English at Princeton. Passed in 2018 at the age of 98. In the picture on the books cover he is the one on the far left. He was on the experimental night mission to intercept Japanese bombers when Medal of Honor recipient Naval Aviator Butch O’Hare was lost. Chicago airport named for OHare. The author was also friends with fellow sailor Richard Boone who later was an actor best known for the Weston chracter Paladin in the TV Western Have Gun -Will Travel. A really interesting story.

 

[Chuck24]

Here’s a few from the Hornet from my collection. Another one of my hometown ships.

 

[Bajadoc]

I just put that book on my reading list, thanks Tom.

 

[hsguy]

Just ordered the book from Amazon, Thanks Tom. If you search the author’s name there he has an impressive number of books he has written.

 

[hsguy]

I bit of advice; I buy almost all my books on Amazon, the search will show the initially show the highest priced new book but scroll down and to see other options. You will find used options at typically 50% less. I buy almost all my books using that option and have never been been dissatisfied after dozens of purchases.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Just to echo John, I have quite the digital library thanks to Kindle Books/Amazon Prime.

Click-n'-read.

 

[hsguy]

I am old school, I prefer a book in hand.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My bound books are worn from me trying to expand the pages with my thumb and forefinger.

 

[swsig]

My kids just gave me these for my birthday, Ian Toll's three-volume series on the history of WW II in the Pacific, 1,800 pages in all.
That'll keep me off the streets!

 

[ameridaddy]

...Passed in 2018 at the age of 98. .

So he was born in 1920, so he was about 23 in '43 more or less when the pic was taken.
In that pic, he looks to be about 15 to me.
Dammit. I'm getting old.

 

[Rudi]

Looks like a great read.