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Summary
The
mighty battle action fought between an American destroyer and a German U-boat
north of the Azores Islands in late October 1943 has been called the most spectacular
surface battle since the days of John Paul Jones. Robert A. Maher was a young
sailor who served on the Navy destroyer USS Borie DD215 in that battle,
and his personal account of the war culminates in this decisive battle.
As a leading fire-controlman and gun director pointer, Maher was
stationed immediately above the bridge, where he had a clear view of events throughout
the battle. In his nighttime action, the Borie rammed the German U-boat
and became lodged across it. The crews of both ships opened fire at point-blank
range with small arms and machine guns. The Americans were victorious, but the
Borie was badly damaged and had to be abandoned.
Sailor's Journey into War is also the story of young men taken from the comfort
of their families and hometowns and cast into a war of unimaginable proportions.
Like other young servicemen, they learned their jobs and went into combat with
determination and often great courage. The book opens a window into the daily
lives of Navy enlisted men and accurately reflects their attitudes both as raw
recruits and as seasoned sailors at the end of the war.
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