Publisher Description

Most World War II submarine stories are glorifications of war written by submarine captains about their own boats. But the USS Pampanito was not a typical submarine. The sub and its crew caused plenty of destruction, but they found the pinnacle of their honor and fame in a dramatic sea rescue. Gregory F. Michno relates the experiences of the crewmen - both enlisted men and officers - who served on the USS Pampanito.

The Pampanito story begins with the boat's construction in 1943, continues through its six combat missions, and concludes with its decommissioning after the war in 1945. The heart of the book is the September 12, 1944, attack on a Japanese convoy carrying English and Australian POWs from the Burma-Siam Railway (of Bridge on the River Kwai fame) to prison camps in Japan. The Pampanito helped sink two of the prison ships, unwittingly killing hundreds of Allied soldiers, but then returned to rescue the survivors. The crew picked a record seventy-three men from the sea.

Author Biography

Husband and wife Gregory F. Michno and Susan J. Michno are both Michigan natives and Michigan State University graduates. Greg, an award-winning history author, has written dozens of articles and numerous books, including The Mystery of E Troop, Lakota Noon, and Encyclopedia of Indian Wars. He also contributed to and appeared in the DVD history The Great Indian Wars, 1540???1890. Susan and Greg have collaborated for many years, and Susan has published several articles of her own. She and Greg coauthored A Fate Worse than Death, published by Caxton Press, and they recently completed a new book,

Review

Michno never loses sight of the average submariner's role and always keeps in focus the dedication and commitment of the Pampanito crewmen to the corporate whole - to their shipmates, their boat, and the mission."" - Carl Boyd, co-author of The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II

""An enthralling story, not soon forgotten."" - Tulsa World

Review Quote

"Michno never loses sight of the average submariner's role and always keeps in focus the dedication and commitment of the Pampanito crewmen to the corporate whole--to their shipmates, their boat, and the mission."-- Carl Boyd, co-author of The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II

Details