|
Condition Red Destroyer Action In The South Pacific by Fredrick Jackson Bell SC
Condition Red Destroyer Action In The South Pacific by Fredrick Jackson Bell
Soft Cover The back cover has some streaks
209 Pages
Copyright 1943 this Edition Published in 2017
Contents
PREFACE5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR ZERO6
AND FAR AWAY15
FROM THE BOOK OF JOB30
SHEEP DOG39
JOURNEY FROM JAVA43
CANDY CARAVAN68
WARRIORS FOR THE WORKING DAY78
THOSE IN PERIL96
DUNGAREE SAILORS121
CHRISTMAS, 40-SOUTH148
COCONUT SHOOT159
NIGHT ACTION169
BASKET179
ATTACK - REPEAT - ATTACK189
ON DUTY ASSIGNED197
LUCKY BAG208
Inside book
"Condition Red" was an expression that we used to indicate the imminence of any type of engagement. Aboard the G it was a colloquialism that served to express the conviction that the next few hours or days or weeks were going to be packed with action. We first heard it soon after we arrived in the Solomons, where the term was used on Guadalcanal and Tulagi to indicate the approach of the enemy, and when our voice radio blared out the words we went to General Quarters and prepared to greet the Tokyo Express or the Zeros and Mitsubishis when they came within view.
Back Cover
What was it like to be trapped upon a ship and constantly under threat of attack from Japanese forces?
Frederick J. Bell, commander of the USS Grayson during World War Two, dramatically exposes the mental and physical strain that his crew and ship underwent through the course of the first few years of conflict.
No stone is left unturned in Bells account, as he explains how he and his crew survived strafing by Japanese planes, navigated the treacherous waters of the South Pacific, assisted fellow ships in peril and overcame the tedious moments of boredom.
Admiral Bell takes the reader to the heart of the action which he witnessed first-hand and explains the vital role that destroyers played in the Pacific War.
They fulfilled a variety of roles, from escorting convoys and guarding Task Forces, to bombing enemy shorelines and providing much needed supplies to the army and marines fighting on the islands.
There are few accounts that better document naval warfare during the Second World War.
Tales of himself and the men, of the function of destroyers, alone and in group action, of early difficulties of poor charting, of successive South Pacific engagements, of periods without sleep, of shore landings, of coconut shoots and many a ding dong with the enemy. Kirkus Reviews
The valor that Bell demonstrated during the battle of Ontong Java in August 1942 earned him the Medal of Honor, and later during USS Graysons operations at Guadalcanal in February 1943 he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His citation reads: "When his ship was subjected to repeated bombing and strafing attacks by enemy dive bombers at very close range, Commander Bell ... directed the fire of his battery with outstanding efficiency, destroying at least two Japanese dive bombers and damaging others. Immediately following the engagement and during the night, he conducted a search for lost planes, taking his ship into enemy waters and away from the protection of friendly forces. ... He established the identity of lost aircraft and, by flashing messages, directed our planes safely to the carriers."
After the war Bell became a business executive and later at the age of 68 he became an Episcopal priest. His books Room to Swing a Cat, a history of the early American navy, and Condition Red were published in 1938 and 1943 respectively. He died at the age of 91 in Miami in 1994.
All pictures are of the actual item. There may be reflection from the lights in some photos. We try to take photos of any damage. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
Shipping charges
US Shipments: When you add multiple items to your cart, the reduced shipping charges will automatically be calculated. . For direct postage rates to other countries, send me an email. Shipping varies by weight.
Terms and conditions
All sales are final. Returns accepted if item is not as described. Contact us before making a return. No warranty is stated or implied. Please e-mail us with any questions before bidding or buying.
Thanks for looking at our items.
| 
