Personal Journals of WWII US Navy Experiences?

[Devin]

Anyone have recommendations for journals or biographies of enlisted men in the US Navy during WWII? I'm mostly interested in "day in the life" type stuff that most people would find boring as hell. Daily duties, cleaning, maintenance, occasional breaks for GQ drills and some mentions of actual combat.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks!

[John G. Lambert]

I think you will find my book does what you are looking for. Please read the reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/USS-Independence- ... 983886911/

[Devin]

I'll give it a look. Thanks.

[Rick E Davis]

I don't know if they will meet your needs, but Dave McComb was great at getting personnel stories of Destroyer-crewmen ... http://destroyerhistory.org/destroyers/writing/ ...

I also know a couple of guys (one is the son of a WWII sailor) who work the WWII Destroyer Crew Reunion circuit that may have unpublished notes/diaries. If you want I can try contacting them. I know that they are at one of those events this weekend, so it is unlikely a reply would be quick.

[Devin]

Rick,

Thanks for those links. I'll give them a look. I'm really in no hurry for any info, this is for a writing project I'm working on. Basically I know what life in the Navy was like in the early 1990s, from personal experience, and I'd like to have some early WWII comparisons.

Thanks,

-Devin

[sandy]

Try 'Radioman' by Hipperson.

I have it, flicked through it, but I haven't read it. Getting books by ordinary sailors is difficult.

I have another written by a crewman on a light cruiser in the Pacific but I cannot remember what it is called and I am not home till Sunday.

[steviecee]

I just read this and it is pretty good
Playing for Time: War on an Asiatic Fleet Destroyer By Alford

[Devin]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

[j leyland]

Pacific War Diary 1942-1945 by James Fahey, enlisted on lt. cruiser Montpelier Good book- bitches about too much extra duty.

[Felix C]

Pacific War Diary 1942-1945 by James Fahey, enlisted on lt. cruiser Montpelier Good book- bitches about too much extra duty.

Yep, very interesting when recounts non-battle fatalities. Ships not exactly workplace safe and I wonder how many total servicemen died due to non-battle injuries.

[Devin]

For anyone else interested in enlisted memoirs, check out "Battleship Sailor" by Theodore Mason. A great look at the life of an enlisted radioman in 1940 and 1941, onboard the USS California, culminating with the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was surprised (well, maybe not that surprised) how many of his experiences were similar to my own. My review of the book is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1317547608

Now I kinda wanna build a model of USS California...