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Summary: Slow going with a reward for persistence
Review: During the 2nd WW, I spent a good deal of time selling newspapers in the days before vending machines took over. I now live in Huntsville, Al. so thought I should read something by this author,who is best known for "Rocket Boys." However,when I came across this title, I decided to go with U-boats. It was a subject which had great news exposure in the papers I sold . Well I never realized how close the sea war really was to our shores in the early going. This is an well documented account of Nazi sub activity which was apparently kept quiet at the time. As a matter of fact there are so many accounts of ship sinkings that I almost gave up reading Torpedo Junction; rather like having to endure a losing football team for several seasons. This all changes at about p.200 when Hickman proceeds to give a most exciting account of a battle twixt the 'Icarus'(coast guard cutter) and U-352 which was the first German submarine sunk by our side . If you are interested in this aspect of the war which was a critical effort in which we were losing badly, this is your book. For those who like their desert first, start on p 200 of the paperback edition. If you are a "senior" like me get the nore expensive edition with larger type!
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Summary: Don't miss it if you like WWII history
Review: Homer Hickam and I have something in common: we're both from the same area of West Virginia. What we don't have in common is the ability to write: he can.Most are familiar with Rocket Boys and the movie it spawned, October Sky, but few know that Homer has such an interest in U.S. history. This book makes it clear that Homer can weave a tale no matter what the subject. As an avid amateur U-boat historian myself, I found this account of this little-known part of WWII fascinating. He tells of the brave sailors, airmen, and civilians who succeeded in ending Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz's reign of terror along the East Coast of the United States, when his U-boats attacked Allied shipping in plain view of swimmers on our Atlantic Coast beaches. A battle that was only fought half-heartedly in the beginning finally reached a successful crescendo when our military leaders realized that the only way to end the terror was to devote the resources to the effort. This story is that of brave Coast Guard and Navy officers and crewmen who fought against overwhelming odds, eventually enacting such a heavy price from the Nazis that Doenitz brought his campaign to an end. Hickam is to be commended for remembering and memorializing this critical time in our war effort.
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Summary: A great book for any military history enthusiast
Review: I had never read anything about WWII submarine warfare, but I was very familiar with the author's other titles. As a history buff I found this to be a very interesting and informative book. The detail of the U-Boat operations and the U.S.'s attempts to defend it's waters was excellent. I was particularly struck by the humanitarian(relatively speaking) treatment that the various sub skippers and their treatment of crews that had abandoned ship. I highly recommend this book for any history buff, particularly WWII buffs.
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Summary: This is the true story behind The Keeper's Son
Review: I read Hickam's The Keeper's Son first then noticed in the back where he mentioned writing this book, too. It is the true story behind The Keeper's Son and what a story it is! Like the other reviewers, I never realized the tremendous damage the u-boats caused along our shores. The book, Hickam's first, is written with such skill, it seems like you're right there on those little cutters or the con of the u-boats. High recommended for all those interested in World War II or true sea tales.
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Summary: This is the true story behind The Keeper's Son
Review: I truly had no idea the extent of what the US faced off of its shores. Hickam's account is eye-opening to say the least. Before I read this book I had little-to-no interest in U-Boats or the struggle the found themselves engaged in. Hickam, pulled me in, kept me up late, and made me buy more books on U-Boats. A great book overall.
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Summary: Another Grand Slam for Homer Hickam!
Review: In the 1940's, an entire war was fought within sight of America's East Coast, and most of America never knew it. In `Torpedo Junction,' Homer Hickam brings that war alive. Put out to sea with the men who fought, and bled, and died, defending America from a threat we weren't even aware of. This book is more than a history of America's coastal war with Germany; it's also one hell of a great read.
Jeff Edwards, Author of "Torpedo: A Surface Warfare Thriller"
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Summary: Fascinating historical page-turner
Review: The only dry part to this book I saw was a necessary review of World War II U-boat activities up to December 1941. After that, with the arrival of the U-boats off New York and then the bloody carnage off Hatteras, this book is a gripping, bloody true tale of American and British courage on the high seas against a determined German onslaught of the American coast. Read it for knowledge and for its fascinating personal stories of seamen at battle. You'll feel like you've also rode on the deck of the little coast guard cutters as they battle the U-boats and, at the end, you'll never forget the unsung heroes who fought and died so close to our shores.
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Summary: If you like Adventure, War, and Good Writing
Review: this book is for you. Homer Hickam is an exceptional writer and a great researcher. This true story reads like an exciting adventure novel. It focuses on the tiny coast guard cutters that fought the German U-boats that attacked the American east coast during World War II. Thoroughly documented, the reader will be introduced to a huge, bloody battle that took place just off American shores (including the Gulf coast). This is the same Homer Hickam who wrote October Sky and The Coalwood Way. He actually dived on the U-boat wrecks and the freighters and tankers he writes about. Highly recommended for the World War II buff or if you just like adventure books. Every bit as good as The Perfect Storm. It reminded me of that book.
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Summary: An excellent history about the U-Boat wars
Review: Torpedo Junction was an area off the eastern coast of the United States. During World War II, a handfull of German U-Boats sunk more tonnage than the Japanese fleet sunk in the pacific. War material being transfered across the ocean was the target and many items were lost. In the first days alone, one U-Boat sunk just under ten transports before returning to reload.
This part of the war is largely unknown, but played a crusial part in the war.
Homer Hickam wrote out this book wonderfully, making it seem if you were right there with the submarine commanders in battle. What I found interesting about the book is the detail and accuracy of the book. Hickam used sources from the commanders to military officials to write this, providing a complete and accurate history of the U-Boat wars.
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