Read "MEN OF POSEIDON," the true story of the daily
life, the fears and the courage of the young men aboard the Destroyer Escort
USS Rall (DE-304)
Now in its second printing!
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About the BookDestroyer Escorts were WW II’s most expendable ships and sailing on them was no "cushy berth." This book is filled with the real events of ship life – the difficulties of convoy duty, the constant search for Japanese submarines and planes, and the yearning for mail from home, a few hours sleep and a cold beer! Highly autobiographical, this book follows Dick Graves from his early involvement in the war to the day the crew said goodbye. It includes a description of the 50-year reunion of the Men of Poseidon. The book contains photos, a ship's diagram, a diagram of the Rall's fight at Okinawa, maps, sketches by Robbin Fontana, and reproductions of pages from the Ship's Log and Battle Damage Report. |
One major publisher said readers were only interested in "rip-roarin' action," but that's wrong. Dick Graves and the crew of the Rall can tell you what the war was really about. It was about protecting troop convoys and fleet oilers. It was about softball games and mail from home. Finally, it was about endless training drills and numerous calls to General Quarters.
When "rip-roaring action" did come, it was deadly. In 20 seconds, the Rall destroyed four Kamikazes and took a 500 pound bomb through the side, resulting in 21 killed and 38 wounded. There were over 500 bullet and shrapnel holes in the Rall after the attack.
