Customer Reviews

At All Costs: How a Crippled Ship and Two American Merchant Mariners Turned the Tide of World War II

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Sailing on the open ocean under the US flag was a high risk proposition during World War II and many American sailors died on merchant ships that were attached by German U boats, Battleships and bombers. War supply convoys were the only way to get material through to the forces that need it. "At All Costs" takes an intimate look at a critically important convoy. A last ditch effort to bring supplies to a tiny island fighting for life and surrounded an enemy bent on their destruction.
A ship fully loaded with highly flammable aviation fuel, kerosene, and ammunitions is dangerous in peace time with good weather. Now learn what it was like to sail that cargo through the tight quarters of the Mediterranean surrounded by fellow targets under intense enemy attack. If you can put this book down, you probably really need the sleep.

I also enjoyed Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas and Masters of the Air by Donald L. Miller

This book is not only totaly fact, but tells the real story of how and why we won WW2. I am amazed a movie has not been done atleast twice over on this topic. History teachers of America should use this book, and Hollywood should make a movie. Read this book and wait for the movie to come! An amazing book! If you know of, heard about, or read Benedict Arnold's Navy by James L. Nelson, Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas, The Terrible Hours by Peter Maas, Simple Courage by Frank Delaney, or Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney Do Not Miss This...

This is a book with a balanced view of the men and women fighting that terrible war - and the reasons for doing so! I was enthralled with the bravery, the story of a woman in the grip of the Gestapo rescuing herself and her infant son while her husband - not knowing she was trying to make her escape - was fighting in the biggest naval battle of 1942 - a battle with became the turning point of the war and spelled defeat for Rommel and the Italians, the beginning of the end. What a wonderfully written, clear and exciting book. Not your usual war story, this is for every person, not just WWII history fans.

Historians have always asked, in books I've read, "How did Churchill turn Stalin into an ally?" This book finally provides the answer. The author had access to all those previously secret documents and, in doing the research for the true story of two brave American sailors - who sort of seem to act for Roosevelt and Churchill - he came across the bigger picture, the real inside story. It is fascinating! I don't want to give it all away, but just as exciting as the page-turning epic sea battle to save the Ohio and her cargo, in the midst of all that carnage of brave men fighting and surviving (unbelievable courage by all, including the enemy!), in the midst of U-boat diary entries, secret Naval documents (60 years hidden away), and interviews with men who were there no longer wanting to hold their tongues - in the midst of all this emerges the reason for the carnage. Kind of like finding out why, after all these years, and how Rommel was stopped.
In fact, how did Churchill and Roosevelt win the war? This book has the pivot, the turning point. I really enjoyed learning the real "why" - and even with that important revelation, the fast-paced, good reading kept pace. Every page is eye-popping amazement once you read into the book. And the end... well I won't spoil it. But Hollywood couldn't make this stuff up. I thought it was made up... but they even have the telegram to prove it in the photo section! Amazing!

It was obvious that Sam Moses, as the author, was careful, caring and dedicated to the truth of the situations described, told the story in a gripping fashion, and kept my interest in the story to the end. It was a wonderful book which I would recommend to everyone.

"At All Costs" is a remarkable book--a thrilling story backed up by exhaustive research. In the "Source Notes and Acknowledgements" section in language as easy as his Sports Illustrated articles, the author tells about the two years he spent in research before writing a word. Then came a year of writing which had to be shoehorned in between his other jobs as automotive journalist, single dad and soccer coach. And I know, because I'm the author's mother. Heroism, tragedy, victory, struggle against overwhelming odds--"At All Costs" can stand with "The Perfect Storm," "Black Hawk Down," "Saving Private Ryan," any story of valiant action you want to name. Another great thing about the book is that the two heroes are merchant mariners. Men of the merchant marine were dying in the icy waters of the North Atlantic long before the U.S. entered the war, and continued to serve throughout the war all over the world. And there's a heroine too--Minda Larsen, who is as brave as any man. And a happy ending--the Ohio gets through, Malta is saved, and the good guys win.

What a great book... I got an advance copy and wish this were a movie! Robert Kurson - who wrote Shadow Divers - gives it an endorsement - as well he should... it reads like his books! Bravo!

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer although similar fail in comparison to this book. This book is a non stop thrill ride into an unexplored part of WW2. If you like war books, BUY this book!! You will never think of ww2 the same way.

During World War II Malta was an 'unsinkable air craft carrier.' It stood astride the German/Italian shipping lanes to North Africa. Malta is the place from which the planes attacking Rommel's supply ships took off. In turn, Malta was probably the most bombed small area of the war.

If Malta's job was stopping Rommel's re-supply, it was the job of the Germans and Italians to stop the resupply of Malta. This is the story of one re-supply convoy with a heavy emphasis on the story of the USS Ohio.

The book is well researched and reads almost like a novel. As I listened to the CD I was reminded of the fictional book 'H.M.S. Ulysses,' by Alistair MacLean. The poor Ohio, barely two years old at the time was torpedoed, bombed and even had a German plane crash into her. But she made it.

The recording is made by Michael Prichard. He has a long background of recording mystery stories, and perhaps that's why he reads this one so well. There was also a movie, 'Malta Story' about the defense of Malta and is available from Amazon.

This book was a different and very interesting WW2 true story. One reads about the navy and the army but rarely are there the true heroic storys about the merchant marines who braved the seas during these dangerous times. It was quite interesting to learn about the activities that went on in Norway as well. I also just finished reading Shadow Divers and was amazed to see relevent war time ativities in both books and how they had similarities. Both books will be remembered.