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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A revealing story of unrelenting war at sea,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bluejacket: In Harm's Way from Guadalcanal to Tokyo or "the Golden Gate...or Pearly Gate...By'48" (Hardcover)
John Hutchinson was a Radioman First Class during the Pacific Campaign of World War II and in Bluejacket: In Harm's Way From Guadalcanal To Tokyo recounts his experiences and observations of those dramatic times. He tells of his own personal participation in the battles for the Solomons, the Marianas, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. A revealing story of unrelenting war at sea and a sailor's contribution toward the defeat of Japan, this totally engaging military biography reads as smoothly as any novel and as dramatically as any Hollywood film. Bluejacket is a welcome and much appreciated memoir and a very highly recommended contribution to the growing body of descriptive literature on the Pacific engagements of World War II.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Among the best personal narratives of the Pacific War at sea,
By
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This review is from: Bluejacket: In Harm's Way from Guadalcanal to Tokyo or "the Golden Gate...or Pearly Gate...By'48" (Hardcover)
When this book was first recommended to me, I was skeptical. It's published by Vantage Press, meaning it's self-published by the author. Such books have no backing by a general markets publishing house, and that's often because the manuscript's quality isn't the best. Budding authors often self-publish a work that they can't otherwise sell. Was "Bluejacket" going to be another one of those?
Definitely not! This is an absolutely outstanding true tale of the war in the Pacific, told by one who arguably had more and varied combat experience than the vast majority of his peers, the enlisted men of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. This is a story that some major publisher, such as Naval Institute Press or any of several others should definitely had grabbed and promoted to the limit. It's far better than a great many that they've actually published. Not only that, but this book isn't some wimpy paperback with few pages and minimal graphics. It's a very find hardbound volume, adorned with extensive charts and photos, many in color. The fact that you can buy it used on Amazon for less than ten bucks including shipping makes it one of the best bargains I've ever seen on Amazon. My only criticism of "Bluejacket," and this doesn't amount to much, is that most of the charts are too detailed for the size of the page--you really can't make out much on many of them. Beyond that, this is a volume you'll want to put alongside the best personal tales of WWII combat at sea. Very highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars
As it was, with additional interesting facts about 'famous' figures,
This review is from: Bluejacket: In Harm's Way from Guadalcanal to Tokyo or "the Golden Gate...or Pearly Gate...By'48" (Hardcover)
BLUEJACKET, In Harm's Way from Guadalcanal to Tokyo, ISBN 053311182-X, Vantage Press, 1995, 628 pages by John A. Hutchinson, Former Radioman First Class, USN has just been loaned to me by BMCM Ed Deavors, another veteran of WW II.
BLUEJACKET is the story, from an enlisted man's perspective, of the stubborn and relentless movement of the forces of the United States through the horrendous battles leading to final victory over the Japanese military machine. And, it is one of tremendous impact because it is the account of one man's personal experiences as he participated in so many of these greatest battles of WW II in the Pacific Theatre. Not only is the story beautifully written, but the evidence of painstaking research to obtain surrounding and supportive ancillary material is astounding. It brings back numerous memories for persons who experienced the times and many of the places and incidents, and literally `brings alive' the entire experience for the uninitiated reader. Hutchinson has provided a book that is every bit as thrilling to read as some of those made into motion pictures, and a lot more authentic than, say PT - 109, the story of Jack Kennedy's experience. If a reader possibly can obtain a copy, I would highly recommend they read it, not only because they would find themselves engrossed in the story, but for the magnificently detailed history presented. Most unfortunately, the historical significance of the history presented would be lost on many Americans who notoriously know, or care, little about American, or most other, history. In fact, this loss of interest, as well as other changes in the American persona is even more markedly observable today and leads me to quote a couple of paragraphs directly from the book which explain this statement. Some of you will understand. Unfortunately, many of you probably will not, but I quote anyway: We "Hope to be remembered as the products of a different country and society from what the United States of America has become in the last fifty years. Products of a far more disciplined society with rather rigid moral and social standards to which everyone was expected to conform given how society chastened and disciplined offenders. The way of the transgressor was hard. We were taught individual responsibility, that evil is due to character flaws in the individual and not to the shortcomings of society. We were taught to depend on God, to persevere in adversity, and to take care of ourselves and our families, and not to depend on society or government to look after us." AND in explanation of some of his highly specific statements: "...while I hold strong moral, ethical, and religious beliefs, I am a very private man who usually keeps these tenets within. I feel that my relationship with my Maker is just between Him and me," An interesting read that also brings to light a number of interesting facts about America's Pacific Theatre warfare and some of the 'famous' people involved. Well worth the time. Reviewed by John H. Manhold, Award winning Fiction/non-fiction author
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