Customer Reviews

Forgotten Tragedy: The Sinking of Hmt Rohna

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My dad is a survivor of the sinking of the ROHNA. He never talked about it, I think it was too overwhelming for him, and now he is attending reunions and talking, but before that all my sisters and I had was Carlton Jackson's book. It gave us the story he had difficulty telling us. I was overwhelmed and shocked at how lucky he was to be able to swim, and the hell he went through. He was even scheduled for KP on the day of the hit, so I'm glad he wasn't in the kitchen area. Thank you, Carlton, for the story, now if more people could find out on A&E or the History Channel before they are all gone, there are only about 230 men left and they are ages 77-80. Let's go people. These men were heroes! Thank you

I have done a study of this tragedy over the last 10 years due to a man from the area being lost on the HMT Rohna. I saw his Memorial plaque on the wall of our church for years and years but knew nothing about the man or his death in World War II. I did see a newspaper article about 1993 which explained the sinking of the HMT Rohna, the cause for sealing the records, and the release of the sealed records. But this book shed light on the details of the German attach and sinking of the HMT Rohna. I am the historian of Gloucester Township, Camden County, New Jersey and President of the local historical society and I wanted to know all that was to be known about this event in history.

Melvin S. Firth

This is a story that has been long over due. It covers the attack and sinking of HMT Rohna, a British troop transport of WWII that was packed with American GI'S. The ship was sunk by a German aircraft firing a 'guided bomb'. This instrument of death was in the process of development by the British and the Americans at the time, but the Germans had won the race.
It is a compelling story of death, destruction and survival. Over 1,000 American soldiers lost their lives due to the actual attack on the ship and the subsequent time in the water.
The 'tragedy' was not only the loss of lives, but the cover up of both the British and American Governments.
I found this especially interesting because of two events in my own life. First, " I was a crew member of the USS Navarro APA215 during 'Operation Autumn Gold" (also known as SHAD Project 112)in 1963. This also was covered up by our government until CBS news broke the story in September of 2000.
The second reason I hold such personal interest in this book is that I have spent time with a wonderful man that was a survivor of the sinking of the Rohna. He has inscribed the following words in my copy. "Present to Mr. Ray Mullen from S/Sarg Raymond Alvarado survivor of His Majesty H.M.T. Rohna sunk Nov 26 1943 God Bless America." (exact words)

Carlton, I know you are on the mailing list for the Torch of Remembrance Mile Hi Salute quarterly newsletter. So you know that I let over 800 (42 in foreign countries) people (mailing list) know about your book. My plan is to get to know how to use the Internet because I want to send the quarterly newsletter out on it, under the HMT Rohna Web site. Is there such a Web site? Please contact me at peach2drew@aol.com if you can help me out on this. Thank you, Carlton for writing history ignored, the sinking of the HMT Rohna. The goal, for the Torch of Remembrance is to erect a National Memorial Monument in Denver, Colorado, to honor all the HMT Rohna victims and 236 survivors, of the almost 2,000 soldiers. We are meeting with Colorado Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell in two weeks to show him the design. He said he wanted to help us. Waiting for you response. Thanks again..