Proudly We Served : The Men of the USS Mason (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Up until 1942, admission of black Americans to the U.S. Navy was limited to slots as cooks or waiters. This book tells the story of the USS Mason; all of the positions of enlisted service were held by African Americans and the ship served as a convoy escort on six occasions across the Atlantic during World War II. Kelly presents the early lives and motivations of 10 or 12 of the young sailors and follows them through their enlistment, time in boot camp, getting rated, and selection for duty on the Mason. Thereafter, she details the commissioning, shake down cruise, and convoy action through to the decommissioning at the close of the war. The photographs and actual commentaries of the men; their reminiscences; and letters, diaries, and photographs add immediacy. Their careers to the present are also included. Like the stories of the Civil War black regiments, the Buffalo soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the like, this account covers a period of history that made great demands on an underrated portion of the citizenry and opened opportunity to full equality.?Frances Reiher, King's Park Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In another worthwhile addition to the history of both World War II and the African American role in the navy, Kelly tells the story of the Mason, a destroyer escort commissioned with white officers and a predominantly African American crew. The ship performed a variety of duties, particularly in Atlantic convoys, entirely creditably, while her crew battled weather, supply shortages, the Germans, official indifference, and the outright racism manifested both in the U.S. and abroad. That the Mason experiment in race relations took so long to bear fruit in terms of equitable treatment for African Americans in the U.S. Navy reflects little credit on that service. Rather, the Mason`s record reflects great credit on the men who manned her and who here have their story told for the first time. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557504660
• ISBN-13: 978-1557504661
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #795,894 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice history and of special interest to me, July 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Proudly We Served: The Men of the Uss Mason (Hardcover)

My father (Wm.H. Farrell) was one of the officers on the Mason. He was the Engineering officer. When I was a kid, he "regaled" me with stories about the ship and crew. His favorites were the dog that got tossed into the drink off of Newfoundland, the big storm the ship experienced in I believe '44, and the time they were in port in the Azores and woke up to find a German submarine berthed near by to them. He thought very highly of the 1st Captain (Binford?). I think in general, he was pleased with the effort that Mary Kelly gave to this book. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I found out that the crew was black Americans. My father was always interested in the ship first (and especially the engine room!) and never distinquished crew members to me by their color.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kelly finds forgotten heroes then lets them tell their story, July 15, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Proudly We Served: The Men of the Uss Mason (Hardcover)

Mary Pat Kelly's Proudly We Served strikes an important balance. She successfully weaves the narrative with the men's own words, which are poignant and powerful. The battles they faced on shore with racism and with the US Navy were as tough as facing German U-Boats in the Atlantic. This book is vital because it points to a significant historical event that even naval historians aren't familiar with: the only African American crew on a US warship in WWII

4.0 out of 5 stars A look at the Navy and racism of yesteryear., March 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Proudly We Served: The Men of the Uss Mason (Hardcover)

Although this book covers a very interesting time period and the story of the men USS Mason, it lacks readability. The tool of letting each person tell his story at each phase of the action leaves the book disjointed and hard to read. Historically it is wonderful and that Ms. Kelly told this story is admirable but this is not the way to do future books. The history and subject of this book make it a must read despite the disjointed story telling.