Shipmates : A Personal Journal Aboard a World War II Destroyer (U.S.S. Rown DD 405)-2nd edition [Paperback]

Lorraine Seeley Buell (Author), Lewis E. Seeley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2000

Patsy Ruth Miller began her film career in 1921. Through her writing you will find yourself in the magic land of Hollywood in its Golden Years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lewis E. Seeley (1918-1999) served aboard the USS Rowan during World War II. His brother, Bob, served with him and was killed when on a dark September night in 1943, the prey of a German topedo. After forty years of keeping the story of that dreadful night inside, Lewis felt the need to tell his harrowing tale and share it with his surviving shipmates. With the help of his daughter, Lorraine, Mr. Seeley recaptured that moment in his life with remarkable detail and emotional impact.

Lorraine Seeley Buell is the daughter of former destroyerman Lewis Seeley. Using tape recordings of her father's memories, she has reconstructed the narrative of her father's story of battle in WWII... the bravery and the fear, the heroism and the desperation. Mrs. Buell currently resides in California with her husband.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Magicimage Filmbooks (June 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882127021
• ISBN-13: 978-1882127023
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,135,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like and adventure novel, but it's all to real!, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: SHIPMATES: A Personal Journal Aboard a World War II Destroyer (U.S.S. Rowan DD 405) (Paperback)

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then Lorraine Seeley Buell has given us readers the equivalent of Webster's Dictionary with her book "Shipmates". This book is not just about the bonding of men on a warship during WWII. It's about a time in our history that we'll never again experience. It's a portrait of sailors, their loved ones, a destroyer, and the will to survive. A story of love, unrelenting sacrafices, courage, and fear. Ms. Seeley Buell has done an excellent job of assembling the various aspects of life at sea. From the mundane daily details, to the bloody conflicts in hostile waters from above, below, and upon the open seas. The dedication in memory of the over 200 men who parished is not overshadowed by the survivors. Certainly every survivor has his own untold story. Stories accompanied by demons in their dreams they learned to live with long after the war. For me, this is the essence of "Shipmates". This book will appeal to all those who were involved, and to those who are inspired by the feats of the indomitable human spirit. A compelling account you won't want to put down. A tribute to unsung heros long overdue!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A labor of love, July 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: SHIPMATES: A Personal Journal Aboard a World War II Destroyer (U.S.S. Rowan DD 405) (Paperback)

This book is a labor of love from Lorraine Seeley Buell and her father Lewis Seeley. They have obviously worked hard to tell the story of Lewis's nearly three years aboard the WWII Navy destroyer USS Rowan. The ship was ultimately sunk on September 11, 1943, and though Lewis escaped and survived, his brother Bob did not. During his later years, in order to try to heal himself from the recurring nightmares from this experience, Lewis knew he had to seek out the company of his surviving shipmates. He and Lorraine teamed up, and eventually they were able to track down many of the survivors, and they helped organize reunions. With the help of these shipmates, they pieced together the story of the USS Rowan. In so doing, they have given us this heartfelt book. And perhaps they have also helped others piece together their lives that were so profoundly affected, directly or indirectly, on that fateful night in 1943.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasant Surprise, November 26, 2001

By 

"aria66" (Mt. Prospect, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shipmates : A Personal Journal Aboard a World War II Destroyer (U.S.S. Rown DD 405)-2nd edition (Paperback)

Expecting a good, maybe even great, book -- I started to read "Shipmates." Within the first few pages, I was hooked and pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect the book to be as engaging as it is. It drew me in very quickly and, after that, it was difficult to put it down. It's an excellent read!

I am not a fan of war books or movies and picked up "Shipmates" on the recommendation of a friend. It's about so much more than war.
Before I knew what had happened, the first 100 pages just flew by and I was upset that I had to read some homework instead of finishing the book. However, it was too good not to be finished and called me back to it.

In addition to enjoying the characters and the plot, I also enjoyed learning more about World War II and our Navy's history.

Two thumbs up!