Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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!

I usually avoid war novels. I do not enjoy re-visiting the past terrain of man's inhumanity to man, however SHIPMATES is a healing journey not only for the people in the book but for the reader as well. Vivid imagery and beautifully crafted words lift us from the agony of remembrance to the soaring heights of redemption, and ecstatic joy. As Lewis Seeley is released from his own pain and guilt, so is the reader. I experienced gratitude for the cessation of Lewis' tormenting nightmares. SHIPMATES is an engrossing, magnificient tribute to all who have served in battle, and is an enlightening documentation of the challenges they face before, during and after a war.

If you have ever been to sea, you won't want the story to end. If you have been in the same area at about the same time, this little book brings it all back Read it slow!

This is a well written and carefully researched account of the history of USS Rowan, from the early 1940's (before the U.S.declaration of war)through her sinking by Nazi submarines off the coast of Italy. The story is told chiefly by Lewis Seeley, who was Ship's Cook First Class at the time of the sinking, but reveals familiarity with a broad spectrum of the activities that make up everyday life aboard a fighting destroyer. Anyone having an interest in Navy matters would enjoy the tale, but I found it especially revealing because I later served with Lewis Seeley aboard another destroyer, just after the war ended. Then Chief Commissary Steward Seeley was every bit as conscientious and thorough in performing beyond his assigned duties aboard that ship as was revealed in the Rowan story. Yet he kept that story to himself the whole time I knew him. I'm glad that he now has revealed it and I salute him for all he has accomplished

The technical accuracy of the author made this compelling reading for those of us who have served aboard warships and know the lexicon, routines and emotions experienced. Although a generation later many technical and technological changes had taken place for me, this book deftly shows that shipboard loyalties, fears and friendships remain the same for all shipmates. The book also helped those of us who came back to once again remember and appreciate the sacrifice of those who didn't.

Since receiving this book, I have not had the chance to set down and read it. However, this book is about the night the U.S.S. Rowan (spelling on title link is wrong) DD-405 Destroyer was attacked and sunk. My grandfather Ray Edward Cole (known as Pappy by his shipmates), was one who perished that night. My uncle, John Cole, was rescued, but relived that awful night every day of his life. I commend the author and his family to putting this to paper. I know that I will enjoy it. I do wish I had a copy of the cover photo to see if my grandfather and uncle are in that picture.

You've read the glowing reviews that other readers have posted here, and they capture so much of my own experience with this engaging, well-told story. This book brought a needed closure to so many people who were directly affected by the events it depicts so well. But its timeless story also ripples through so many other lives, and likely will for many years to come. In my own case, my father began his career at sea as a cadet in the US Merchant Marine during that war, but he always had very little he would say about his experiences of those turbulent days. My heartfelt thanks to Ms. Buell for giving me such a poignant glimpse into my father's times...

"Shipmates" is a sad but lovely sea story about two brothers on a destroyer. I could hardly put it down. In Norfolk, Virginia, whre I grew up in the 1920s, mentioning the word "sailor" brought mixed reactions. Lorraine Seeley Buell's poignant story of the wonderful men who manned the USS Rowan in WW II erases any bias I might have retained from those days. A very penetrating book that deals with personal loss in a most understanding way.