Battleship Oklahoma BB-37 (Paperback)

~ (Author), Thomas Hone (Author), Paul Goodyear (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The comprehensive history of the USS Oklahoma from its christening in 1914 to its final loss in 1947. The authors tell how the Oklahoma served in World War I, participated in the Great Cruise of 1925, and evacuated refugees from Spain in 1936. But the most memorable event of the ship's history occurred on December 7, 1941. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Jeff Phister is a freelance biographer in Phoenix, Arizona, and an active member of the USS Oklahoma Family, Inc., a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving the memory of the USS Oklahoma.

Thomas Hone has spent his career teaching, working in defense organization and management, and is the author of numerous books on naval subjects, including Battle Line: The United States Navy, 1919-1939.

Paul Goodyear, a USS Oklahoma survivor, lives in Casa Grande, Arizona and is involved in an effort to identify the remains of the USS Oklahoma's 380 crewmembers that were buried as Unknowns. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (October 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806139366
• ISBN-13: 978-0806139364
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #232,408 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #31 in	Books > History > Military > World War II > Pearl Harbor
  #54 in	Books > History > United States > State & Local > Hawaii

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing story of a fateful ship, December 17, 2008

By	Ariel P. Flores (Granada Hills, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I too wanted a book dealing with the older US Battleships other than the USS Arizona. I happened to see this book at my local bookstore and bought it hoping to get more information about the pre-WW2 Battleships. I was surprised at how this book immediately grabbed my attention.
The first portion of the book deals with the design, building, and early sea trials of the Oklahoma. Though at times the author seems to rush the story, he traces the story chronologically. His ultimate aim of the book deals with what made the Oklahoma famous: her capsizing at Pearl Harbor. But before that fateful day in Dec 7, there was so much more that I didn't know about her. Example: The Oklahoma's presence during an earthquake in San Pedro, Ca and how the crew helped the police to prevent looting.
The attack of Pearl Harbor is the main focus of the author and covers roughly 2/3 of the book. The story is told through the lives of those who were there on board. The author fills you in with the details of the sailors who survived the attack, and mentions those who perished that day. He even fills you in with the events that made a couple of sailors on board Oklahoma the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor (posthumously). As I read the book, the author gives you in the appendix the fate of the crew on board during Dec 7. Whenever the author mentioned names I turned the pages so I can see if they survived or not. Those who did not survive, the author lists them as MIA because most who perished were not identified. This is how well written this book is: it drew me into the lives of these sailors.
I highly recommend this book. It is unfortunate that we remember the Oklahoma for her death at Pearl. This book allows her to once more live; we should never forget about her and her gallant crew.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and True to history...Very Enjoyable Read, December 24, 2008

By	Michele Eckert (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We bought this book because we both love history, and had never known much about the USS Oklahoma. This captured our interest, shared poignant stories, and filled us with a greater understanding of the impact of that fateful day in 1941. Thank-you!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Battleship Oklahoma (BB-37), November 7, 2008

By	Charles W. Schedel (Long Valley, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book rather disappointing. Although technical details of "modern" US battleships are readily available, similar information regarding the "old" battleships is not. I purchased this book hoping that it would contain more technical information than it does, most of the book deals with the experience of her survivors during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent rescue operations. In my opinion, this is primarily a "people" book rather than a "ship" book.