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Like millions of other young Americans in the 1930s, Charles Furey grew up surrounded by the images and memories of World War I, not knowing that he was part of a generation bred for another war. Pearl Harbor changed all that. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy and, for the next three years, fought in a war that transformed him, the nation, and the world. From that time Furey has fashioned this superbly written memoir that follows him from his stateside training, his service as an air crewman on a patrol bomber, his long recovery from a fiery plane crash, all the way to his poignant homecoming.

Along with harrowing accounts of air actions over the South Pacific and grim descriptions of wounded men in hospitals, Going Back includes many vividly portrayed characters and offers remarkable insight. Readers will long remember such men as Lieutenant Morrison, the man who loved writer and humorist Damon Runyon and whose small gesture forged an intense camaraderie among his crew, and Murphy, the Marine whose humor helped dull the pain of Furey's wounds. Nor will they soon forget the author's reflections on the fate that history held for him, his friends, and all those who came of age with him, or his stunning evocation of a period of great national change. Going Back provides a colorful and honest recollection of the war years and addresses such timeless themes as loyalty, humor, family, and profound loss.

Charles Furey served in the U.S. Navy from August 1942 to September 1945. He lives in California. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Poignant first-person story of young aircrewman in WWII, May 11, 1998 By  Captain B. J. Dysart, USN (Ret.) (bdysart@ids... (Springfield, Virginia) - See all my reviews Going Back is more than just another memoir of the Pacific War. First of all, this is the story not of a flag officer or pilot but rather of an enlisted aircrewman. This alone makes it somewhat unique. Secondly, this is not simply a collection of anecdotes and "war stories." Rather, this is the poignant story of the author's journey through the war from his blue-collar neighborhood in Philadelphia to the farthest reaches of the vast Pacific and back. It also chronicles his transition from adolescence to manhood. At each stage of these dual journeys we are treated to evocative word pictures of his experiences and feelings. He has an uncommon talent for conveying the gestalt of a situation-the smells and sounds of a Liberator bomber in flight, the enervating feeling of the steaming and fetid jungle, the dark loneliness of a remote hospital ward. Going Back is a far deeper book than one would expect. This is truly a case of not judging a book by its cover. As we accompany the author on his journey, we are treated to his vivid recollections of life as an aircrewman with its adventures, dangers, hardships, and camaraderie. We are treated in even greater measure to his remarkable perception and introspection. With easy language and painful honesty, he tells us a compelling tale, one well worth the reading.  Comment |