Sailor Jack

Surviving the sinking of his ship, the U.S.S. Houston, on March 1, 1942, and making a 10-½ hour swim to the beach on Java, is only one of Jack’s exciting adventures. As a small boy on cattle ranches in Southern California, he attended one-room schools. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, he joined the U.S. Navy. He thoroughly enjoyed the travels until his ship was sunk and he became a Prisoner of War of the barbaric and cruel Japanese. With only the strong will to life, a good sense of humor, and the Grace of God did he survive 3 ½ years of Hell Holes. After the end of World War II, he remained in the U.S. Navy, and with diligent study he advanced up through the ranks to become a Commander! He was assigned as Chief Engineer on his last two ships that were Aircraft Carriers. Before and after the war, he had many compelling romances, lots of rollicking fun, and real exciting adventures enough to last two life times.

This book explores American maritime world, including cursing, language, logbooks, storytelling, sailor songs, reading, and material culture.

Micah Hartman and Damon Hall first meet in the frontier river town of Reeds Landing, Wisconsin in the 1850s. Micah, the son of one of the towns leading lumbermen, embodies the West but seeks more from his life than the perpetual cycle of lumbering. Damon, educated at Harvards Divinity School, comes to the Landing an idealistic young cleric seeking to do Gods will. Despite what they may have planned for their lives, the Civil War gives them different paths to tread. The old friends are united as members of the Seventh Wisconsinsoon to become part of the famous Iron Brigade. Micah, an infantryman, and Damon, the Sevenths chaplain, are forever changed inside the crucible of combat where they are forced to face wars death, pain, and suffering. After the war, life continues. The men find wives and dream of children. Young men become older men; older men discover regret. It is only after forty years at each others side that the truth comes out. An aged ledger appears that casts a shadow of doubt on the integrity of one of these men, and that shadow could forever darken a lifelong friendship.