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Prologue: Unbehagen’s Dream
- The University of Alabama Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
C-V(G) USNR communication of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including radio electricians, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore C-V(S) USNR communications of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including radio technicians, quali¤ed for specialist duties DD destroyer DE destroyer escort DE-V(G) USNR commissioned deck and engineer of¤cers, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore DE-V(S) USNR commissioned deck and engineer of¤cers quali¤ed for specialist duties D-M USNR deck of¤cers, merchant marine, commissioned and warrant, including boatswains, quali¤ed for deck and other appropriate administrative duties D-V(G) USNR deck of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including boatswains, gunners, and torpedomen, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore D-V(S) USNR deck of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including boatswains and ships clerks, quali¤ed for specialist duties E-V(G) USNR engineer of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including electricians, carpenters, and machinists, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore E-V(S) USNR engineering of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including electricians, radio electricians, and machinists, quali¤ed for specialist duties jg junior grade LCM landing craft, motorized LCP landing craft, personnel LCVP landing craft, vehicle and personnel LVT landing vehicle, tracked (aka “water buffalo” or “amtrac”) LSO landing signal of¤cer LST landing ship, tank MC Medical Corps MC-V(G) USNR medical of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including pharmacists, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore NA Naval Aviator NAS Naval Air Station NTS Naval Training Station xii / Abbreviations SC USN supply of¤cer SC-V(G) USNR supply of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including pay clerks, quali¤ed for general duty a®oat and ashore TBF Avenger torpedo bomber (manufactured by Grumman) TBM Avenger torpedo bomber (manufactured by Eastern Aircraft) USN United States Navy, used to designate an of¤cer commissioned in the “regular” navy as opposed to a commissioned reservist USNR United States Navy Reserve, used to designate an of¤cer commissioned from the reserve ranks VC composite squadron VF ¤ghter squadron W AVES Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (U.S. Navy Women’s Reserve) Abbreviations / xiii Preface This story of the sinking of the escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56) in November 1943 is lifted from the history of the U.S. Navy’s epic con®ict with the Japanese during World War II. In recounting the short history of this almost-forgotten carrier, I have aspired to breathe life into a sixtyyear -old tale. One question that arose early on was how best to handle various portions of dialogue. I was tempted to take some poetic license and create dialogue and conversations for the crew, especially those who are no longer available for interviews. In the end, however, I stuck strictly to the facts as I could best discern them—these, I decided, were more than enough. Accordingly, anything in direct quotes was either recorded by me in an interview with the speaker—in person, over the telephone , or in the course of personal correspondence—or is quoted from the identi¤ed source. I was, however, forced to take some poetic license in describing the order in which various groups of sailors abandoned the sinking Liscome Bay, since my research did not reveal the precise sequence. Consequently , to a large extent I described departures in the order that best¤t my narrative ®ow. I hope that I have slighted no one in implying that he abandoned ship prior to any of his comrades. Foremost among those who deserve credit for enabling me to tell Liscome Bay’s tale are the ship’s survivors. Every man I contacted was extremely polite and helpful. Tim Woodham, Leonard Bohm, and Francis Daily deserve special credit for tolerating my phone calls, letters, and e-mails. ...