Brothers Down

March 15, 2019
A fresh account of a well-documented historical event, the Pearl Harbor attack, which "has never been told through the eyes of the many brothers serving together aboard the Arizona that fateful day."As Borneman (MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific, 2016, etc.) recounts, there were 38 sets of brothers serving on the Arizona when it was attacked. The author's history of their lives and the events of that day alternates between impending doom and eternal hope for survivors. The narrative gets bogged down in the necessary but inevitably similar backgrounds of the soldiers, most of whom suffered during the Great Depression. They came from all over the country and entered the Navy at the lower ranks. Most were farm boys or children of merchants who joined up to help feed their families. They were luckier than most because the Navy was happy to assign brothers to the same ship, recognizing the positive impact on morale. Of the 2,403 killed in the Japanese attack, almost half were on the Arizona; it remains the single worst military ship disaster in American history. Borneman's extensive research turns up interesting details about the history of the battleship, including the massive amounts of fuel and gunpowder that contributed to the conflagration when the Japanese bombs hit. Ultimately, though, this is the soldiers' story, and the author tells it in moving, only occasionally excessive detail. Later, accusations rose that the Navy never should have had so many ships at Pearl Harbor, but the author notes that while there were more than 100 vessels there, there were more than 100 others out to sea, and not all those in port were lost.The subject matter makes the book sometimes difficult to read--as it was no doubt difficult to write--but Borneman's broad knowledge and sensitive touch make it an entirely worthwhile experience.

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April 22, 2019
This well-organized book is a poignant look at the brothers who were serving aboard the USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941. By using the fresh approach of focusing on the family connections among the crew, Borneman (MacArthur’s War) breathes new drama into the oft-explored story of the day that ushered the United States into WWII. He focuses on 14 of the 38 groups of brothers who were part of the Arizona’s crew, describing how they represented the Navy, the country, and the lower-middle-class families whose sons joined the service seeking a path out of the economic hopelessness of the Great Depression. The research behind this work is unique; Borneman draws on the brothers’ letters home and family lore from their relatives. The second part of the book follows the sailors into the attack on the Arizona. Most of the brothers—63 of the 79—perished in the disaster, as Borneman relays in detail. The final section follows the telegrams to the families, how they coped, and the subsequent lives of the survivors, wives, and girlfriends. The moving and unusual angle, excellent research, and the prose’s clarity and emotion make this one a winner. Agent: Alexander Hoyt, Alexander Hoyt Associates.

December 1, 2018

The best-selling author of The Admirals and Polk explains that when the naval fleet was destroyed at Pearl Harbor, 63 brothers serving on the ships were killed. With a 75,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019

The best-selling author of The Admirals and Polk explains that when the naval fleet was destroyed at Pearl Harbor, 63 brothers serving on the ships were killed. With a 75,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019

With the largest single military naval disaster in American history comes an unexpected tragedy. Using primary sources, including interviews and letters, historian Borneman (The Admirals) deftly brings to life the men serving aboard the USS Arizona and illuminates the tales of the 38 sets of brothers who lived and worked together until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Placing the human story of the Arizona among the political melee that surrounded the United States entering World War II adds great depth to the history of December 7, 1941, and honors those unable to tell their tales for themselves. Offering valuable insight into an event that would eventually help shape how the U.S. military handled family enlistments throughout the war, Borneman gives voice not only to the sailors and marines of Pearl Harbor but also to their parents, wives, and siblings left behind. VERDICT An excellent popular history, this intimately researched text will appeal to anyone with interest in military or maritime history as well as those who enjoy personal narratives.--Elan Ward, Arizona Western Coll., Yuma

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.