I can second this as I just happen to be rereading AAB now. It is certainly not a book meant as juvenile fiction as another lister
mistakenly wrote. Its accounts of battle casualties, death, sex, personal hygiene of certain crew members, and psychological issues makes
it an adult read.
It is an excellent account of combat loading and unloading of an APA and its boats (LSTs). It makes me realize that Clancy, Herman,
Griffith, etc did not invent this genre, rather they assumed the mantle of Ken Dodson.
If nothing else, read it to learn about a very large military vehicle.
TED
Jim Allen wrote:
> The movie to which you are referring is the 1956 "Away All Boats." It's
> the story of a Navy APA (Attack Transport). These ships carried LCVPs,
> a few LCMs to carry troops (about a battalion, as I recall) and equipment
> ashore. In the story, the Belinda is hit by several Kamikazes. Listing
> heavily and unable to steam, she is taken under tow by her landing craft.
> It's a pretty good movie based on an outstanding book of the same name
> written in 1954. I'm proud to say that the author of the book, Ken Dodson,
> was a friend, though it was late in his life that we became friends. Much of
> the story is true, based on his experiences aboard the U.S.S. Pierce (APA
> 50). He was the real "MacDougal." The Pierce completed nine major assault
> landings in the Pacific. The Navy thought Dodson's book
> was so good that they made it required reading for commanders of ships
> engaged in amphibious operations.
> <snip>
> The Naval Institute Press recently republished "Away All Boats" in
> hardback. I'm told it's required reading a the Naval Academy. It was, by
> far, the best of his six books.
>
> Jim Allen
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