Update/Request on book about ship Uncle Paul served on

The Subject line of this e-mail from John Wukovits, author, was Memorial Day:

Mike:

My thoughts are certainly with you and your family on this day.  I hope that the nation never forgets the courageous deeds performed by young men—almost boys, really—Paul.  He and the other members of the crew crafted quite a tale in October 1944.

The book is well on its way to final form.  I am currently writing about the brawl with Japanese cruisers that followed their torpedo run, then will move on to the abandoning, sinking, time in the water, and aftermath.  I have already completed a first revision of the initial chapters, dealing with their entry to service, training, collection in Norfolk and Houston, shakedown, trip through Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor, escorting trips to Eniwetok, crossing the line, the typhoon, and to the Philippines.  I like what I have so far, and I’m happy that Paul plays a prominent part (along with Copeland, Stevenson, Natter, and Brady).

After I write the first drafts of the remaining chapters and make more revisions, I will compile the final list of questions for some of the survivors, mainly to obtain clarification for me as to how things worked, or why something occurred or did not occur.  Fortunately I have a nice handful of survivors to fall back on.  Adred Lenoir had been an amazing source of information, and Glen Huffman’s accounts have been very helpful.  As part of that process, I will be calling your family members about Paul.  I am fortunate to have interviewed some of your family about 10 years ago, and that information has helped me a good deal.  After receiving that information, I will revise and re-revise until I have it where I want.  Then it’s off to the editor on August 15.

Once handed in, I will work on maps and photographs.  If you have some of Paul that you think will make a good fit, let me know.  Some when he was a young kid, others in uniform, etc.  I saw some in Jim’s book that would be good.

Thanks again for all the help you and your family have been.  I hope you feel that the book I produce does honor to Paul and to the other brave men of the Samuel B. Roberts.

I extend my thoughts, prayers, and love to you and your family on this Memorial Day.

John