The Depths of Courage

Chosen by WWII History magazine as one of the Best Books of the Year.

In the dark days after Pearl Harbor, the small, illequipped arm of the Navy known as Submarine Force would stand between the shattered U.S. Pacific Fleet and the might of the Japanese Navy. Unfortunately, the spirit and courage of the Submarine Force is being forgotten as the veterans of that force pass into history.

To preserve their heroic tales of war beneath the sea, critically acclaimed author and military historian Flint Whitlock, in collaboration with decorated World War II submarine veteran Ron Smith, set out on a journey of more than two years to interview submariners and to record their accounts before the memories of their endeavors are lost forever. These are their stories.“A lively account of wartime U.S. Pacific submarines…a rousing good read.”—William Tuohy, author of The Bravest Men
 
“Only submariners understood the fear, hardships, and rewards of serving in such a specialized branch of the wartime navy. [This] powerful book ensures that readers will now comprehend some of that.”—John Wukovits, author of One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa
 
“The depth of [the authors’] scholarly research is evident in the fast-paced narrative, relating vignettes of the mundane, the heroic, and the harrowing in the U.S. Navy of World War II. Together, these outstanding authors have provided an eloquent voice to the ‘Silent Service.’”—Michael E. Haskew, editor of WWII History magazine