Bill Shrout
Presents
Click to Enlarge (B0004)
280 Pages - Soft Cover - 9" X 6"
$16.95
Order Form
AFTER the MUD
Stories of the U.S. Navy and World War II
by Bill Shrout
"Americans
that lived during World War II exhibited Patriotism that has not since
manifested itself in equal merit."
When Bill Shrout
graduated from Akron High, he left his Indiana farm home to serve in the U.S.
Navy during World War II. His
attention to detail is peerless as he tells of memories of boot camp and then
into harm’s way in the Pacific with the crew of the small amphibious support
ship, LCS (L)(3) 73.
In an early review by Commander Louis J. Mullineaux, USNR (ret.)
Notable quotes are:
“Bill was just 17 when he entered the Navy, a small-town
boy who had strong family ties and whose mother taught him his values and moral
side of life.”
“At Boot Camp he was thrown together with recruits from
all over, from small towns and large cities, and he began to learn and make
friends with those of vastly different lifestyles than his.”
“It was a revelation to once again travel through Boot
Camp and relive those events of so long ago.
The Author tells the tale in a most interesting and revealing way--it was
good to take the trip with him, reminisce and recall the good old boys who
became our Shipmates and many our lifelong friends.”
“His account of the commissioning, provisioning, training and sea trials of the 73 takes one through the evolution of a seaman and into the harrowing experience of warfare at sea. It is an exciting trip and we are fortunate he shared it with us.”
Writing
critics comments include:
“Precise in accuracy, yet poignantly fresh and
endearing--the story tugs at your heart and won’t let go until it is
finished.”
“Superbly crafted, transporting the reader from innocence
to manhood through the eyes of a young man turned sailor during our world’s
biggest war.”
“The story is a timeless work of art, a contribution to history, yet told in witty narrative style that equals the best in literature for colloquial voice.”
Point
of interest to USS Pennsylvania website viewers:
The author’s
ship was assigned to screen and run interference for the Pennsy on the fateful
night of August 12, 1945.
The aerial torpedo that hit the Pennsy was set a little shallow.
It first scrapped the hull of the author’s small ship without
detonation and then continued on to do its devastation to the mighty
Pennsylvania.