Swabby By: Jack Haberstroh, Ph.D. (701 pages, photos, drawings) Reviewer: James Healy Overall Rating: Four Stars--Highly recommended. An excellent book. Dr. Jack Haberstroh served aboard the USS Gregory (DD-802) late in World War II, followed by time aboard the Antietem (CV-36). With a background in journalism and mass communications - including teaching at four different universities - he has professionally compiled the personal recollections of some 250-plus enlisted sailors from the World War II era. It took him 2-1/2 years to generate this first volume, and despite the difficulty, Haberstroh suggests there could be a second volume. When I received the 5x8 700-page book, I wasn't sure I could appreciate it. There's no "story" here. Was I wrong! The whole is indeed the sum of its parts, and the navy was (and still is) the sum total of its enlisted personnel. The recollections range from just a couple of paragraphs, to several pages for those more gifted or interested in writing. The reader will of course immediately begin to compare each vignette with his own navy experiences - easier, funnier, scarier, or much the same as one's own. Some of the more common threads in these recollections include: Struggling with hammocks; seasickness big time; lots of "raisin" bread consumed; floating mop handles identified as periscopes; "fire-boats" circulated through the toilet troughs - while in use; warm beer rations; and "when the 20s went off, you knew they were close." There is (was) a surprising amount of animosity expressed towards many officers, and "rank has its privileges" seemed unearned and unjust - especially at the start of the war, when things were going badly for the US Navy.  Leadership was suspect. (Battleship sailors seemed particularly annoyed by the status afforded officers.) Another interesting and very common thread to these stories is the amazing number of 17-years olds (and a few even younger) who joined up, learned "on-the-fly" and eventually championed over the greatest challenge ever faced by the US Navy. To complete the picture, there is an introductory comment about what happened in each swabby's life following the war. Sailors from all eras, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War, right up to active duty will enjoy this hard-to-put-down anthology about ordinary people who happen to be swabbies once during a time of crisis for America. Availability: Contact::  Jack Haberstroh, Ph.D.                   15625 Avenida Alcachofa, #H                   San Diego, CA  92128 Please indicate if you would like to have this autographed. If you would like a special inscription, please indicate this with your order.