The Forgotten Heroes: The Heroic Story of the United States

Merchant Marine. Brian Herbert, New York, NY: A Forge Book published by
Tom Doherty Associates, 2004 .One of our regular correspondents first
brought this book to our attention, noting that this web site was frequently
cited as a reference. I looked forward to reading this book since its author
was a "multiple New York Times bestseller," albeit, known for his science
fiction novels.

The dust jacket was attractive, but confused me, since it showed seamen of
the World War I or an even earlier era. After reading the introduction, I turned
to the Bibliography and was disappointed to see our web site listed as the
"October 5, 2001 edition." This in a book with a May 2004 publication date!
Later, I found that he used our casualty figures from March 2001.

But the most shocking item in the Bibliography was the note "Only an
excerpt -- chapter 13 -- of this book was provided to me... without publication
information." The book was "Blood and Bushido" by Bernard Edwards,
published in 1997, with 23 copies available at Amazon.com and 32 copies
through Abebooks.com. The book is listed on our books page, and a Google
search brings up many references to this book. That really put me on alert,
because any librarian or bookstore could have provided the missing
information. There were other items with incomplete information. I also
noted several books which are considered "Juvenile Literature."

There are countless factual errors in this book. Poor organization creates
additional problems.

For example, in the Chapter entitled "Torpedo Run" (p. 80-81), Herbert writes
about the SS Stephen Hopkins. He has an excellent quote from a survivor,
George Cronk. Then a quote from Bill Bailey about being in the engine room.
He then states: "Among the men in the Hopkins engine room who survived a
first torpedo, the story of Third Engineer Philip C. Shera..." and continues
with en excerpt from his medal citation. In his next paragraph, he quotes
Charles Blackston about taking a torpedo in the engine room.

Here's what wrong with the above: Bill Bailey was not on the Stephen
Hopkins; Philip C. Shera died when a torpedo struck the SS Java
Arrow. Charles Blackston was torpedoed on the SS Carlton during PQ-17
on the Murmansk Run. The Stephen Hopkins was shelled, not torpedoed. The
crew list and a description of the sinking of the Stephen Hopkins are readily
available, so those errors were easily avoidable.

Herbert apparently interviewed many mariners, but also relied heavily on

video documentaries and Merchant Marine Veteran newsletters. His book
covers many interesting incidents, but doesn't emphasize the big picture,
especially the role in invasions.

Appendices to the book do a creditable job in noting the role of the Merchant
Marine during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Mexican -American
War. Inexplicably, he dismisses World War I in two sentences, by stating "the
contributions of the U.S. Merchant marine to the war were limited." He
mentions the stories of the SS Lane Victory and Meredith Victory during the
Korean War, and has an excellent account of the sinking of the SS Badger
State during the Vietnam War.

Overall, I must say: "Great title, lousy book." A much better choice -- if you
could read only one book -- would be Bruce Felknor's "The U.S. Merchant
Marine at War, 1775-1945," or John Bunker's "Heroes in Dungarees: The
Story of the American Merchant Marine in World War II," both published by
Naval Institute Press.