Book Reviews
“Each and every ship's history adds another page and another dimension to our understanding of World War II and the America that fought it. Combat Loaded tells a
story and preserves a little piece of history that might otherwise be lost, and which indeed would have been lost if not for the indefatigable efforts of Mr. Crew. These
voices are among the last we shall hear of the World War II generation as they fade into history's twilight."—Mark P. Parillo, Kansas State University, author of
The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II
". . . an important contribution to naval history. . . . The author also does a good job of weaving technical issues in with the letters of and post-war interviews with the crew of the United States Ship Tate. He is also able to place the story and history in the larger context of the Pacific Theater, which gets less attention than the war in Europe."—Nick Sarantakes, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Gordon Campus, author of Seven Stars: The Okinawa Battle Diaries of Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., and Joseph Stilwell.
"This is a very well researched book about the men who served on our amphibious ships during WWII. The detail can't be found in any other source. It's not just the story of one ship, it's the story of all the ships that helped win the war. In addition to being incredibly well researched it is very readable and a must read of those who served, their families and those who want to learn about this part of our history."—Russ Padden, Webmaster: Amphibious Forces of World War II.
"A welcome supplement to any library of amphibious operations. It is a well-written and researched account of shipboard life during the naval operations of the Pacific campaign. More important, it is an excellent example of recent scholarship to collect and preserve the deeds of the World War II generation." U.S. Naval Institute, Proceedings.
"A scholarly, well-researched examination of a front-line amphibious transport....nicely fills the void in the history of the American navy's Second World War amphibious operations...provides insights into American amphibious doctrine that are not available elsewhere. With superb maps and photographs throughout the text, Combat Loaded is a fascinating read. It is a rare combination of a ship's history, the recollections of her crew, and an analysis of joint army-navy operations visible from her decks." The Journal of Military History
"Last night I was reading this book well past midnight. I could not put it down until I saw how the Tate and her sister ships came through a series of unrelenting kamikaze attacks. The narrative in this book is riveting. I read it to gain insight into my father's WWII experience. He served aboard the USS Ormsby (APA-49). I was particularly interested in the many first-person stories that provide windows into the lives and experiences of sailors aboard these ships. I was surprised to find how well I was able to follow the combat sequences. I usually get lost in a jumble of unit designations, but the author took great care with charts, maps and verbal descriptions so I was able to understand what was going on and why. He explained the complex choreography of amphibious assault in a way that even I could understand. It is a great read." Randy Trahan, Unsolicited Review from Amazon.com
"The author demonstrates a keen grasp of the subject and presents it in a riveting manner. [A]n interesting and welcome addition to the literature of the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific. It is the personal interjections, along with the historical backdrop, and technical nature of the narrative that makes Combat Loaded such an enjoyable read for any audience. Nautical Research Journal
"What makes Combat Loaded successful is emphasis on context and the personal side of war...It contains ample detail for students of military history but tempers the technical with the range of human emotions, from tragedy and depression to humor and pride. And throughout , the narrative flows effectively and dramatically. The book is the first for Thomas E. Crew, but given his talent for weaving details of history with complexities of humanity, it should not be his last." East Texas Historical Association
"Profusely illustrated with photographs, maps and data tables, the reader has a fairly clear understanding of what is going on during the narrative. Numerous interviews were conducted with former crew members and their spouses. The writing style flows in a warm and inviting style. Never does the author "talk down" to readers, which is always refreshing in works of history" SeaWaves Magazine 2008 Book of the Year
