So close to home : a true story of an American family's fight for survival during World War II
(Book)

Tougias (The Finest Hours), a writer who specializes in survival stories, and journalist O'Leary impressively render the grim early period of U.S. involvement in WWII, when U-boats wreaked havoc in American waters. During the first four months of 1942, German U-boats sank 173 vessels and lost only one. In May 1942, a U-boat torpedoed a freighter carrying Ray Downs, his wife, and two young children off the coast of New Orleans. The freighter sank too quickly for lifeboats to launch, resulting in many deaths. In the confusion, the Downs family was separated, spending a miserable 24 hours in the water before all were rescued. While not miraculous, their survival defied the odds, and they lived long and intermittently happy lives. Tougias and O'Leary alternate narrative threads between the Downses' story and that of two U-boats roaming the Gulf of Mexico, including the one that sank the freighter. Readers irritated by the breathless recreation of the Downses' intimate thoughts and conversation may prefer the diversions into straightforward history. Despite the book's melodramatic nature, readers will enjoy learning about a half-forgotten incident from the early months of WWII. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tougias (The Finest Hours) and journalist O'Leary begin their story in May 1942, when World War II was six months under way. Ray Downs was returning to the United States from his position as a manager for United Fruit in Colombia with his wife, Ina, and two children, eight-year-old Sonny and 11-year-old -Lucille. While the U-boat war had started, few were concerned as the Gulf of Mexico seemed physically far away from the conflict. The ship carrying the Downs family, The Heredia, had the misfortune to be seen by German Commander Harro Schacht in U-507. Schacht quickly sank the vessel, leaving the survivors to swim for safety in the Gulf. The four Downs survived, but only Ray and Sonny managed to stay together; Ina and Lucille drifted in different directions. After several days, many were rescued by shrimpers, and the Downs were reunited in Morgan City, LA. (Schacht was later killed in 1943 when U-507 was sunk off the coast of Brazil.) VERDICT This sad tale of war at sea ends more happily than most, and while a rather pedestrian account, gives a solid perspective of the hardships endured by ordinary people. For larger World War II collections.-Edwin Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Tougias (The Finest Hours) and journalist O'Leary begin their story in May 1942, when World War II was six months under way. Ray Downs was returning to the United States from his position as a manager for United Fruit in Colombia with his wife, Ina, and two children, eight-year-old Sonny and 11-year-old Lucille. While the U-boat war had started, few were concerned as the Gulf of Mexico seemed physically far away from the conflict. The ship carrying the Downs family, The Heredia, had the misfortune to be seen by German Commander Harro Schacht in U-507. Schacht quickly sank the vessel, leaving the survivors to swim for safety in the Gulf. The four Downs survived, but only Ray and Sonny managed to stay together; Ina and Lucille drifted in different directions. After several days, many were rescued by shrimpers, and the Downs were reunited in Morgan City, LA. (Schacht was later killed in 1943 when U-507 was sunk off the coast of Brazil.) VERDICT This sad tale of war at sea ends more happily than most, and while a rather pedestrian account, gives a solid perspective of the hardships endured by ordinary people. For larger World War II collections.—Edwin Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

Tougias (The Finest Hours), a writer who specializes in survival stories, and journalist O'Leary impressively render the grim early period of U.S. involvement in WWII, when U-boats wreaked havoc in American waters. During the first four months of 1942, German U-boats sank 173 vessels and lost only one. In May 1942, a U-boat torpedoed a freighter carrying Ray Downs, his wife, and two young children off the coast of New Orleans. The freighter sank too quickly for lifeboats to launch, resulting in many deaths. In the confusion, the Downs family was separated, spending a miserable 24 hours in the water before all were rescued. While not miraculous, their survival defied the odds, and they lived long and intermittently happy lives. Tougias and O'Leary alternate narrative threads between the Downses' story and that of two U-boats roaming the Gulf of Mexico, including the one that sank the freighter. Readers irritated by the breathless recreation of the Downses' intimate thoughts and conversation may prefer the diversions into straightforward history. Despite the book's melodramatic nature, readers will enjoy learning about a half-forgotten incident from the early months of WWII. (May)