All at sea
Subtitle: coming of age in World War II
By: Louis R. Harlan.
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Urbana
Language: eng
Number of pages: 211
Subjects: Harlan, Louis R.; United States. Navy -- Biography.; World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.; World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American.; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy.; Sailors -- United States -- Biography.; Normandy (France) -- History, Military.
Genres: Biography.
Description: The tale of [Louis R.] Harlan's transition from adolescence to manhood is related memorably in All at Sea: Coming of Age in World War II. Laced with vignettes depicting the author's naval mistakes, his escapades with and in pursuit of women, and his difficulty in returning to civilian life after the war, All at Sea is a welcome change of pace from more standard, stoic tales of wartime heroism.

Harlan's frankness isn't limited to the details of his bouts with ineptitude as a young naval ensign. He also makes pointed observations about the importance of World War II compared to conflicts that have taken place since then, and about the evolution of his own racial attitudes as a product of the South suddenly thrown into settings in which he saw African Americans from a different perspective.
Table of contents: title: Ninety-day wanderer; title: Shakedown; title: A funny thing happened on the way to the Azores; title: Yank in the streets; title: The real thing; title: Do not fire unless directly attacked; title: Go to the head of the bay; title: A blue pennant she did win; title: A visit to the home front; title: Sylvia; title: Tropic of skin cancer; title: Vietnam; title: Homeward bound; title: The past as future.