The first official history of the legendary aircraft carrier that fought in World War II and Vietnam and continues to serve as a major air and space museum in New York CityThe USS Intrepid is a warship unlike any other. Since her launching in 1943; the 27;000-ton; Essex-class aircraft carrier has sailed into harm’s way around the globe. During World War II; she fought her way across the Pacific—Kwajalein; Truk; Peleliu; Formosa; the Philippines; Okinawa—surviving kamikaze and torpedo attacks and covering herself with glory. The famous ship endured to become a Cold War attack carrier; recovery ship for America’s first astronauts; and a three-tour combatant in Vietnam. In a riveting narrative based on archival research and interviews with surviving crewmen; authors Bill White and Robert Gandt take us inside the war in the Pacific. We join Intrepid’s airmen at the Battle of Leyte Gulf; in October 1944; as they gaze in awe at the apparitions beneath them: five Japanese battleships; including the dreadnoughts Yamato and Musashi; plus a fleet of heavily armored cruisers and destroyers. The sky fills with multihued bursts of anti-aircraft fire. The flak; a Helldiver pilot would write in his action report; “was so thick you could get out and walk on it.†Half a dozen Intrepid aircraft are blown from the sky; but they sink the Musashi. A few months later; off Okinawa; they again meet her sister ship; the mighty Yamato. In a two-hour tableau of hellfire and towering explosions; Intrepid’s warplanes help send the super-battleship and 3;000 Japanese crewmen to the bottom of the sea. We’re next to nineteen-year-old Alonzo Swann in Gun Tub 10 aboard Intrepid as he peers over the breech of a 20-mm anti-aircraft gun. He’s heard of kamikazes; but until today he’s never seen one. Swann and his fellow gunners are among the few African Americans assigned to combat duty in the U.S. Navy of 1944. Blazing away at the diving Japanese Zero; Swann realizes with a dreadful certainty where it will strike: directly into Gun Tub 10.The authors follow Intrepid’s journey to Vietnam. “MiG-21 high!†crackles the voice of Lt. Tony Nargi in his F-8 Crusader. It is 1968; and Intrepid is again at war. Launching from Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf; Nargi and his wingman have intercepted a flight of Russian-built supersonic fighters. Minutes later; after a swirling dogfight over North Vietnam; Nargi—and Intrepid—have added another downed enemy airplane to their credit. Intrepid: The Epic Story of America’s Most Legendary Warship brings a renowned ship to life in a stirring tribute complete with the personal recollections of those who served aboard her; dramatic photographs; time lines; maps; and vivid descriptions of Intrepid’s deadly conflicts. More than a numbers-and-dates narrative; Intrepid is the story of people—those who sailed in her; fought to keep her alive; perished in her defense—and powerfully captures the human element in this saga of American heroism.
#5759604 in Books Lewis Spence 1997-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.02 x .32 x 8.27l; .71 #File Name: 0766100510144 pagesOccult Causes of the Present War
Review
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful. The Occult Roots of the Second World War.By New Age of Barbarism_The Occult Causes of the Present War_ by Scottish nationalist and occultist Lewis Spence; republished by Kessinger Publishing; is a book written on the eve of the Second World War which attempts to reveal the diabolical forces behind the Nazi movement and Pan-Germanism. Spence writes from the perspective of Britain; arguing that behind the German nation lies a satanic force; motivated by a profound hatred of the Christian faith. Spence notes that the ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II is a devoted occultist; whose library contains many occult volumes dealing with freemasonry and Judaism. Spence also notes that behind Adolf Hitler; a man who remains an enigma; lies a satanic conspiracy. Spence contrasts the German nation and tradition with Britain; whose Arthurian traditions of the Grail quest and chivalry he believes are far superior to the barbaric German's traditions of savagery and militancy.Spence begins by revealing the Satanic power behind the Nazi regime; showing the rise of a Satanic and profoundly anti-Christian cult through the ages. Spence shows how various heretical movements; beginning with the Gnostics; the Manichaeans; and the Bogomiles came to ape the Church of Christ in their vile satanic inversion of the Christian faith. Spence mentions the Templars and their sacrilege; as well as deriving an important distinction between witchcraft and the Luciferian cult. He argues that the Luciferian cult represents the Satanism of the upper classes; while witchcraft constitutes the Devil worship of the base and vulgar. Spence references extensively the theories of Montague Summers and Margaret Murray; concerning the diabolical influences on witchcraft and the survival of a pagan cult of witches. Spence also notes some of the more notorious and influential Satanists of the medieval period including the child murderer Gilles de Rais. In addition; Spence notes the influence of the satanic black mass; in which diabolical acts are performed with the consecrated host in an attempt to ape Christ's Holy Roman Catholic Church and its rites.Following this discussion of witchcraft and heresy; Spence turns his attention to the satanic power in Old Germany. Spence notes the influence of Germanic paganism; including worship of the deities Odin; Thor; and the sinister Loki. Spence argues that the Germanic myths are barbaric; emphasizing both the brutality of the various sagas and the _Eddas_ as well as the emphasis on bloodshed; treachery; and cunning. Spence contrasts these myths to the primitive Celtic myths which he suggests emphasize virtue and chivalry. It is from this milieu; that Spence argues has caused Germany to succumb to the satanic influence behind Nazism.Next; Spence turns his attention to the various secret societies that have existed throughout the ages in Germany. Spence notes again the influence of witchcraft; Satanism; and he mentions the Vehmgericht (dreaded; secret tribunals in which vigilante justice was carried out). Spence also notes the influence of Rosicrucianism; emphasizing its Protestant and anti-papist character. Spence also turns his attention to the diabolical nature of Illuminism and the Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt. The Illuminati actively plotted against religion; Christianity; and throne and altar. Spence references the theories of the British patriot Nesta Webster concerning secret societies and the Illuminati. For Spence; the French Revolution; the Russian Revolution; and the Nazi Revolution all constitute a continuation from the diabolical schemes of the Illuminati of Weishaupt. While the Russian Revolution and the Bolsheviki were atheistic in nature; the Nazi Revolution is outright Satanic motivated totally by hatred for the Christian tradition. Although Hitler claimed that he would not interfere with the churches; his actions betray an agenda totally at cross-purposes with the Christian virtues of pity and chivalry.Finally; Spence turns his attention to paganism in Nazi Germany. He notes the sinister nature of Adolf Hitler; emphasizing the influence of Wagner on this most un-Aryan of men. Spence shows the diabolical nature of Alfred Rosenberg; whose satanic book _The Mythus of the Twentieth Century_ is full of a profound hatred for all things Christian. Spence shows how the Nazis intend to replace Christ with a Nordic "Fuhrer figure" who is ruthless and contrary to all forms of pity and mercy. Spence also emphasizes the racialism and eugenics movements behind Nazism; frequently advocating abortion and murder. To conclude; Spence argues that a satanic source underlies the Nazi movement and Pan-Germanism. As to the source of this satanic conspiracy; Spence suggests that it may lie somewhere in the Baltic region (the birthplace of Rosenberg; the "modern Weishaupt") as the "Luciferian nucleus".Spence offers hope against the German menace by emphasizing the traditional virtues of chivalry embodied in the British empire and the Arthurian tradition. Spence's book is profoundly Christian and casts light into the satanic menace behind the Second World War.
