Cmdr. Lawson Paterson “Red†Ramage was among an elite group of just seven U.S. submariners who were awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II and the first not to die in the course of his heroic exploits. He was honored for his actions in the Pacific on the night of 31 July 1944 when he kept his submarine; USS Parche; on the surface and defiantly charged into the midst of a large Japanese convoy. Ramage's close-in; furious surface rampage became the talk of the submarine force; both in terms of its boldness and its destruction of the enemy shipping. Remarkably; Parche's crew had managed to reload their torpedo tubes while their skipper twisted and turned the boat through the chaos of machine gun bullets; exploding heavy shells; and Japanese ships trying to ram them. To tell Parche's dramatic story; author Stephen Moore draws on recently discovered wartime diaries and interviews with dozens of veterans; who add rich details to the official record. Readers learn what it was like on patrol in the Pacific to endure the terrors of torpedo attacks and depth charges; as well as learn how they relieved the stress of combat on liberty. The only book to focus exclusively on Parche and the incredible “Red†Ramage; it offers a rare; up-close look at the actions of the legendary World War II submarine; whose conning tower and periscopes are on permanent display in Pearl Harbor.
#478465 in Books 2015-06-16 2015-06-16Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.54 x 1.02 x 5.81l; .0 #File Name: 1590516141288 pages
Review
72 of 76 people found the following review helpful. WWII history at its bestBy Rick WhitakerThe Cost of Courage does two things simultaneously: it briefly and excitingly reminds the 21-century reader of the main thrust of WWII; now more than 60 years in the past; and it vividly tells the true story of a particularly fascinating; deeply engaged French family in Paris during the War. Three of the family's siblings were Resistants; and their covert and dangerous activities during the War directly caused the most dire possible outcome not for them but for other members of their family. The pain stemming from the War was so extreme that the surviving members of the family refused to speak about it for many years. They agreed to tell the whole story only because Charles Kaiser; their friend; earned their trust. The resulting book is a true masterpiece; a first-rate thriller; a book of serious historical research; and a really valuable contribution to our shared understanding of both WWII in general and the French Resistance in particular. This is a great book; and as important as Marcel Ophuls's great 1969 documentary film The Sorry and the Pity.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. TRUTH FROM THE INSIDE-OUTBy Reader. .Wooster; OhioReading Charles Kaiser's THE COST OF COURAGE plunges the reader from being a spectator of German occupation of France into inside the personal lives: emotions; human limitations; and unbreakable commitment to life; freedom; honor; sacrifice; risk for the love of FrAnce; herself. The reader becomes immersed like disease-fighting antibodies into a cancer-inflicted body settling for nothing less than preserving life; restoring total health - no matter what the cost. Common people - refusing defeat in any form - create an arsenal of Resistance networks which ultimately seriously weakens their oppressive captors. Their individual stories are astounding;. However; they chose to remain silent individually - so that "free-France" remains proof of their solidarity of purpose and integrity. Charles Kaiser takes the reader into the life death dramas of suffering; deprivation; and yet heroic acts of courage fuelled by duty to love without limits. As German occupation comes to an end in France; General Charles DeGaulle reminds all people of FrAnce and of all nations that France is not experiencing a "new beginning. They are just continuing forward in their national strength of character they have always possessed. In no way is that statement arrogant. It is humility with the highest cost of courage; resilience; and perseverance fleshed-out in people willing to make self-sacrifice decisions far beyond themselves.Would we - individually and as a nation - have these same uncompromisable attributes and character to withstand and conquer our inner challenges as well as any formidable real enemies all for life; Liberty; and the highest forms of democracy upon which America was birthed?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A beautiful and poignant image of a horrific timeBy Jade HughesDon't be put off by the fact that the book is written in the present tense. It may take a chapter or two to get used to it but once you get that far you are hooked. Kaiser's book is part story; part memoir; personal stories that have been told to him connected to actual facts and quotations to back them up and give them context.To live in France during WW2 was more than a challenge; you could resist; you could god your head down and hope for the best or you could become a traitor and collaborate. Kaiser tells the story of a family whose three children join the Resistance in Paris; of the risks they took and the legacy their actions left on their lives.This book is a beautiful and poignant image of a horrific time that we must never forget as well as a wonderful examination of human nature under duress.
