Description
by James Maynard
“For Honor and Love” is a gripping story of World War II on the home front in Oxford, Ohio, the home of Miami University, and in the Pacific aboard a U.S. submarine. On December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based aircraft, without warning, suddenly attacked Pearl Harbor, a day that became known as the day of infamy. Those two hours over Oahu changed the lives of all Americans, including two young Miami students who had fallen in love. He joins the Navy and serves in submarines, the first to take the attack to the enemy. She remains at home in Oxford and becomes a reporter for The Oxford Press and tells the story of how America went to war at home. It is an engaging story of honor and love based on historical events that will keep you turning to the next page.
T.S. –
I first heard of this book, “For Honor and Love,” in the fall Miami University NROTC Alumni News. I have just finished reading and thoroughly enjoying the book.
A little background: I entered Miami in the fall of 1946, 17 years old, and without serious thoughts about what to study or what to do with my life. I heard about a new program – called NROTC – the government would provide books, tuition, and $75 per month, and then a commission in the regular Navy and a chance to spend two years seeing the world after graduation. And on top of that were the summer cruises to exotic places. It was irresistible. And the program was so new and unknown that the standards for admission were not very tough and I easily qualified. It was a wonderful opportunity and one of the best decisions I ever made was to join.
I graduated on June 12, 1950, and on June 20 reported aboard the USS Goodrich (DDR-831), innocent and bright-eyed. By the time my two years ended I considered myself among the old salts. It was a wonderful experience, including two cruises with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean – the Goodrich was where I grew up.
It was fun to read about so much from my past in an enthralling novel. Tuffy’s toasted rolls, McGuffey Hall, the Beta House (where I spent many happy hours and lived during my senior year), Elliot Hall (I lived in Elliot or Stoddard – I can no longer remember which), the Miami Student, Lewis Place, and so on. And the many submarine expressions which remain embedded in my brain after more than 65 years: “Clear the bridge, DIVE, DIVE,” “Blow negative,” “Green board, pressure in the boat,” “Open the outer doors,” the captain screaming “Get me up!; get me up!,” and on and on. And I am sure that most readers shared my reluctance to put the book down; I was eager to see what was going to happen to everybody when the novel came to its inevitable ending.
The author has written a fascinating story that has encouraged looking back and reliving many very fun years.
-T.S., Dayton