Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey

This unpretentious memoir is a significant contribution to the growing body of literature on life as an enlistee in the U.S. armed forces of WWII. Kernan joined the Navy in 1940 at 17 to escape Depression-era Wyoming. He spent most of the war on aircraft carriers: the Hornet at Midway; the Lexington, one of the first carriers to operate night fighters; and finally the escort carrier Sewanee. Kernan's pride in serving on them is evident. His description of boot camp and shipboard routines suggest that, for him, the Navy's often scoffed-at routines were a system that made sense, particularly in combat. (Nov.)