Steadfast Compelling firsthand accounts of two parallel journeys in World War II

A newly-commissioned naval reservist, Al was a novice in military life when he departed his San Diego home for indoctrination training.
Through letters to his wife and others, Al reveals the highs and lows, the droll and the drama of his time on one of the navy's smallest ships as it zigzagged across the Pacific-first as a convoy escort during the waning months of 1944, then as a minesweeper during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945, and finally as a patrol ship during demobilization at the end of the war, clearing mines to secure the way for ships bearing occupation troops.
As these historic events unfold, the correspondence between Al and his wife provides a captivating narrative of an ordinary couple's relationship as each adjusts to realities of separation and war. From humorous anecdotes about mishaps on board to the moment when news of Japan's surrender reached the ship, readers will get an unprecedented look at life during one of America's most historic periods.