P.T. Deutermann adds another breathtaking adventure to his collection that will be sure to leave you pleased. The Last Paladin drives home heroism detailing the naval battles of legend. Deutermann leaves nothing to imagination as he vividly outlines the terror of war time combat and will leave you rooting for the little ship that could from start to finish.
We follow the harrowing tales of the USS Holland, a Destroyer Escort coming from the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific Ocean to assist in the maritime fight during World War 2. Through the lens of the Commanding Officer Mariano deTomasi and Executive Officer Ephraim Enright, the story tells of the scars that must be endured following the vicious attack on Pearl Harbor. The Holland is being reassigned to a different coast to help support war efforts and deTomasi and his genius XO Enright (who goes by EEEP) begin the daunting yet critical task of anti-submarine warfare operations. With hundred ship formations off in the distance preparing for land invasions in the Pacific theater, Holland attempts to find a Japanese picket line of submarines and prosecute them as necessary.
Bad weather, broken equipment, and never really knowing if they are being hunted from the depths are all part of everyday routine. Feeling as if they’re being left out on an island, the crew of the Holland must pick and choose their battles wisely while never failing to be respectful of the enemy. The overwhelming feeling of impending doom ebbs and flows as the viciousness of the battles they must face are captured through the lens of the ship’s photographer. Evidence being necessary to catalog combat, the true horror of war is apparent, and it shows no mercy.
Manicured procedures and well-oiled equipment are always necessary to ensure that things have a higher degree of potential success, but the USS Holland runs on coffee and cigarettes. The CO and XO must equally pursue the objective with clarity, or the crew of the USS Holland won’t be surviving.
Deutermann delivers one of the most authentic takes on historical fiction. Telling the story from both the CO and XO’s perspective adds an astounding amount of internal and external tension to the story and makes for an unbelievably great book. The ability to counter the hostility and peril that surrounds every situation is unmatched. Dramatic open ocean sea battles along with the desire from one man for vengeance lead the crew of the Holland into dangerous waters. Not only do heroism and treachery have a seat at Deutermann’s table, but the sacrifices made by the crew in what would become one of the greatest victories to ever occur during World War II.
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