Midwatch in Verse: New Year's Deck Log Poetry of the United States Navy, 1941-1946

Naval deck logs require young officers to record mundane details of a ship's condition every few hours. A U.S. Navy tradition allows the New Year's midwatch log to be entered as poetry, and this book-length examination presents verses written 1941-1946 aboard a ship engaged in combat during World War II. Historical overviews of the ships' operations and biographical sketches of the authors relate each poem to its moment in history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

Naval deck logs demand young officers to meticulously document the ordinary state of a ship every few hours, a tradition upheld by the U.S. Navy. According to this cherished custom, the New Year's midwatch log, spanning from midnight to the early hours of January 1, can be penned as poetry. This groundbreaking first book-length exploration delves into the realm of midwatch poems, presenting verses written during World War II, aboard various ships engaged in combat, including renowned vessels like the USS Enterprise and anonymous ships like PC 1264. In addition to providing historical overviews of the ships' operations, the book also includes biographical sketches of the authors, shedding light on their experiences and connections to the historical events depicted in the poems. Each chapter of this captivating anthology serves as a testament to the power of words and poetry to capture the essence of a moment in time, offering a unique and immersive perspective on the trials and triumphs of naval warfare during World War II.

Dimension: 254 x 178 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476689265