U.S.S. Boston in World War II: Baked Beans Vol. 3

U.S.S. Boston in World War II, Baked Beans Vol. 3" is a major revision of "Baked Beans Vol. 3" - which is a follow-up to "A Bird's Eye View," the story of the heavy cruiser USS Boston CA-69 and her exploits during WW II. Only primary-source historic materials (documents, photos, diaries and first hand accounts) are used in this book, with occasional overview statements by the author lightly sprinkled throughout. Source materials include the ship's and Task Force Action Reports, War Diaries, Decklogs, and official Navy photos from the Boston folders at the National Archives. Additionally, sailor's notes, documents, diaries and anecdotes flesh out the story from their points of view. The author interviewed six surviving Original Crewmembers and one Officer; their stories putting on the finishing touches. The Baked Beans Series chronicles the heavy cruiser CA-69 Boston from her christening in the Fore River (Quincy, MA) Shipyard in August 1942 until she leaves Japanese waters for the last time in January 1946. The incredible story is told through the eyes of her mostly 19 year-old enlisted men's perspective. The story of the Boston IS the story of Task Force 58/38 and vice-versa. In Volume 3 the ship returns to the War in the Pacific after undergoing major repairs and retrofits in San Pedro, CA. She rejoins Task Force 38 off the shores of Japan and returns to her station in the task groups in late July. Marine Capt Norman C. Bayley comes aboard as the new commander of the Marine Detachment and is shortly thereafter visited by an Admiral and give a top secret mission: to investigate the effects and identify ground zero hours after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His incredible story is presented in his own words in this book. Armistice day (8/16) is soon followed by the Signing of the Surrender (9/2), but the men do not get to go home. The ship has been assigned to Occupation Duty - the demilitarization of coastal towns, defensive locations and hundreds of hidden caves that held arms, suicide boats, midget submarines and various bombs and weapons. The Boston left Japanese waters on January 28, 1946 and headed for San Francisco.