Title
Descent into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941: A Navy Diver's Memoir,New
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On December 7, 1941, as the great battleships Arizona, Oklahoma, and Utah lie paralyzed and burning in the aftermath of the Japanese ttack on Pearl Harbor, a crack team of U.S. Navy salvage divers headed by Edward C. Raymer are hurriedly flown to Oahu from the mainland. The divers have been given a Herculean task: rescue the sailors and Marines trapped below, and resurrect the pride of the Pacific fleet. Now for the first time, the chief diver of the Pearl Harbor salvage operations, Cmdr. Edward C. Raymer, USN (Ret.), tells the whole story of the desperate attempts to save crewmembers caught inside their sinking ships. Descent into Darkness is the only book available that describes the raising and salvage operations of sunken battleships following the December 7th attack. Once Raymer and his crew of divers entered the interiors of the sunken shipwrecksattempting untested and potentially deadly diving techniquesthey experienced a world of total blackness, unable to see even the faceplates of their helmets. By memorizing the ships blueprints and using their sense of touch, the divers groped their way hundreds of feet inside the sunken vessels to make repairs and salvage vital war material. The divers learned how to cope with such unseen dangers as falling objects, sharks, the eerie presence of floating human bodies, and the constant threat of Japanese attacks from above. Though many of these divers were killed or seriously injured during the wartime salvage operations, on the whole they had great success performing what seemed to be impossible jobs. Among their credits, Raymers crew raised the sunken battleships West Virginia, Nevada, and California. After Pearl Harbor they moved on to other crucial salvage work off Guadalcanal and the sites of other great sea battles.
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This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Descent into Darkness'? A: 'Descent into Darkness' recounts the harrowing experiences of U.S. Navy salvage divers during the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, focusing on their efforts to rescue trapped sailors and recover sunken battleships.
- Q: Who is the author of this memoir? A: The memoir is authored by Cmdr. Edward C. Raymer, USN (Ret.), who was the chief diver involved in the Pearl Harbor salvage operations.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: 'Descent into Darkness' is available in paperback binding.
- Q: How many pages are in the book? A: The book contains 240 pages.
- Q: When was 'Descent into Darkness' published? A: The book was published on March 15, 2012.
- Q: What historical events does the book cover? A: The memoir covers the events of December 7, 1941, and the subsequent salvage operations carried out by Navy divers at Pearl Harbor.
- Q: Are there any notable accomplishments mentioned in the book? A: Yes, the book details the successful raising of several sunken battleships, including the West Virginia, Nevada, and California.
- Q: Does the book include personal anecdotes from the author? A: Yes, Cmdr. Raymer shares personal experiences and insights from his time as a diver during the salvage operations.
- Q: Is this book suitable for readers interested in military history? A: Absolutely, 'Descent into Darkness' is ideal for readers with an interest in military history, especially those focused on World War II and naval operations.
- Q: What unique perspective does this memoir offer? A: The memoir provides a unique first-hand account of the challenges faced by divers during the Pearl Harbor salvage operations, including the risks and techniques used in underwater salvage.