Tommy: A World War II Novel

Based on interviews conducted with the author’s father, this fictionalized account brings to life the true character of a man involved in the battle of Ten-Go, a Japanese kamikaze naval offensive. In the aftermath of the battle for Okinawa, Tommy has utterly changed, just like everyone else on board the USS Bataan. As a lieutenant commander and expert navigator, Tommy has long understood the horrors of this war and he has spent his military career battling both the enemy and the brass. With mathematical genius he has challenged military procedure, refined naval ballistics, and exposed flaws in U.S. antiaircraft firing strategy. And although the battle of Ten-Go resulted in an Allied victory, the death toll was high and Tommy’s best friend is among them. This is the story of a brilliant though reluctant warrior, a man who would go on to great success in industry but would gladly give that success up to change the mind of one kamikaze.