. . . In times of war lives are disrupted. Like torn bits of paper cast to the wind, they are scattered about. And left for the grace of destiny , or misfortune of fate, to decide their final flight . . .Ron Allen AmesAs he walks from the recruiting station, Jeremiah Hart justifies joining the navy against his father's will by dwelling on the reason why--to impress his one desire--Mary Christianson.
But it's 1943, that action thrusts Jeremiah into the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of WWII, assigned duty on an battered, old, tank landing ship (LST).
From the first Kamikaze attack, to the amphibious invasions, the carnage he witnesses disillusions his soul. As the war goes on, his hardened heart carries one hope--to see Mary again.
Deceit is the tool of destiny as letters are his only link--and his last chance to win her heart lies in the passionate words he writes to her.
From balmy nights to barroom brawls, to savage battles and treacherous seas, Jeremiah survives the war. But is Mary waiting for him?
Inspired by original letters, found in an old box in his grandparent’s attic after their passing, Ron Allen Ames resurrects a long lost story of love and war in this novel, "Vessels of the Strand."
Like a window into the past, the yellowed pages of these letters detailed the obscure struggles of those who manned the tank landing ships of World War II, and revealed a hidden love, brought to light by deceit.
During that war, letters "visits on paper" were the soul form of communication available between the servicemen and women overseas, and their loved ones and friends back home. These letters took weeks, many times months, to reach their intended receiver.
A story to be told—this book is relevant to one of many untold tales from a time in history where uncertainty dominated the realm of life--and choices were made with the thought that tomorrow may never be.
The story of the Tank Landing Ships of World War II has never been expounded upon.
Tank Landing Ships (LST) were 328 feet long and 50 feet wide. These vessels could haul as much as twelve hundred tons of cargo, including 18 to 25 armored tanks, up to 33 trucks and other vehicles, 160+ marines, ammunition, fuel, supplies, and the landing craft as seen in “Saving Private Ryan”.LSTs were painted camouflage, classified as expendable, and many times run aground to deliver their cargo. AllBooks Review's Historic Fiction Award
Historic Fiction Award2008 REVIEW
Those seeking stories of war from a different viewpoint may want to take the time to read Vessels of the Strand.Many books on World War II are written from the view of major strategists or generals. Often the focus in those books is on war strategy and morale of the troops involved.Don't expect that when reading Vessels of the Strand. Instead, prepare yourself for an easy read about war from the standpoint of those who truly got their elbows dirty in service to our country.In "Vessels" you get the view of war from a grunt-worker, Jeremiah Hart, who worked filthy jobs in the bilge area of WWII Navy ships. Readers get first-hand accounts of how ships operated as the Allied Forces moved closer to Japan following the bombing at Pearl Harbor.All this is happening while Hart writes letters to stay in touch with the love of his life back home in Pennsylvania. Although Hart thinks he's in communication with the object of his affection, it is actually another classmate who's written Hart most of the letters. These letters are all that Jeremiah has to keep him in touch with his hometown.Things have a way of working themselves out in the end but the book leaves the door open for more information. Author Ron Ames may just give us that if he gets a chance to pen a sequel.If he does, I'll be on the list of those wanting to read it.
Brian DiFonzo, The Titusville Herald
"...LST sailors, most very young and inexperienced when they went to war, deserve the recognition and honor this story represents."
~Robert Jornlin, Captain, LST 325~
REVIEW
Invisible faces are everywhere. Who are these faceless, nameless people that we encounter every day of our lives? This is especially true in times of war. We notice the infantryman, the tanker, the pilot, but the multitude of the brave men and women who sacrifice so much go so often without notice. This book hopes to change that. It is the story of young Jeremiah Hart who enlists in the Navy in the middle of World War II pretty much on a whim to impress the girl of his dreams. He has dreams of being on a battleship or a destroyer or a submarine. Instead he ends up assigned to one of the lowliest ships in the Navy - an LST. This is where his story really begins. In his first work, Ron Allen Ames has crafted a work based on the memories and letters of his father who did serve on an LST during the Second World War. Mr. Ames resides in northwestern Pennsylvania. This is a well-written story of the capriciousness of war and of the choices and challenges that anyone can face in a time of struggle. The style used by Mr. Ames is bright and easily readable. The character development is graceful and witty and the reader feels losses and exults in success as each character grows and transforms with the progress of the story. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good war novel, love story, or just a good book.
John Helman, Allbooks Reviews.
REVIEW
Obviously, all of the stories from WWII have not been told. From the home front to the battle front "Vessels of the Strand" holds little known or forgotten bits of life of that time in history. This story intertwines the barbarity of the amphibious landings of the Pacific Islands with a romance that continually reenters the story through exquisite letters and chapters. But just when you think you've figured this book out, it changes direction.
The vivid portrait of the LSTs intrigued me. These tank landing ships and their gallant crews who ran aground to deliver battle tanks, and other cargo to the beachhead, is something that I personally had never heard tell of before. The main character leaves home in a lovestruck innocence. The effects of war changes him into a battle hardened veteran. Yet, there are no " John Waynes" in this story, just the believable human emotions of a young man witnessing and participating in war. Letters, are the subject of a deceiving romance that spans from high school, through months of battle, and culminates at the end of the war in occupied Japan. The double meaning title is an added point of interest, and though there are a few minuscule blemishes, all in all I give "Vessels of the Strand" a hardy thumbs up.
Carrie Marcheskie (Columbus, Oh USA)
Long periods of separation destroyed many relationships, and spurred others during World War II. However, the men and women who lived thorough this defining moment overcame the largest world conflict in modern history through sacrifice, diligence, and at times, desperation.
VESSELS OF THE STRAND describes first-hand what duty and battle was like on an LST during WWII. Through the author's father, Earl Ames' memories of 5 invasions of the Pacific Islands, and from over 100 of his original letters from that time.
Vessels of the Strand
a story of love and warPRESS RELEASE TO THE DERRICK/NEWS HERALD Feb. 21 2008
Vessels of the Strand, a novel written by local resident Ron Allen Ames has received ALLBOOKS REVIEW’S award for best historic fiction for 2008.
Each year ALLBOOKS reviews literary works from more than six countries including; North America, Australia, France, Great Britain, Israel, and Canada. Ames’ book was chosen from hundreds of entries from the United States in the genre.
Although Vessels of the Strand is written in fiction, the book mirrors the time the author’s father, lifetime resident Earl (Bud) Ames spent in the Navy during WWII. A captivating love story that is based on the author’s parents intertwines throughout the book. It’s somewhat hard to ponder life before cell phones, E-mail and texting, but during World War II, letters were the sole form of communication available to an enlisted man stationed overseas.
From its publish date, Vessels of the Strand has been recognized by the LST Ship Memorial Organization and Captain Robert Jornlin of the LST 325 for it’s historic content of depicting what duty aboard a tank landing ship was like for an enlisted sailor stationed below deck during the Pacific Island invasions of WWII. Much of this information came to light by the discovery of more than one hundred letters found in the attic of the elder Ames parents, the late Minnie and Arthur Ames of RD1 Oil City. These letters Earl had sent home during the war.
The story of the World War II LST tank landing ships is a segment of history that has never been expounded upon. Painted camouflage instead of battleship gray, these ships were almost the length of a football field and when fully loaded hauled with up to twelve hundred tons of armored tanks, trucks, men and supplies. Lashed to their sides were transported the small personnel landing craft as seen in the first moments of the movie “Saving Private Ryan” Many times the LSTs were run aground during invasion to deliver their payload directly onto embattled beaches. Classified by the navy as “expendable”, unofficial numbers puts 42 LST ships lost during the Second World War. 26 to enemy action, another 13 were lost do to weather, accidents, or at sea.
The book also touches on the local oil industry at that time and on the sacrifices for the war effort made by those left at home. The rationing program, the shortages and complete unavailability of some items, the government sanctioned “victory garden” program, and the recycling drives for iron, paper, even used cooking oil. Women, nationwide entered factories to work jobs previously looked upon as “men’s work.” These “Rosie the Riveters” were vital in building war materials here locally.
The title “Vessels of the Strand” has a double meaning. It poetically describes the ships that ran aground on the strand of the shore to deliver their cargo. The title also describes the letters as vessels that carried a strand of hope across miles of ocean and time.
