Find 'Em Chase 'Em Sink 'Em / USS Gudgeon SS-211 / Mike Ostlund / SubmarineBooks.com

"Find ’Em, Chase ’Em, Sink ’Em" is the first book to recount the tragic and mysterious loss of the American World War II submarine USS Gudgeon (SS-211). Gudgeon was the first U.S. submarine to conduct offensive operations in Japanese waters. On January 27, 1942 she sank the Japanese sub I-173, the first Japanese submarine destroyed by and American sub in World War II. In April 1944, the highly decorated Gudgeon slipped beneath the waves in one of the most treacherous patrol areas in the most dangerous military service during World War II. Neither the Gudgeon nor the crew was ever seen again. Author Mike Ostlund’s “Uncle Bill” (lieutenant William C. Ostlund) the operator of a farm implements business, was aboard the submarine as a lieutenant (jg.). Through extensive research of patrol reports in U.S. and Japanese naval archives, interviews with veterans who had served aboard Gudgeon before its final patrol, and the personal effects of the lost men’s relatives, Ostlund has assembled the most accurate account yet of this remarkably successful submarine’s exploits, of the men aboard from steward to captain, and of what we now know about her demise. "Find ’Em, Chase ’Em, Sink ’Em" details the memories and life lessons of the young men who went to sea aboard Gudgeon before its last patrol knowing hardly anything, and coming home having seen too much.

New hardback book, with dust jacket. 471 pages, 36 black and white photographs, 12 maps, appendix, index and a USS Gudgeon crew roster.

Only $24.95

BOOK REVIEWS

"Mike Ostlund's "Find 'Em, Chase 'Em, Sink 'Em: The Mysterious Loss of the WWII Submarine USS Gudgeon" could also have been reviewed in our 'true adventure' section, but earns a spot here for being the first to recount the loss of the sub in a treacherous patrol area during the war. The author's uncle was aboard that ship, providing the impetus for a research project which involved patrol reports in both U.S. and Japanese naval archives, interviews with veterans of the ship before its last journey, and interviews with relatives." Diane C. Donovan

"Tang, Bowfin, Silversides, Wahoo. As the son of a submariner and an amateur W.W.II history buff, these names are very familiar, and deservedly so. U.S. submarines accounted for more enemy tonnage sunk than all other types of fleet vessels combined. If an army truly moves on it's belly, it was the "pig boats" that insured that the enemy would be in constant short supply. Much has been written about individual boats and their captains but now, finally, the skill, dedication, and contributions of the entire crew aboard a fleet submarine is taken into account in "Find 'Em, Chase 'Em, Sink 'Em." This is the book I've wanted to read for a lifetime and it was well worth the wait. Gudgeon (SS-211) had been largely forgotten until now. On December 11th, 1941 she sailed on her, and America's, first offensive war patrol in the Pacific. Her crew, although highly trained, were untested in battle but what they learned on this first patrol would help shape submarine doctrine in those early months of the war. Along the way, Gudgeon would become the first American submarine to patrol Japanese home waters (the dangerous Bungo Straits) and also become the first American vessel of any type to sink an enemy warship (I-73). During her illustrious 3 years career, her total tonnage sunk would place her 15th on the honor roll. She also received 11 Battle Stars and earned the coveted Presidential Unit Citation. All that said, this book offers so much more. Mr. Ostlund has written a fine tribute to not only the brave crew of Gudgeon, both the surviving and those who remain on eternal patrol, but to all the dedicated young men of the Silent Service who served their country in her time of need. As for the mystery surrounding her disappearance, I won't say a word. Instead I'll urge you to read, in my humble opinion, the finest book ever written about a U.S. submarine in W.W.II." John J. Paradiso

"This book reads like a novel, full of adventure and stories of individual young men who served on, and in some cases were lost on, this WWII submarine, yet it has all the military details that an avid submariner could possibly want. A hefty book, so it's worth the cost of hardback, and leaves haunting images and memories of what war-time service was like for men who were basically still children on a war-duty submarine. Unlike some submarine books, this one is interesting to not just the military literature audience, but to anyone who might pick it up. Perhaps it is the author's personal link to his "Uncle Bill", who was lost aboard the sub during it's last mission, but it is a story that pulls at every human emotion it is possible to feel—pride, grief, wonder, awe, terror, and joy, plus there are some tremendously funny reminiscences from men who served aboard the sub but were lucky enough to transfer off before the sub disappeared on it's last patrol. The author was also able to develop a well-researched and extremely viable theory of what actually happened on that last patrol and where the heroic sub and its crew may lie on the ocean floor, including the actual Japanese plane that sunk it. Great Read! Highly recommend!" SubBear

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