USS Wahoo SS-238 / Wake Of The Wahoo / Forest J. Sterling / SubmarineBooks.com

The Author

Born in Trenton, Missouri in 1911, Forest J. Sterling was just 3 years old when his family moved to Henryetta, Oklahoma. After graduating from high school in Ordway, Colorado, Sterling joined the U.S. Navy in 1930. Seven years later he left the Navy, and after traveling the country, settled in Los Angeles (CA.). When war broke out in 1941, Sterling re-enlisted in the Navy and requested duty in submarines. One year later, Forest Sterling reported aboard USS Wahoo (SS-238) as her new Yeoman. Home on leave in the summer of 1943, Forest married his wife Marie. With Wahoo, Sterling became sensitive to a growing feeling among his shipmates that the submarine would not survive the war. He tried to laugh it off by telling everyone that, since he was going to see the year 2000, they had nothing to worry about as long as he was on board. Then it happened: Just minutes before she sailed on her ill-fated war patrol Sterling was miraculously transferred and the Wahoo was lost.

After attending stenography school in San Diego, CA., Sterling eventually returned to the Pacific before the end of World War II. In 1956, he retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. Following retirement, Sterling spent two years attending Ventura College (CA.) earning an Associate of Arts degree. He then wrote "Wake Of The Wahoo" in 1960. When asked why he wrote the book, Sterling said; "I just wanted to tell about the fine officers and enlisted men who went to their deaths in that sub, so folks could learn what life in a sub is like, particularly during combat." "Wake Of The Wahoo" was the first book on the submarine service written by an enlisted man. In 1963, the United States Naval Institute chose Sterling's "Wake Of The Wahoo" as one of the three best books written by an enlisted man from World War II. Since that time, "Wake Of The Wahoo" has become a submarine classic. Living in Gulfport, Mississippi, Forest Sterling passed away in May of 2002 from congestive heart failure—just six days after celebrating his 91st birthday.

From Pearl Harbor to her last and fatal voyage, the heroic story of America's most daring World War II submarine, as told by the only surviving member of her crew—Forest J. Sterling. USS Wahoo (SS-238) was the most successful submarine in the World War II Pacific Fleet. She was the first to penetrate an enemy harbor and sink a Japanese ship. She was the first to wipe-out an entire convoy single-handedly. In her 11 short months of life, Wahoo managed an incredible 21 kills, totaling over 60,000 tons of ships. Then, just 45 minutes before leaving Midway (island) for her last and fatal patrol, Yeoman Forest Sterling was transferred to other duty. The result is this book; Wake of the Wahoo, Sterling's fantastic yet completely authentic account of a remarkable crew, captain and the ship they lived and died for. Wahoo's captain—the aggressive and brave Lieutenant Commander Dudley 'Mush' Morton was the pride of the submarine fleet. He would earn the Navy Cross at the helm of Wahoo. The sub's executive officer—the daring Lieutenant Richard H. 'Dick' O'Kane. O'Kane would later receive the Medal of Honor in command of the submarine USS Tang (SS-306). Forest Sterling tells the story as no one else could—Wake of the Wahoo is a true account of American submarine warfare from a man who lived it ... and live to tell about it.

This new softbound edition has 221 pages, 12 B/W photographs, and an epilogue, no index or maps.

Only $19.95

Amazon.com says:

Five Stars for "Wake of the Wahoo"

"Wake's a winner... One sub book that's a must read!"

Book REVIEWS

"Many will remember the newspaper stories during World War II and the photo of Wahoo with a broomstick tied to her periscope signifying a clean sweep... But [here is] the full story from the yeoman who made all the patrols ... except the last one." Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN (Ret.) Medal of Honor recipient and author of Thunder Below.

"One of the finest naval stories to come out of World War II." The Springfield News-Leader

"Wake of the Wahoo tells the story of men who go down to the sea 'in ships that have their load-lines over their hatches.' From the uninhibited point of view of an enlisted man Chief Yeoman Forest J. Sterling, who made five war patrols in the Wahoo, with keen observation and vivid coloring has written the story of a fabulous ship, of her skipper—who like Gunga Din, 'didn't seem to know the use o' fear'—and of life in a World War II submarine." Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, USN (Ret.) Author of Sink 'Em All.

"A vivid account of the sinking of 21 ships by the Wahoo and a fine portrait of her skipper, 'Mush' Morton, now as much a part of naval lore as John Paul Jones." The Birmingham News

"Reading this book is like listening to a well-told story, given in person." The Springfield Republic

“Compelling true to life narrative of war at sea... This is a deck-plate view of submariners at the height of war in the Pacific during WWII. As a Navy Sailor, I found myself drawn into the book simply because of it's no frills language and realistic portrayal of heroes that don't know they are heroes, in action. I recommend this for anyone looking for an inside view of Navy life in general and submarine Sailors in particular. Bravo Zulu Chief Sterling for a great story!" Joseph Kane / Florida