Name: C. Clark Jones

His book: On Liberty Ships, A ‘90 day wonder’s’ 5 voyages

What inspired you to write this book? “I wanted my great grandchildren to know how I approached World War II. There are no heroics in it, but I did what I was called to do. And thank God, I came home safely.

“The book shows what it was like to serve on a Liberty ship and some of the experiences I had on board and in foreign countries. I served on five Liberty ships—the Paul Hamilton, Lawrence J. Brengle, John A. Sutter, John Hanson, and the Benjamin Schlessinger.”

An Excerpt: This particular passage explains an experience at the harbor of Montevideo. Uruguay was neutral and a German “pocket battleship” named the Graf Spee was in port for repairs. Before the ship could get its needed repairs, three British cruisers moved into place at the mouth of the harbor with reinforcements on the way. This passage describes what happened next. (Jones refers to himself throughout the book as the man or young man.)

“We were told that instructions would come from Berlin for the ship to be scuttled in the middle of the river with all hands on board to show to the world the devotion of Germany’s fighting men to their leader.

“A feeling of revulsion raced through the young man and no doubt through the hearts of thousands who heard the broadcasts.

“The Graf Spree did sail out to the middle of the river and there was sent to the bottom.

“It wasn’t until many years later that the man learned that the crew had been left in that city and that a few volunteers and the Captain had taken the mighty vessel out and sunk her. And the Captain had wrapped himself in the flag of old Germany and put a bullet in his head as the ship sank.”

Do you have a writing background? “My wife and I had written a book on genealogy before I wrote this book.”