The Curious Case of Commander Cole

Through a clerical error,superintendent of schools Jack Cole finds himself called to active duty in theUnited States Navy at the beginning of WWII. Cole was never in the Navy andresponds accordingly. Thinking he is trying to avoid military service theBureau of Naval Personnel has him apprehended and flown to Washington DC wherehe is given the choice of active duty or Portsmouth Naval Prison.

Cole accepts active duty and findshimself stumbling from one hilarious situation after another, completely out ofhis element and totally unprepared to deal with Naval policy and procedures.Aided by the misinterpretation of his actions by his crew and his unusualleadership style, Cole succeeds far beyond his abilities and becomes a valuableasset to naval operations in the Mediterranean. Along the way, he encountersseveral love interests and quite by accident is able to prevent some top brassfrom falling victim to embarrassing incidents.

When the Bureau of Naval Personneldiscovers their clerical error, they realize it would be an embarrassment ifthe public was to find out. To prevent this from reaching the public, abloodhound Navy captain is sent to apprehend Cole and remove him from dutywithout disclosing the Navy's mistake.

As the Navy captain tries to close inon Cole, Cole's crew and superiors do everything they can to keep the Bureau ofNaval Personnel from finding him. However, after being recognized for heroicactions during the invasion of Sicily, the Navy captain finds Cole and he is puton trial. Things look dire for Cole, but through the intervention of his loyalcrew, his superiors, and his love interest's uncle Lyon, who turns out to beCanadian Prime Minister Lyon Mackenzie King, Cole is exonerated.

Though fraught with potential peril atevery turn, the misunderstandings and outlandish actions of Cole and his creware one hilarious adventure after another, which epitomize the nature of everyAmerican who when faced with a challenge rolls up his or her sleeves and gets thejob done. You will laugh and cry as you ride along with Cole and his crew inthis adventure, but for everyone who has ever seen military duty or who hasbeen placed in a situation far beyond their abilities and training you shouldfind kindred spirits in this tale to enjoy as they fumble their way to success.

?The Curious Case of Commander Coleoffers readers a unique twist. In addition to the humor that arises from afish-out-of-water story, it is set against a backdrop of the author's detailedresearch into real places, real events and real ships and aircraft of the WWIIMediterranean theater. It was an educational adventure that often had melaughing out loud.? - Mike Faust, Omaha NE

I really enjoyed reading thisbook. It was well written and Jack haddone a lot of research and had talked to the men that were there and lived itwhich made it more interesting. I amrecommending it to my book club. - Lynette Nuehring Cedar Rapids, IA

A book I am glad to recommend and it'sby a nearby neighbor and author - Jack Williams. Jack - congratulations . Readers will laughbut also learn a lot about the LSTs and their important role in WW II. That Commander Cole - he was some guy. Very inventive and the friends he made alongthe way all came thru for him when he needed a hand. - Dick Williams Lake Waukomis, MO.

I was delighted to read this tale of aman determined to do the best he could under the circumstances! I was impressedby the amount of detail for this time period in the military, especially the navy.Great read for anyone interested in WW2 or just wants some historical fiction.Surprisingly fun (and respectful) for a book on the military during WW2. - Dr.Elizabeth Campbell Kansas City, MO.

Mr. Williams' writing reminded me ofWilliam Kent Krueger's ?This Tender Land?. Each turn of the page was a newadventure. His character embodies the values associated with rural ormid-western upbringing.

The first 17 chapters for sure, and thebook as a whole, could be used as a discussion platform for qualities andcharacteristics of effective leadership. I can envision a seminar setting wherestudents use this book as a case study in leadership.

I grew up with the TV shows and movieslike: McHale's Navy; Hogan's Heroes; Down Periscope; etc. This book could easilyserve as a series of TV episodes or a movie plot. In each of these examples,individuals were cast in serious situations and survived using common sense andingenuity. Throughout it all, they maintained a healthy sense of humor. Mr.Williams characters are believable and endearing.

I was impressed with the technicalknowledge of the unsung hero of this book, the USS LST 121. The detailsprovided about the vessel allowed me to connect with the setting and made theship's adventures come to life. The boats (LST's) and their commanders had muchin common. They each played a major role in the war effort but without muchrecognition. It is easy to admire and become attracted to humility.

This was a very engaging read, I foundit hard to put the book down. The pace was excellent. I was smiling the wholetime I was reading this book. - Mike Ruffing, Carl Junction, MO