Through a clerical error, superintendent of schools Jack Cole finds himself called to active duty in the United States Navy at the beginning of WWII. Cole was never in the Navy and responds accordingly. Thinking he is trying to avoid military service the Bureau of Naval Personnel has him apprehended and flown to Washington DC where he is given the choice of active duty or Portsmouth Naval Prison.
Cole accepts active duty and finds himself stumbling from one hilarious situation after another, completely out of his element and totally unprepared to deal with Naval policy and procedures. Aided by the misinterpretation of his actions by his crew and his unusual leadership style, Cole succeeds far beyond his abilities and becomes a valuable asset to naval operations in the Mediterranean. Along the way, he encounters several love interests and quite by accident is able to prevent some top brass from falling victim to embarrassing incidents.
When the Bureau of Naval Personnel discovers their clerical error, they realize it would be an embarrassment if the public was to find out. To prevent this from reaching the public, a bloodhound Navy captain is sent to apprehend Cole and remove him from duty without disclosing the Navy’s mistake.
As the Navy captain tries to close in on Cole, Cole’s crew and superiors do everything they can to keep the Bureau of Naval Personnel from finding him. However, after being recognized for heroic actions during the invasion of Sicily, the Navy captain finds Cole and he is put on trial. Things look dire for Cole, but through the intervention of his loyal crew, his superiors, and his love interest’s uncle Lyon, who turns out to be Canadian Prime Minister Lyon Mackenzie King, Cole is exonerated.
Though fraught with potential peril at every turn, the misunderstandings and outlandish actions of Cole and his crew are one hilarious adventure after another, which epitomize the nature of every American who when faced with a challenge rolls up his or her sleeves and gets the job done. You will laugh and cry as you ride along with Cole and his crew in this adventure, but for everyone who has ever seen military duty or who has been placed in a situation far beyond their abilities and training you should find kindred spirits in this tale to enjoy as they fumble their way to success.
“The Curious Case of Commander Cole offers readers a unique twist. In addition to the humor that arises from a fish-out-of-water story, it is set against a backdrop of the author’s detailed research into real places, real events and real ships and aircraft of the WWII Mediterranean theater. It was an educational adventure that often had me laughing out loud.” – Mike Faust, Omaha NE
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and Jack had done a lot of research and had talked to the men that were there and lived it which made it more interesting. I am recommending it to my book club. – Lynette Nuehring Cedar Rapids, IA
A book I am glad to recommend and it’s by a nearby neighbor and author – Jack Williams. Jack – congratulations . Readers will laugh but 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 along the way all came thru for him when he needed a hand. – Dick Williams Lake Waukomis, MO.
I was delighted to read this tale of a man determined to do the best he could under the circumstances! I was impressed by 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 of William Kent Krueger’s “This Tender Land”. Each turn of the page was a new adventure. His character embodies the values associated with rural or mid-western upbringing.
The first 17 chapters for sure, and the book as a whole, could be used as a discussion platform for qualities and characteristics of effective leadership. I can envision a seminar setting where students use this book as a case study in leadership.
I grew up with the TV shows and movies like: Mc Hale’s Navy; Hogan’s Heroes; Down Periscope; etc. This book could easily serve 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 and ingenuity. Throughout it all, they maintained a healthy sense of humor. Mr. Williams characters are believable and endearing.
I was impressed with the technical knowledge of the unsung hero of this book, the USS LST 121. The details provided about the vessel allowed me to connect with the setting and made the ship’s adventures come to life. The boats (LST’s) and their commanders had much in common. They each played a major role in the war effort but without much recognition. It is easy to admire and become attracted to humility.
This was a very engaging read, I found it hard to put the book down. The pace was excellent. I was smiling the whole time I was reading this book. – Mike Ruffing, Carl Junction, MO
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