{"product_id":"9781456805692","title":"SKIPPER","description":"World War II interrupted Ray Mann's college career  \u003cbr\u003ein political economy and journalism. At midshipman  \u003cbr\u003eschool he chose service in the amphibious corps and  \u003cbr\u003ewas given command of a LCT (a 120 foot vessel.)  \u003cbr\u003eAs a green ensign , learned to lead a crew of a dozen  \u003cbr\u003emen. Soon they were shipped to the South Pacifi c. The  \u003cbr\u003e22-year-old offi cer encountered unusual situations:  \u003cbr\u003ebeing lost among fi shing nets in Chesapeake Bay,  \u003cbr\u003eleading a shore patrol into a rowdy Panama barroom,  \u003cbr\u003eswimming under the ship to dislodge hawsers , almost  \u003cbr\u003elosing a sinking ship, fi ghting a vicious typhoon, being  \u003cbr\u003erun over in a row boat, landing in Luzon close to enemy  \u003cbr\u003elines, dangling on a line over two ships clashing together in rough weather.  \u003cbr\u003eIn Manila the skipper turned his hand at practicing journalism by investigating the  \u003cbr\u003epolitical situation. He interviewed businessmen, senators , labor leaders, guerillas ,  \u003cbr\u003eand journalists. He uncovered corrupt ion and the powerful forces at work in a postwar  \u003cbr\u003epolitical culture . He met a world-famous journalist and traveled with him to the  \u003cbr\u003emountain town of Baguio to fi nd out how a former collaborationist to be turned into a  \u003cbr\u003e\"patriot\" so he could be groomed to become president of the Philippines .  \u003cbr\u003eLife aboard ship was always lively with a scheming cook, an antagonistic exec, an  \u003cbr\u003eambitious quartermaster, a sympathetic bo'sun, an emotional gunners mate, and some  \u003cbr\u003ecrew members concerned with alcohol , sex, and liberty. The events actually happened  \u003cbr\u003eand the characters are real people.","brand":"Xlibris Corporation","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47165906878704,"sku":"9781456805692","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781456805692_p0.jpg?v=1763864894","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781456805692","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}