Reminiscences of Rear Adm. Raymond D. Tarbuck, USN (Ret.)

The bulk of this narrative deals with Tarbuck’s World War II experiences--as an instructor for Army Air Forces personnel in such skills as warship recognition; as a member of General Douglas MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific staff, including Tarbuck’s planning of the Leyte landing in the Philippines; and as chief of staff to Vice Admiral Daniel E. Barbey, Commander Seventh Amphibious Force. Also discussion of prewar experiences: class of 1921A at the Naval Academy; destroyer duty in various ships; temporary command of a company of Marines in Nicaragua; NROTC instruction at the University of California; and writing of shiphandling instructions for the USS West Virginia (BB-48) in the mid-1930s. After World War II, Tarbuck served for a time as CO of battleship USS Iowa (BB-61)and as inspector general for 11th Naval District. This memoir is particularly useful for its view of Army operations as seen by a naval officer. Good personality portraits of MacArthur, Barbey, and Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner.