Bernard \"Bernie\" Webber, a crewman at the Coast Guard station in Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, has fallen in love with a local girl, Miriam Pentinen. Bernie hasn't met this woman yet and is nervous that she won't like how he looks. The Finest Hours is about one of the most dangerous rescue missions in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard, and I spent 13 years of active and reserve duty in the Coast Guard. A small US coastguard team tackle gigantic waves and gale-force winds as they attempt to save … Both events will be held at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, 50 Nauset Road, Eastham.The events are free, but are ticketed, as space is limited. Tells the full story of both tankers and all the rescue crews involved. In February of 1952, one of the worst storms to ever hit the East Coast struck New England, damaging an oil tanker off the coast of Cape Cod and literally ripping it in half. Theyre the sort of book that you read in one day, enthralled on the couch- or in a tent because its pouring outside :D, I was pulled into the drama almost immediately! Reading something like this, feeling the terror and death surrounding the characters, and then realizing they are not "characters" but actual people who have lived through said events makes the experience way more...meaningful. Read it! The authors all mean well - - because they have extraordinary history to tell. A great recounting of 3 days in the winter of 1952 when brave coast guardsmen simply "did the job" and rescued dozens from 2 ship wrecks. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. I've seen the film (a few times) & liked it so I thought I'd read the book. Refresh and try again. Not one, but two ships, the 'Pendleton' and the 'Fort Mercer', had each split as a result of powerful waves and weakened hulls. Please try again. “Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. Who knew boats split in half and that cold water can kill people so fast? They were focused on rescuing others and bring them home to their families and didn't want t to lose anyone. On the day he is due to ask permission, the oil tanker SS Pendleton shears in half off the Chatham coast after gettin… There is a lot of history in the book as well which I enjoyed very much. This account, is a slow read, and although I appreciated the details of the horrific Nor'easter - including other Coast Guard Cutters attempting rescues (as there were two split tankers / Pendelton and Mercer), the limited amount of what is relayed of Bernie Webber and his crew of Coast Guardsmen afterwards , is somewhat sad. Well written and it would make a good movie. It was fascinating to read how they were able to pull it off, with little to no technology and in seas that rival the scene of the small fishing boat climbing a tower of water in the perfect storm. The movie is coming but read this book, I put off reading this, what a mistake. I have never done this before, and quite frankly I don't really want to. An amazing story about Liberty ships, which are known to break in half in heavy seas. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2016. This book is a well-written, easy to read (and listen to) non fiction. Nevertheless, a great feat of bravery by all of those Coast Guard men involved in all of the rescues, not just the Pendleton stern (which actually didn't sink as depicted in the film until about 26 years later, neither did the bow until the next day), but the other tankers that broke up on that night as well. When ordinary men do what has to be done at great peril, their heroism. Congratulations to local writer Michael Tougias for his research an no nonsense writing style. It is a harrowing and heroic story, but it was also a fairly straightforward one. Great to see what can be accomplished when we put our minds to it. Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his friend are meeting two ladies for a date. Admittedly, I tore through it in 2 sessions and enjoyed it very much. He is a sought-after lecturer who gives more than seventy presentations each year. Coasties, merchant mariners, perfect stormers. I have to write it on a piece of paper anyway so I can't copy and paste it. May 19th 2009 Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. The system stalled over Nantucket, wreaking havoc on those unfortunate enough to be on the sea. To cope with the conditions with the wind shield broken through, the toughness of all the coast guards, breathtaking. We spent a great deal of time learning about the Coast Guard, the Sea, ships, and especially the heroic actions of brave men. I gave this book 5 stars not only because of the personal connection, but because it is so-well researched, accurate and gives credit where credit is due...to those brave, selfless Coast Guard rescuers who literally put their lives on the line, and grieved the loss of Tiny Myers for the remainder of their lives. Where the read might be dry in parts, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Sailing a tiny lifeboat into the teeth of the killer storm, the rescue crew soon loses all navigation. They put themselves in danger trying to save the men on the broken tankers. We were on a longish road trip and I decided it was time to force her into finishing. In February 1952, New England was being battered by one of the worst nor'easters in years, and two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, both broke in two. That broke my heart to think of the complete inability to do anything for the situation. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. The Finest Hours tells the story of when two of these ships were violently torn apart during one stormy night and the heroic efforts of the US Coast Guard to rescue those onboard. I'm just glad I was not there when they found the man who had decided to stay on board one of the tanker halves and who died of hypothermia. And they did. “O Lord, have mercy, Thy sea is so large, and my boat is so small.” – Breton Fisherman’s Prayer, It’s the winter of 1952 and a ferocious Nor’easter is pounding New England with howling winds and seventy-foot seas. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. Also disturbing how much it was of placing Bernie Webber as Hero, and not also the Crew of CG38500. Tiny asked my dad to take his wallet because he had a bad feeling that he would not survive. I like how Tourgias took it in into the modern era. Nah, This Debut Romance Is a Steamy Success. The book is, I assume, a more accurate account of what really happened & the film does differ as films are wont to do. Just hard people being asked if they can do the improbable. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. I vaguely remember learning something about this at some point in my life but being completely immersed in every vivid detail of each event made it way more real. There was room for a lot more dramatic tension with a more character-driven style. Crew of 4 were : Bernie Webber, Ervin Maske, Richard Livesey, and Andy Fitzgerald. —Thomas Paine”, “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. This film is based on a true story. Depending on the broken section, some have radio contact, some have heat and lights, others are adrift on a ragged portion of a tanker without any means of communication or comfort. Coast Guard cutters raced to the aid of those on the Fort Mercer , and when it became apparent that the halves of the Pendleton were in danger of capsizing, the Guard sent out two thirty-six-foot lifeboats as well. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The tale of near-simultaneous tanker accidents in the middle of a deadly February Nor'easter is hair raising no matter who is telling it. The Finest Hours (Young Readers Edition): The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue (True Rescue Series), The Greatest Coast Guard Rescue Stories Ever Told, A Storm Too Soon (Young Readers Edition): A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80-Foot Seas (True Rescue Series), Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea, Michael J. Tougias is the author of a number of books, including. Rather inspiring story really. Dodgy oil tankers, 'back handers' to keep the ship inspectors quiet. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2015, A wonderful insight into what it was like when people preferred dipping woolen gloves in the freezing water, because that was a better choice than bare hands. In a World War Two era ship like the one I was on the chance of it breaking in half was real. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The Finest Hours true story reveals that a 300-pound man named George "Tiny" Myers was the last survivor to be rescued from the SS Pendleton, aside from its de facto captain, Raymond L. Sybert. THE FINEST HOURS. This is one of the few times that I thought the movie was better tan the book because I saw the movie and I got more out of it like how it would feel if I was in that situation, on the ship or rescuing the people from the ship, but the book didn't have enough description but I still liked it. Something went wrong. When ordinary men do what has to be done at great peril, their heroism can be spectacular. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue. What an incredible story of utter bravery for your fellow beings. The Finest Hours tells the story of when two of these ships were violently torn apart during one stormy. I sometimes am impatient with adult reads. As the weather wreaked havoc on land, the freezing Atlantic became a wind-whipped zone of peril. The book The Finest Hours: The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue, by Michael Tougias and Casey Sherman is a work of nonfiction. Myers lost his life when he jumped from the rope ladder that had been lowered by the Pendleton crew in order to descend into the Coast Guard lifeboat. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Start by marking “The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue” as Want to Read: Error rating book. We’d love your help. In a World War Two era ship like the one I was on the chance of it breaking in half was real. In the winter of 1952, New England was battered by the most brutal nor'easter in years. Read the book - the pictures at the end cannot do the ordeal justice. Bernie hasn't met this woman yet and is nervous that she won't like how he looks. The screenplay, written by Eric Johnson, Scott Silver, and Paul Tamasy, is based on The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. The film stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz, and Eric Bana, and chronicles the historic 1952 United States Coast Guard rescue of the crew of SS Pendleton, aft… I was anxious to read this book to compare it to the stories my dad repeatedly told over the years. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published With no idea where the stranded seaman are nor how to get back. I was surprised to find accurate references to an unfortunate incident which claimed the life of Dad's close friend, Tiny Myers. I have to confess up front, I'm a bit biased about this book. It’s a scary place to be. I actually enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. Sailing a tiny lifeboat into the teeth of the killer storm, the rescue crew soon loses all navigation. The chapter on Chatham's history felt like padding for length, but I wasn't sad it was there. The movie comes out at the end of the month, so read this book now. I would have liked it better if it were more narrative...to the point of being fiction. This happen to people and both rescues were just incredible. I normally love Tougias. Are there still people like these Coast Guards who will risk their lives for complete strangers? The second half was filled with facts, statistics, comparisons of boats and subsequent similar or dissimilar tragedies, etc, and I had a hard time slogging through that much dry information. This adaptation for young readers of The Finest Hours: The True Story of the US Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman tells the story of the shipwreck of two oil tankers and the harrowing Coast Guard rescue when four men in a tiny lifeboat overcame insurmountable odds and saved more than 30 stranded sailors. A remarkable story and a very exciting read. My sister and I finally finished listening to this. The account was well-researched with some recent interviews of survivors and a few photos, but overall a little on th. It was good. Such an amazing (almost unreal) true rescue story. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. My dad, Fred Brown, was a survivor of the SS Pendleton. My teacher allows us to take notes and use them on the test. I wanted this book to be more interesting than it was. Four separate Coast Guard lifeboats descend on 2 oil tankers in the North Atlantic Sea which have broken in two due to poor craftsmanship during World War II. The authors all mean well - - because they have extraordinary history to tell. There was a problem loading your book clubs. But unlike their recent sports dramas like Million Dollar Arm and McFarland, USA, the stakes are quite a bit higher in The Finest Hours, which tells the true story … Can the tiny lifeboat save them all? I’ve been at sea in a fierce Alaskan storm where the ship was hitting two waves at once, causing massive structural strain to the point where I could hear the creepy sounds of flexing steal. Yes, a movie version was made recently. by Scribner Book Company, The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue. First off, what an incredibly heart wrenching story. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. It was fascinating to read how they were able to pull it off, with little to no technology and in seas that rival the scene of the small fishing boat climbing a tower of water in the perfect storm. It's quick and good (don't trust the movie, it only tells half the story- signed the person who watched To Have and To Have Not with Bogie and Bacall instead of reading the book which is totally different! Does anyone have any good notes chapter by chapter? Both pieces of the tanker Pendleton and both pieces of the Fort Mercer have crew on board. A fascinating piece of history this book goes into detail the events of this rescue. Please try again. This is no exception. True story behind The Finest Hours: 'Suicide mission' lifeboat rescuers braved 70ft waves to save 32 sailors The heroics of four young coast guards who found the broken-up … After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. 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