Book Review: Brothers of War, by Lew Holt
A remarkable book of letters and conversations, illustrating the value of
ferreting out the historical context of an ancestor's life and ways of
telling the story.
Article Details
Type: Book Review
Source: Genealogy Book Reviews
Published: 03/Dec/2011
Prepared by: Elisabeth Lindsay
"Remember Pearl Harbor." This sentiment mobilized a nation after the
deadly attack of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1943.
This year marks the 70th Anniversary of that attack. In the book, Brothers
of War, the author, Lew Holt, helps us to remember Pearl Harbor through a
remarkable collection of letters from 1941 through 2003. Holt's brother,
William (Bill) Harrison Holt was at Pearl Harbor aboard the light cruiser,
USS Phoenix (later the ARA Belgrano). Bill survived Pearl Harbor but died
in 1945 of tuberculosis, contracted during the war. The significance of
the book for genealogists is the exchange of letters between Bill and his
mother and others. Especially poignant is Bill's journey through illness,
without the support of his family, except through letters. Back in the
day, travel and communication was not as it is now. Researchers will also
appreciate the ups and downs of correspondence as the author begins his
inquiry into the fate of the Phoenix during and after the war,
subsequently contacting many of those who knew his brother on land and at
sea, as well as those who were aboard the Phoenix and shared their insight
and experience, whether they knew his brother or not.
The book takes it's title, "Brothers of War," from his communications and
relationships developed during the course of writing the book, not only
with those aboard the Phoenix, but with four men -- two who figured in the
fate of the Phoenix after it was sold to the Argentine navy and later sank
by a British nuclear submarine during the 1983 Falklands War, and two
Japanese aviators who participated in the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the
war in the Pacific. The book is also about serendipity, a phenomenon dear
to the heart of a genealogist: the book had its beginnings in a
conversation overheard by chance, but it does not end there. It was a
chance, almost "overheard" conversation online that led the author to an
equally remarkable American in Japan who facilitated his contact with the
Japanese aviators. In all genealogists will relate to the author's effort
to rebuild the historical context of his brother's life, some 45 years
after his death. The book is historically significant for the personal
insight into the times in letters between Bill and his family, and for the
stories told by Bill and others about that fateful day at Pearl Harbor,
including the first-hand experience of two Japanese aviators who were
there. While the book does not have footnotes, end notes or references;
for the type of book it is, they are not needed: the context, contributor,
and date of each letter is included, in addition the author's narrative
clarifying their significance. While it is sometimes difficult to separate
the author's narrative from the letters (except those of his brother's,
which are in script font), the reader can pick it up within a few lines.
Overall, this is a remarkable work, illustrating the value of researching
the historical context of an ancestor's life, and providing yet another
example of ways to share one's family history.
[[Amazon:1427636869|Brothers of War: The Story of William Harrison Holt,
S/C1 United States Navy, And others who knew him or his ship the USS
Phoenix (later ARA Belgrano), by Lew Holt. Salem, OR. 2008.