This view of the war from the mess deck of a fleet tug is far different from those written from a flag bridge vantage. A Navy radio man, Ted Mason recalls his years of action in the Pacific with candor and humor, offering perceptive evaluations of shipmates and exhibiting cool skepticism toward his leaders. The USS "Pawnee" rescued many ships during her 25-month tour of the South and Western Pacific, and this story of the heroics performed by her crew makes intriguing reading.