FROM: John E. Laughter — [of Georgia, airline pilot, Vietnam vet.]

Greetings Cousin, ....

Came across some historical info on one of my Uncles, Wade Laughter (Hannon's youngest son) that might be of interest to the web site. He was a submariner in WWII and made patrols on the Tullibee and the Barb. I always knew the Barb patrols were spectacular but Wade wasn't too good at relating many details. The skipper [and author], RADM Eugene Fluckey, (4 Navy Crosses, Medal of Honor) finally got around to writing a book (1992) about the Barb and her adventures. It is more exciting than any war novel I have ever read. The things they did were absolutely incredible. Wade is mentioned in the book several times and usually by his nickname "Stretch" (he was tall and very strong). The name of the book is Thunder Below and would be of interest to anyone curious about submarine warfare in WWII.
— [USS Barb]

John

Thunder Below, Book Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The USS Barb was the Navy's most successful submarine in WW II. Operating mainly in the South China Sea, the Formosa Strait and the forever mysterious Sea of Okhotsk, the Barb sank at least 29 Japanese ships and climaxed its final patrol with an audacious commando raid on land during which the crew destroyed a 16-car train. This was the sole U.S. military landing on Japanese soil during the war. Drawing on ship's logs, letters, interviews, diaries and his own memory, Fluckey, a retired rear admiral, reconstructs every attack by and against the sub from its eighth through its 12th and last patrol. This was the 15-month period when he served as the Barb's skipper, winning the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses for his daring exploits. Fluckey is a fine writer with a lively, colorful style. His book is packed with action and suspense and is rich in details about the day-to-day operation of a submarine in combat. Photos. Military Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
—This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
Medal of Honor holder Fluckey relates the story of his wartime command, U.S. submarine Barb, in a well-told and -researched narrative of undersea resourcefulness and courage. Barb set an unparalleled record of exploits in the naval war against Japan, and Fluckey has used both U.S. and Japanese naval records to re-create the vessel's story. The quality of his writing is far above the usual wartime memoir. This title will appeal to readers of both military history and Tom Clancy-style…
—This text refers to the Hardcover edition.