Back from the Deep summary

The Mysterious Disappearance

In Back from the Deep by Carl Lavo, we are taken on a journey to the mysterious disappearance of two submarines, the USS Grunion and the USS Amberjack, during World War II. The story begins with the commissioning of the USS Grunion, a Gato-class submarine, in April 1942, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Mannert L. Abele. The Grunion set out on its first war patrol from Pearl Harbor in June 1942, never to return.

The loss of the Grunion was a mystery. The submarine was declared overdue from patrol, and despite extensive air and sea searches, no trace of the vessel was found. The fate of the crew and the submarine remained unknown, leaving a trail of unanswered questions for their families and the Navy.

Discovery and Recovery

Fast forward to 2006, when the sons of the Grunion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Abele, spearheaded an expedition to locate the sunken submarine. Their efforts bore fruit, and the USS Grunion was discovered off the coast of the Aleutian Islands, at a depth of more than 3,000 feet. The submarine was remarkably well-preserved, with its hull largely intact, and the cause of its sinking remained a mystery.

Simultaneously, the USS Amberjack, another Gato-class submarine that was lost in 1943, was also discovered in the South China Sea. These findings brought a glimmer of closure to the families of the lost crew members, but the circumstances surrounding the submarines' demise remained enigmatic.

Unraveling the Mystery

In the middle part of Back from the Deep, Lavo delves into the meticulous process of piecing together the final moments of the USS Grunion and the USS Amberjack. He highlights the use of advanced technologies, including sonar imaging and remotely operated vehicles, to explore the sunken submarines and gather crucial evidence. These efforts, combined with historical records and interviews with surviving crew members from other submarines, helped construct a detailed picture of the submarines' last missions.

For the USS Grunion, it was concluded that the submarine likely fell victim to a Japanese antisubmarine attack. As for the USS Amberjack, evidence suggested that it was sunk by a combination of depth charges and a mine. The discoveries brought a sense of closure to the families of the lost crew members, who had spent over six decades wondering about their loved ones' fate.

Remembering the Crew

In the latter part of the book, Lavo shifts the focus from the sunken submarines to the brave men who served aboard them. He recounts the personal stories of the crew members, their training, their camaraderie, and their sacrifices. The author also emphasizes the profound impact these discoveries had on the families and the surviving crew members, many of whom had been haunted by the submarines' unexplained disappearances for decades.

Back from the Deep concludes with a poignant tribute to the crew members of the USS Grunion and the USS Amberjack. Their sacrifices, along with the discoveries and the closure that followed, serve as a reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of honoring those who served, even decades after their loss.