So Close to Home : A True Story of an American Family's Fight for Survival During World War II

On May 19, 1942, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. Captained by twenty nine-year-old Iron Cross and King's Cross recipient Erich Wurdemann, the submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia with sixty-two souls on board. Most aboard were merchant seamen, but there were also a handful of civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children, eight-year-old Sonny and eleven-year-old Lucille. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued—and each family member had to find their own path to survival. Including original, unpublished material from Commander Wurdemann's war diary, the story provides balance and perspective by chronicling the daring mission of the U-boat—and its commander's decision-making—in the Gulf of Mexico. An inspiring historical narrative, So Close to Home tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast. On May 19, 1942, A U-boat In The Gulf Of Mexico Stalked Its Prey Fifty Miles From New Orleans. Captained By Twenty Nine-year-old Iron Cross And King's Cross Recipient Erich Wurdemann, The Submarine Set Its Sights On The Freighter Heredia With Sixty-two Souls On Board. Most Aboard Were Merchant Seamen, But There Were Also A Handful Of Civilians, Including The Downs Family: Ray And Ina, And Their Two Children, Eight-year-old Sonny And Eleven-year-old Lucille. Fast Asleep In Their Berths, The Downs Family Had No Idea That Two Torpedoes Were Heading Their Way. When The Ship Exploded, Chaos Ensued--and Each Family Member Had To Find Their Own Path To Survival. -- Amazon.com A Tired Old Workhorse -- Ina And The South American Venture -- Admiral Dönitz And His Grey Wolves -- Harro Schacht And U-507 -- The Grey Wolves And The Mississippi -- Moving Ever Closer -- Denied A Safe Port -- An Uneasy Feeling -- Torpedoes In The Night -- The Raft -- A Most Hopeless Night -- Dawn -- Desperation -- Running Out Of Time -- The Shrimp Boat And A Surprise -- Ina -- Lucille -- Triumphant Return To Lorient -- Morgan City And The Hospital -- The Laconia: A Sinking And A Rescue -- Spies, Duty, And The Turning Of The Battle Tide -- Passages So Far From Home -- Sonny. Michael J. Tougias And Alison O'leary. Maps On Lining Papers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 223-228). On May 19, 1942 a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles away fromNew Orleans. Captained by 29-year-old Iron Cross and King's Cross recipientErich Wurdemann, the submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia with fifty-nine souls onboard. Most of the crew were merchant seamen, but there were also ahandful of civilians, including the Downs family, consisting of the parents,Ray Sr. and Ina, along with their two children, eight-year-old Ray Jr.,nick-named Sonny, and eleven-year-old Lucille.Fast asleep in their berths,the Downs family had no notice that two torpedoes were heading their way. Whenthe ship exploded, Ina and Lucille became separated from Ray Sr. and Sonny. An inspiring historical narrative, 'So Close to Home' tells the story of the Downs family as they struggle against sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration in their effort to survive the aftermath of this deadly attack off the American coast. "On May 19, 1942, a U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico stalked its prey fifty miles from New Orleans. Captained by twenty nine-year-old Iron Cross and King's Cross recipient Erich Wurdemann, the submarine set its sights on the freighter Heredia with sixty-two souls on board. Most aboard were merchant seamen, but there were also a handful of civilians, including the Downs family: Ray and Ina, and their two children, eight-year-old Sonny and eleven-year-old Lucille. Fast asleep in their berths, the Downs family had no idea that two torpedoes were heading their way. When the ship exploded, chaos ensued--and each family member had to find their own path to survival."-- Provided by publisher