“Vivid and concisely written, McCandless’s near-photographic memory paints for us an unstinting portrait of sailors and ships in combat. His wry voice likewise reveals an individual of profound wit, humility, and humanity. Highly recommended.” — Jon Parshall, author of 1942: Crux of War & Shattered Sword
In 1941, the fire of war met the iron of duty, and a generation of heroes was born. Iron and Fire is the newly discovered World War II memoir of Bruce McCandless—a Medal of Honor recipient, career naval officer, and firsthand witness to the U.S. Navy’s most punishing campaigns in the Pacific. Written by an officer who fought from the opening moments of the war through its final battles, this recently recovered account offers an unfiltered view of the naval war in the Pacific.
McCandless was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the fleet burned and the United States was thrust into global war. From that day forward, he served aboard the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA 38), which became one of the most decorated ships of the war, and later commanded the destroyer, USS Gregory (DD 802). The memoir follows a relentless operational tempo—from the uncertain weeks after Pearl Harbor through the grinding campaigns that carried American forces across the Pacific.
Dictated later in life to his daughter as wartime injuries took their toll and set aside for many years, this remarkable firsthand account offers a unique and authentic voice that, like those of E.B. Sledge or William Leckie, echoes across time.
Source: U.S. Naval Institute
