Ironbottom Sound
by Grover Hartt III

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In 1942, a series of pivotal WWII land and sea confrontations occurred in the South Pacific between the Allied Forces and the Japanese for control of the island of Guadalcanal and its strategic airfield. For twenty-seven-year-old Scott Ellsworth, a smart, ambitious American naval officer posted onboard the USS Washington, a battleship in the area, it is an exciting place to be. With his background in radar-controlled gunnery and as a part of Admiral Lee’s core team, it’s also an important opportunity to move his career in the Navy forward. Yet despite his sincere desire to serve his country and fight for the freedoms it represents, Scott must also deal with the harsh reality that he does not have the freedom to openly live his life as a gay man. This and the demands of war complicate his recent relationship with the first man he has ever truly loved—a handsome British officer, named Emmett. In fact, he dares not even express his feelings in the letters he writes to Emmett as they are read by censors. Yet Scott remains determined to stay focused on his duties as he mentally prepares himself for his first taste of action in the war. But he learns that his old adversary, Tom Goodwin—who Scott knows has a connection to the mysterious death of the admiral they previously served under—is also on board. For Scott, it is a time of facing challenges and demons, both internal and external. In this exciting sequel to Proceedings of the Gun Club: Atlantic Overture, author Grover Hartt, III provides an accurate portrayal of the workings of a WWII battleship against the backdrop of an dramatic series of events that helped determine the outcome of the war. A skillful mix of historical fiction and fact, intrigue and romance, this book entertains and engages on a variety of levels.

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Author Grover Hartt, III spent a lifetime following his passion for naval history. In addition to being a son of a naval officer and a member of the Naval League, he extensively researched the navies of several countries and managed to tour all surviving World War II battleships. In addition to his Bachelor of History, Grover obtained a Doctor of Law (JD) degree and a post-doctorate degree of Master of Laws (LLM). He was employed by the US Department of Justice for over thirty years and served as a Senior Litigation Counsel and later the Chief of the Southwestern Civil Trial Section. For his legal work, Grover received several awards, including the John Marshall and IRS Mitchell Rogovin awards and President Obama selected him for a 2011 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service. Grover, who passed away in 2017, was a lifelong resident of Dallas, Texas—although he loved to travel the globe. He spent forty years with his husband who has lovingly ensured his two works of historical fiction can now be enjoyed publicly.

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Grover Hartt III