Autobiography Book

RED DIAPER BABY IN USS BOWFIN: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF J. MARX AYRES VOLUME 1: 1922-1945

Here is the story of a member of the Greatest Generation - of U.S. Citizens who grew up during the Great Economic Depression of the 1930s. Many families were on government relief and worked on the National Recovery Act (NRA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. They fought the Germans and Japanese in World War II and returned home to continue their educations on the G.I. Bill, supported the formation of the United Nations and went on to help build the post war boom.

My father was a Presbyterian Minister with roots in Deadwood, South Dakota and my mother was a noted sculptor and painter with roots in Elkader, Iowa. I was raised in Inglewood near the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) and Redondo Beach. We lived a semi-rural life raising vegetables, chickens and rabbits for food and working on the neighboring farms or US Government relief projects.

I was a good student in high school and excelled in athletics and drama. I got a scholarship the University of California in Berkeley, took odd jobs and worked in the kitchens of Fraternity and Sorority Houses for food.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, I joined the US Navy. They kept me in school under the V-12 program until I graduated in mechanical engineering. With additional training, I became a Commissioned Officer in the Submarine Service and was assigned to the USS Bowfin (SS 287), serving in Guam on the boat's last two war patrols.

On War Patrol 8 off the northeast shore of Japan, we charted enemy mine fields, and sank a tanker and a merchant ship. Their destroyer escort attacked us with depth charges and we were forced to descend to highly dangerous depth, and subjected to 17 hours of agonizing suspense.

On Patrol 9, the Bowfin and eight other submarines penetrated in the minefields of the Tsushima Strait to enter the Sea of Japan. We sank two enemy vessels and damaged several smaller ships. While patrolling in a dense fog, we narrowly escaped a murderous gun attack.

After the War, the Bowfin was moved to Staten Island, New York. We participated in a huge Navy Day celebration with President Harry S. Truman, honoring the returning heroes.

For the Post War life of the Bowfin, I gathered archival material from crewmembers, and helped in the development of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association Park and Museum in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The book also records the history of crew reunions and the 2006 death of our Captain, Alex K. Tyree.

This Book is Available from:

Trafford Publishing online: http://www.trafford.com/07-1120

Amazon.com: Red Diaper Baby in USS Bowfin

Or, for a signed copy, send a $25 check with your address to:
J. Marx Ayres
2910 Neilson Way, #209
Santa Monica, CA 90405

For more information, contact me at:
(310) 452-7922, or marx@jmayres.com