The Mathews men

The German U-Boat war against American merchant men was deadly. In World War II, the U.S. Merchant Marine had twice the fatality rate of the U.S. Navy. William Geroux tells the tale of Mathews County, Virginia, caught in the thick of the fight, as it sent its men to sea, as it had for generations. It is a common mistake to believe that the Nazis did not come near America during World War II. The truth is that German U-boats patrolled the east coast constantly, waiting for ships to leave with supplies for the Allies. Until America's Air Force became stronger, the U-boats were difficult to destroy and the men of the Merchant Marine were often the only defense.