Author Description

The untold story of 22 U.S. citizens who came to fight for England by volunteering for the Royal Navy before America entered the war. They were commissioned between September 10, 1939 and November 10, 1941. Most of the men were sent for training to the Royal Naval College, Greenwich thus initiating what was to become the famous "over here" phenomenon as the two different cultures learnt to adapt to each other's ways. The faculty recognized the arrival of the first three men with a commemorative plaque placed in the floor of the Painted Hall on June 15, 1941. Mindful of the possible legal consequences, since foreign military service is against U.S. law and can result in loss of citizenship, the names were omitted from the plaque. What makes this tale compelling is that the men actually made a significant impact on the war effort. Showing up was just the start. Some achieved remarkable accomplishments. This is the story of who they were, what they did and why, and what became of them. Introduction: Nicholas Hewitt, Naval Historian, Imperial War Museum, London Forward: HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Rear Admiral (hon), Royal Naval Reserve Afterword: Kapitän zur See Otto von Buelow, commander of U-404