USS Oklahoma by Jeff Phister

scjon · #1 13-11-2009, 04:05

I was into my new book (I bought eight the other day) and it is the above. I was reading about the Oklahoma in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Lo and behold I read a story about the Odom family! It was pretty neat to see your story in the John Odom! Kudos. Nice to see a story like that in print. The book has been very good too by the way.

John Odom · #2 13-11-2009, 10:43

What Book? I have not seen it. Put up the data about it. I put the flag story in the OK historical society archives and distributed it to all of the USS Oklahoma family. The Survivors group wanted me to tell it at the memorial dedication, but the Navy didn't. The Navy wins! on that trip I told it many times, when requested, in the hotel and even in the airports to groups of survivors families and friends.

scjon · #3 13-11-2009, 11:54

It is called Battleship Oklahoma BB-37 the author is Jeff Phister, with help from Thomas Hone and Paul Goodyear. I got it on Amazon for $13.57. It has been a good read thus far, but your families story was on page 37 almost identical to the way it is told on your website. I thought you must have talked to the guy! I put a picture of the book below. By the way why did the Navy not want you to tell the story? If you don't mind me asking...

John Odom · #4 13-11-2009, 19:09

The program was too long. (it was) By the time all the politicians and Admirals finished saying nothing the survivors were very tired. Some even slept through the party that night that was held in their honor. The speeches were long and repititive.

scjon · #5 14-11-2009, 01:44

That stinks I am sure your presentation would have been more entertaining than the ones presented. But I guess that the higher ups had to get the appearances in though, seems a shame though. Anyway I enjoyed seeing your story in the book. The author seems to have interviewed a lot of veterans.

NASAAN101 · #6 14-11-2009, 01:49

Guys,
I have that book, and still havent read it all the way, through yet..
Nikki

John Odom · #7 14-11-2009, 11:16

Jeff got one of the many copies I handed out at the Okla homa City reunion, so he should have it correct. I gave the reporter from the OKC paper a copy, and he obviously didn't read it before he wrote his piece!

I have copies of many of the written recollections of the individual survivors.

scjon · #8 14-11-2009, 12:53

I finished it this morning. It was a good book. I would give it a 7 on a scale of ten. There were some good pictures of the salvage operation I had not seen before. Next time I am at the archives I am going to have to look those up. About to start Humble Heroes: How the USS Nashville fought WWII