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Full Fathom Five: A Daughter's Search
One woman’s quest for knowledge of her father lost at sea
Mary Lee Coe Fowler was a posthumous child, born after her father, a submarine skipper in the Pacific, was lost at sea in 1943. Her mother quickly remarried into a difficult and troubled relationship, and Mary Lee’s biological father was never mentioned. It was not until her mother died and Mary Lee was a middle-aged adult that she set out to learn not only who her father was, but what happened to him and his crew, and why—and also to confront why she had shied away from asking these questions until it was nearly too late.
Fowler searched through old ships’ logs, letters, and naval communiqués; visited submarine museums, the Naval Academy, and other pertinent sites; interviewed old friends and crew members who knew her dad and mom or served concurrently; and slowly reconstructed the world in which they lived. Beautifully written, Fowler’s memoir reveals what she eventually learned: of the perils and harships of submarine service in wartime, of the tragic irony of how her father’s sub was probably lost, and of the long-term damage experienced by the families of those who do not come home from war.
Mary Lee Coe Fowler was a posthumous child, born after her father, a submarine skipper in the Pacific, was lost at sea in 1943. Her mother quickly remarried into a difficult and troubled relationship, and Mary Lee’s biological father was never mentioned. It was not until her mother died and Mary Lee was a middle-aged adult that she set out to learn not only who her father was, but what happened to him and his crew, and why—and also to confront why she had shied away from asking these questions until it was nearly too late.
Fowler searched through old ships’ logs, letters, and naval communiqués; visited submarine museums, the Naval Academy, and other pertinent sites; interviewed old friends and crew members who knew her dad and mom or served concurrently; and slowly reconstructed the world in which they lived. Beautifully written, Fowler’s memoir reveals what she eventually learned: of the perils and harships of submarine service in wartime, of the tragic irony of how her father’s sub was probably lost, and of the long-term damage experienced by the families of those who do not come home from war.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 8, 2022
Much to my surprise I enjoyed the book. Well written it draws the reader in to the authors world and of course her missing dad's world. An out of the ordinary WWII story combined with a contemporary tale of search and discovery..
October 17, 2008
Mary Lee Coe Fowler, the author of the blog Full Fathom Five, has written a book by the same name. And a good book it is. In her memoir of a search for information about her dad, a submarine commander who was lost at sea during WWII, she gives a well researched account of submarine warfare in the South Pacific. By interviewing surviving submariners and delving into the military archives, American and Japanese, she puts together the life story of the hero unknown to her during her formative years. Only after the death of her mother does Mary Lee realize the love shared by her parents, and the courage and determination of her father. I read many books and occasionally a gem comes along that makes me say wow! This is one of them.
July 29, 2014
This is not at all what I expected, and it is in turn reflective, exciting, and hilarious. Fowler uses her personal search to find out about her lost submariner father as a way to tell the entire story of WWII submarines. This is no overwrought memoir, but a seamless narrative that beautifully interweaves her story, her father's story, and the overall story of the war. She has clearly done extensive research, and her many interviews with veteran submariners provide an emotional authenticity to the story she tells. I highly recommend this book, even to those who think they have no interest in submarines or military history -- it's hard not to fall in love with Jim Coe, or to be awed by the courage, dedication, ingenuity, (and humor) of all submariners.
May 6, 2008
Beautifully written memoir. This book tells the story of a daughters search to piece together a father she never met. A Navy Captain, Jim Coe was lost at sea in Sept. 1943.....7 months before the author was born.
Poignant and informative, the author tells the story, in layman's terms, about the importance and silence of WWII subs. I knew a lot about the war in Europe, so I found it very interesting to learn about the Pacific and the dangerous and important role the US Navy submarines played in the area.
The author tells the emotional part of the story with both honesty and finally understanding.
I highly recommend this memoir which is both history and a love story.
Poignant and informative, the author tells the story, in layman's terms, about the importance and silence of WWII subs. I knew a lot about the war in Europe, so I found it very interesting to learn about the Pacific and the dangerous and important role the US Navy submarines played in the area.
The author tells the emotional part of the story with both honesty and finally understanding.
I highly recommend this memoir which is both history and a love story.
October 1, 2010
50% of the book was historically interesting, but the author needed an editor in the worst way... terrible use and understanding of naval terminology. Too much of a self-pity story.
December 16, 2011
Brought to light a problem I never thought about; maybe because I didn't know anyone whose father was killed in WW2.
January 12, 2012
Great topic, horribly written!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews