The Fall River Public Library is collaborating with sister libraries for an upcoming virtual author talk.
From the Fall River Public Library
Libraries Host Book Talk to Honor “Unsinkable” Heroes
On a warm July day in 1965, James McManus, clerk-chauffeur of the regional bookmobile of the Massachusetts Division of Library Extension, took the keys to a brand-new bookmobile that would travel from Fall River to cities and towns in Bristol and Plymouth counties, bringing books to children and adults. It was a far cry from what Jim McManus was doing just over 20 years earlier: serving as gun captain of a 5-inch Navy combat gun against a swarm of German bombers at Anzio on Jan. 24, 1944.
Jim McManus’s story, along with those of other brave veterans who served aboard the U.S.S. Plunkett in World War II, is the subject of the new book Unsinkable by James Sullivan, and Sullivan will talk about the Plunkett and its crew in an online book talk on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. This free presentation is hosted by the Fall River Public Library and co-sponsored by the Five-Town Libraries: Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Somerset, and Swansea.
Known as “the fightin’est ship in the Navy,” the U.S.S. Plunkett served in some of the most legendary battles of World War II, from Casablanca to Anzio to D-Day. Thanks to the courageous actions of its crew, the ship survived a savage attack by at least a dozen German bombers and went on to fight again. Drawing upon Navy logs, war diaries, action reports, letters, journals, memoirs and dozens of interviews with the crew and their families, Massachusetts author James Sullivan tells the story of the Plunkett and those who served—including Jim McManus and two other men from Fall River.
Sullivan will share their fascinating true story, along with pictures of the ship and crew, in a live Zoom chat on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Following Mr. Sullivan’s presentation, participants will be able to join in the discussion and ask questions.
To register for this free online event, sign up at tinyurl.com/FRPLUnsinkable. Participants will be emailed a Zoom link to join the event.
For more information, call the library at 508-324-2700 or visit fallriverlibrary.org.
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