Photos Provided ABOVE: Frank Brock, left, and Duane Lucas, autograph copies of “Sub Chaser — The Smallest Warship of WWII.” The book, penned by Lucas, is based on Brock’s WWII naval career, recorded in a wartime logbook and stories.

journalist Tom Brokaw deemed the men and women who defended freedom during World War II “The Greatest Generation.”

Now, thanks to a detailed logbook maintained during the war by Frank Brock, 96, of Bethesda, and a series of interviews by his cousin, Somerton native and Cambridge resident Duane Lucas, Brock’s Naval career on a subchaser in the South Pacific comes to life in the new book “Sub Chaser — The Smallest Warship of WWII.”

Brock grew up on a farm near Speidel, located between Barnesville and Bethesda, and attended Barnesville High School before enlisting in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday in 1943. He eventually served on a wooden submarine chaser, which was the smallest ocean-going warship in the Navy at that time. What makes this story unique is Brock’s detailed logbook account of his and his fellow crew members’ service during the critical time Allied forces beat back the Japanese in the last two years of the war.

After a storied career that took him all over the country, Brock retired to Bethesda. He and Lucas reconnected, as both men enjoy fishing. It was during these excursions that Brock shared his sub chaser exploits, which fascinated his cousin. In time, Brock gave Lucas a box of clippings and several magazines and books on sub chasers. At the bottom of the box was Brock’s logbook.

Encouraged by another retired Navy veteran who asked, “Why don’t you print it?”, Lucas transcribed the log accounts and after 14 hours of interviews with his cousin, penned 18 “sea stories” of Brock’s service into an illustrated 95-page book. What was originally intended to be family history and remembrances turned into a personal World War II history, Lucas said.

Barnesville native U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Dean H. Hines praised the work, stating that “Sub Chaser” gives a rare and intimate look into the daily life of small boat sailors in the Pacific during WWII. An enlightening read for anyone interested in history, this book gives renewed appreciation for the everyday young men who answered their country’s call to arms during a great time of global conflict.

“We now have the opportunity, eight decades later, to relive the humdrum of scraping rust and swabbing the decks interspersed with the stress and dangers of raids from Japanese Kamikaze planes and horrific typhoons which threatened to sink Brock’s little ship. An easy and most enjoyable read,” Phillip E. Wentzel, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander (Ret.) adds.

“Sub Chaser — The Smallest Warship of WWII” can be purchased online from the publisher at thebookpatch.com. Residents of Guernsey and Belmont counties can also purchase the book directly from Lucas. Send an email to d_klucas@roadrunner.com for details and delivery options.

Lucas and Brock will sign copies of the book at the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library from 10 a.m. to noon May 13.