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Governors Island was one of the Harbor Defense islands. The island was a military post starting with the British in pre-Revolutionary times, the US Army until the 1960s and the US Coast Guard until 1997. Presently it's open to the public on weekends and soon to be a public park and home to the Maritime School.
This book covers the Islands history as a military fort, a military prison, a place for polo matches and the first flight of Wilbur Wright over water. The history of women on the island has it's own chapter and discusses secretaries, day workers, wives and daughters and women in the Coast Guard.
The reason I read this book: My father was in the Coast Guard and my family lived on Governors Island from 1971-1981. Unfortunately this time period is barely discussed in the book. The author did post at a GI Brats web site that I belong to and asked for GI stories. Some of the stories contributed by people I know, including my former next door neighbor, made their way into the book. Reading this book did bring back memories: All the kids on the playground standing still and facing the American flag flying over Fort Jay during Taps, then whooping and running inside. (All the moms wanted us in at sunset. Since Taps was heard all over the Island you couldn't say you didn't know what time it was)
Fun Facts I learned reading this book:
The real Ichabod Crane was a commanding officer on the Island.
The name of the spy that was hanged at Castle Williams was John Beall. He was said to be the ghost who haunted the Castle and made Girl/Boy Scout meetings there at night very scary.

Except for it's almost total lack of information about the 1970-1980's this is a thorough look at the history of Governors Island. Recommended for military buffs and GI Brats. 4/5 stars.
… (mere)
 
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VioletBramble | Sep 15, 2010 |

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Værker
3
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25
Popularitet
#508,561
Vurdering
4.0
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1
ISBN
6