On The Edge Of War

George Larsen was born in San Francisco California on February 21 1918 the son of Danish immigrants. His World War II memoir is laced with fine storytelling engaging wit and everyday observations that allow the reader to enter the serviceman's world as our country approached the day of infamy Dec 7 1941. Larsen joined the Coast Guard on October 29 1939 and four months later was transferred to the Hawaiian Islands where he became a radio operator. He was engaged in intercepting Japanese military code for US Navy Intelligence while stationed at the Diamond Head Radio Station. He was at this radio station during the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7 1941. During World War II Larsen traveled around the world through the South Pacific Tasmania Sea Indian Ocean Red Sea Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. He spent time in Calcutta India and La Havre France. Larsen tells his story so that you feel you are sitting across the table from him. You feel the peril and laugh with the good times as he recounts life for the enlisted man during World War II. His storytelling reminds the reader that we all need to enjoy life even during time of war.