Marmur, Jacland "The Middle Watch"

World War 2 coming-of-age sea yarn. American cargo-liner PARTHENON recently outbound from Lisbon en route home to New York spots a torpedoed British tramp freighter sinking in heavy seas. “Young Tommy Barton,” a rather sullen American seaman (“a tough fo’c’stle boomer,” according to his Captain) goes off in a small whaleboat to attempt the rescue of the British crew. While doing so, according to Marmur, he “grew up at last”. Returning succesfully to his own vessel, he vows to get ahead in his chosen profession, and indeed now plans to sit for a ship officer’s license as soon as the PATHENON reaches port.