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Father Joe: A Hero's Journey
by Robin Whitten
Reprinted from AudioFile
Jay O'Callahan's remembrance of his uncle will stun listeners with its sincerity and drama. In this biographical sketch O'Callahan recounts Father Joe O'Callahan's life as chaplain aboard the carrier USS Franklin during bombing raids in the South Pacific during WWII. His later life as a teacher at Holy Cross is woven through the war incidents and young Jay's relationship with Father Joe.
While Father Joe's story is remarkable and moving, in the energy of the telling Jay O'Callahan has drawn an unforgettable portrait with immense power and depth. This is not easy listening. The story goes back and forth in time and scene, and some images are intense and graphic.
Young adults will surely be drawn to the vividness of the bombing scenes, and adults will marvel at the tribute O'Callahan pays not only to his uncle but to other navy heroes.
Reprinted from:
AudioFile - January 1995