On Tuesday May 4th at 6pm, the Vineyard Haven and Chilmark libraries will host author Michael J. Tougias for dramatic presentation based on his co-authored book So Close to Home: A True Story of an American Family’s Fight for Survival During World War II. Using images of of the attack, the survivors, and their rescue, Tougias tells the dramatic story of the Downs family, who were civilian passengers on the freighter Heredia when it was sunk by a German submarine in 1942 off the coast of New Orleans. More than half the 62 crew and passengers aboard perished when two torpedoes blew the vessel into pieces, but incredibly, after 15 hours in the ocean – facing sharks, hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration”all of the Downs family survived and were reunited. Tougias also had access to the U-boat commander Erich Wurdemann’s War Diary, and the presentation will include a discussion of the challenges faced aboard the sub, and some of the daring raids the commander made off the coast of America.
Michael J. Tougias is a NY Times Bestselling author and co-author of 30 books. He is best known for his non-fiction narratives published by Simon & Schuster and Public Affairs. These include The Finest Hours, Ten Hours Until Dawn, So Close to Home, A Storm Too Soon, Overboard, Rescue of the Bounty and Fatal Forecast. The Finest Hours has been made into a Disney movie, while Ten Hours Until Dawn was selected by the American Library Association as “One of the Best Books of the Year.”
So Close to Home is a survival story and history book rolled into one, similar to Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken. “I enjoy doing these programs,” says Tougias, “It’s like watching a movie with the author giving behind-the-scenes details.” The presentation is suitable for all ages.
Please contact library program coordinator Anne McDonough for Zoom access to this exciting program!
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