United States participation on the side of the Allies in World War II did not officially occur until shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although it took Japanese prompting and Germany's declaration of war for most Americans to focus on Axis belligerence prior to December 7, 1941 a group of 22 US citizens had already volunteered to serve with the Royal Navy, starting in 1939. This book by Berryman (veteran and scholar) et. al. tells the largely unknown story of a small cadre of well-educated and relatively privileged Americans who took decisive military action into their own hands before their country had gone to the war. The story will appeal to anyone with an interest in World War II and American History. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)