With "The Last Lieutenant" and "A Code For Tomorrow," John J. Gobbell has firmly established himself as one of today's leading authors of epic war novels. His hero, Todd Ingram, has proven to be one of the most fascinating and endearing characters in the genre. In "When Duty Whispers Low," Lieutenant Commander Ingram faces his biggest challenge to date as his best friend turns against him when the chips are down. It's 1943 and the U.S. Navy is caught in a fierce battle against the Japanese in the South Pacific. At stake is the Allies newly won Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. But Isoroku Yamamoto, Admiral of the Combined Fleet and architect of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, desperately wants Guadalcanal back. Calling it "Operation I," Yamamoto throws everything into the foray, scraping together top-line dive bombers and torpedo planes from all over the Pacific to carry out a series of Pearl-Harbor sized bombing raids in the Solomons. In response, the Allies introduce the proximity fuse to the fleet-a top-secret anti-aircraft detonator that can greatly assist the U.S. Navy in their desperate fight against Japanese dive bombers and torpedo planes. However, in the heat of battle Commander Jerry Landa refuses to use the fuse - and pays the price as his ship, the USS Howell, is torn in half by Japanese "Val" dive bombers. Lieutenant Commander Todd Ingram confronts Landa, questioning his authority as the two become enemies in the midst of battle. As Ingram and Landa fight to survive "Operation I," Yamamoto personally directs the raids that will return him to the glory of December 7, 1941; raids that will facilitate the recapture of Guadalcanal and that will cripple the United States Navy forever. Filled with epic battles, romance, and the brutality of war, John J. Gobbell has crafted a tale that will transport the reader into the South Pacific during World War II--a story as vibrant and stunning as anything he has ever written.

Author Biography

After graduating from the University of Southern California, John J.Gobbell was a U.S. Navy deck officer assigned to Pacific fleet destroyers. Rising to the rank of lieutenant, he participated in the early days of the Vietnam conflict, serving in such positions as anti-submarine warfare officer, fire control officer, and weapons officer. In civilian life, his career has been in the executive recruiting area where he is retained by corporate clients to find senior managers. In the 1970s and 1980s he conducted assignments for prime contractors serving the military, interviewing hundreds of executives responsible for multi-million dollar tactical and strategic defense systems. These assignments piqued his interest in character development for technically aligned executives. That, coupled with a keen interest in the events of World War II, led to the development of his first four novels, all vigorously researched. John Gobbell's wife, Janine, also graduated from USC. They live in Newport Beach, California, where he is at work on his next novel.