Ep63: Author Justin Laborde brings us a story inspired by his grandfather, “Scattered Far and Wide: The Naval Academy Class of ’38 at War”

Meet the Author: Justin Laborde, PhD, is a strategic consultant and frequent speaker on consumer trends, marketplace insights, and business-growth strategies at Fortune 500 companies. Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Justin now lives with his wife, Amanda, and their three children in Cary, North Carolina.

About Scattered Far and Wide: This book follows the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1938 as they rise from junior officers to combat leaders in World War II’s most pivotal battles. Through firsthand accounts and deep research, Justin Laborde brings their stories of courage, sacrifice, and survival vividly to life.

“Scattered Far and Wide,” by Justin Laboarde, PhD

Scattered Far and Wide tells the war stories of U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen from the Class of 1938. Commissioned on the eve of World War II, they faced the trials of combat as new officers from the early days of American involvement and as ships captains, pilots in leadership positions, and submariners in charge by VJ Day. Tested as young leaders, they bore the new burden of command while at the fore of the Pacific War’s largest and most pivotal campaigns. They felt the wind and spray in their faces and the percussion of ships’ guns and depth charges at the pivotal moment in their lives and careers, making their experiences unusually compelling, heartbreaking, and—most assuredly—instructive.

From Pearl Harbor through the end of the war, these men fought and struggled for survival as part of the U.S. Navy’s Asiatic Fleet. In the early months of the conflict, they tried to stem the onslaught of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Some were captured and sent to brutal prisoner-of-war camps. Others took to the air from aircraft carriers as members of torpedo, bomber, and fighter squadrons during the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. Later in the war, a number served aboard submarines, experiencing some of the most legendary patrols in the history of the Silent Service.

Justin’s grandfather, Alden Laborde, was a member of the Class of 1938. Upon his death, Justin obtained a 1938 edition of The Lucky Bag, the Naval Academy’s yearbook. Reading the memoirs of Alden’s classmates, Justin realized he was well-placed to tell the fascinating, untold story of this class’s experiences in World War II. He spent five years gathering primary materials and researching the histories and wartime tales. The young men who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1938 left Annapolis on the eve of war and faced its perils around the world. In the process, these junior officers earned medals and fame, left legacies of heroism and loss, and sparked tales of renown and bravery that reverberate today.

Click here to buy Scattered Far and Wide.

About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com

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Elaine’s Literary Salon is located at Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen Street, Alexandria VA

About Elaine’s Restaurant:  A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the former home of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins for 38 years. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.