Duty

Duty is one of the overriding themes of the book, especially as seen in the lives of the various officers. Pug sacrifices time with his family in order to do his duty. He admits he has often left Rhoda alone while he was on some trip associated with his military career. While his career is important and he believes he is in line for another sea mission, Pug is called on by President Roosevelt to take on other duties that will certainly not give him the career boost he is hoping for. Nonetheless, he says he will do whatever the President wants of him and is soon on his way to Moscow. That job is followed by an assignment to oversee production of landing craft, a job Pug also takes on to the best of his ability though he wants to be in command of his own vessel...