Lost in the Pacific 1942

During their time at sea, the crew must share extremely close quarters. What are the benefits and drawbacks of their proximity? 

While the crew is stranded in the Pacific Ocean, they are far away from any battlefield, but they still respect military rankings. Why is it important for the crew to respect military rankings while they are lost at sea? 

At the end of the book, the fate of these men is compared to the fates of other Army men, especially the unlucky passengers of the USS Juneau. What are the differences and similarities between these two stories? What do these two stories reveal about survival during wartime? 

Just before the men are rescued, Cherry and other crewmembers decide to break away from the group. Why does the crew decide to separate? Why is Rickenbacker so irritated by the other crewmembers’ departures? 

As Army men, the entire crew is highly competent, organized, and quick to act. How do their skills and attitudes help the men while they are lost at sea, and how do they hinder them?  

As a World War I veteran, Rickenbacker belongs to a different generation than the rest of the crew. What are some generational differences between him and the other crew members? How are these differences useful, and how are they difficult? 

 The turbulent seas that the men first encounter when their plane crashes are a difficulty, but the calm seas that they later encounter are also a difficulty. How are these difficulties different, and how must the men cope with them differently? 

While the men are lost at sea, they are completely isolated. They are even cut off from their identities as soldiers fighting in World War II. How does World War II impact the crew even while they are at sea?