Lieutenant Willis Steward Keith, the last captain of the Caine, said: “Every hour spent on the Caine was a great hour in all our lives –– if you don't do it. I don't think so now, you will do it later and later” in Herman Wouk's novel, The Mutiny of Caine (526-527). This novel chronicles the life of a young man, Willie Keith, and his career in the United States Navy. The novel is set during World War II, a time of great struggle and hardship for Americans. The life of a naval officer during the World War II era, as depicted in The Caine Mutiny, was marked by many difficulties, some similar to those experienced by naval officers today and others different. Willie Keith began his naval career constantly on the lookout. move. From the East Coast to the West Coast, to Hawaii and finally to the Caine, Keith moved from place to place before his real naval career even began. Due to the drastic reduction in jobs during the Great Depression, many people joined the military to gain financial security (Bernatitus). The economic climate of the country was then very unstable, even in the military field. Due to this instability, the morale of the military gradually declined. Another cause of low morale was the incessant feeling of danger, particularly for those aboard ships in a combat theater. Scientists and researchers, who allowed wartime science and technology to advance rapidly, reduced this sense of danger (Brinkley 746). To boost morale, the United Service Organizations offered servicemen recreational activities and performances led by women (Brinkley 753). For many soldiers, their loved ones met them when they were in port. May Wynn, Keith's wife, often meets Keith at the ports he stops at. This brings him to...... middle of paper ......ican History: A Survey. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007. “Courts Martial Explained.” Military.com. April 7, 2010. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Medal of Honor, USN recipients. Department of the Navy. April 13, 2010. <http://www.navy.mil/moh/faq.html>. "An Introduction to Super Stars: The History of the Navy's Black Admirals." » Commander Jim Jackson: Black Stars to Gold Stripes Lecture and Exhibition Series. April 13, 2010. .US Navy Regulations. Department of the Navy. April 7, 2010. .“World War II. Segregation abroad and at home. African-American Odyssey. April 7, 2010. Wouk, Herman. Caine's Mutiny: A Novel About the Second World War. New York: Back Bay, 2003.