I have two relatives (grandfather and great uncle, both deceased) that I know of who served in WW2. My grandfather was a cook on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands around ‘44-‘45. My great uncle was an “F2C V6,” which I think is a fireman or somebody who worked in the engine room. Could be wrong. He was on the USS Washington (BB 56) from 10/31/44 to at least 3/31/45.
I would like some recommendations on books (if any exist) that could help explain what they did. Granted, I understand a cook on Adak Island probably won’t be much of a book, let alone exciting.
I'm actually doing a bunch of reading on the Pacific War right now, so I think I can throw some recommendations your way.
(Full disclosure: while these are all books I have acquired and are in the process of acquiring, they are not all books I have had a chance to read yet. So, some of these recommendations are based on reviews.)
For the war at sea in general, World War II at Sea: A Global History, by Craig Symonds (have read, and it is very good).
For the last year of the war, The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945, by James Hornfischer (awaiting its arrival).
For a major engagement the USS Washington was in, Storm Over Leyte: The Philippine Invasion and the Destruction of the Japanese Navy, by John Prados (have read, and it is very good and eye-opening).
To get a sense of the overall war in the Pacific, you might want to check out Sea of Thunder, by Evan Thomas (have read a while ago, it's good but it does focus on the leadership more than the rank-and-file).
Now, that said, as you are the next of kin (or hopefully close enough to not make a difference), you can request your grandfather's and great uncle's war records from the National Archives (which would tell you quite a lot about what both of them did): https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records