Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is not a tell-all book. No national secrets are revealed here. It is, however, a delightfully readable collection of tales about a life well lived while serving in the United States Submarine Force. There is a great deal of folklore and drama surrounding submarine service, some of it justified, much of it exaggerated. If ever you wanted to know what it was like to serve in the Submarine Force during the Cold War, this is your book.
In fairness, I should note that I was a submarine commanding officer who served under then CAPT McKinney when he was a squadron commander in the Mediterranean, and was also his next-door neighbor in Hawaii when he was Commander Submarine Force Pacific. He was a terrific mentor and a great neighbor. He and his wife Mary were always gracious and a joy to be around. I mention this because it allows me to testify not simply to the authenticity of Admiral McKinney's experiences, but to the character that comes through in this narrative. RADM McKinney's career was an exceptionally successful one, to be sure, but the experiences he relates could have been any of us. Although he mentions his rise to flag rank in passing, his tale really covers his career until his relief as Commanding Officer of USS Seahorse.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in serving in submarines, has served in submarines, or is simply interested in learning what a career in submarines might involve. It is a delight!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Flotsam & Jetsam: A collection of Sea Stories that have washed ashore during a forty-year career in the United States Navy
Any veteran of the United States Navy knows about "sea stories". If you served in the Navy, it is almost a 100% certainty that you've heard one (probably many more). And maybe even told "one or two" yourself. "Sea stories" and the tellers of them have all the finest attributes of oral historians that preserve the tradition and lore specific to their society. In the service (all branches) older more experienced personnel share much of their knowledge in just such a way. In their finest sense, the story carries with it a lesson learned-a small slice of experience and specific circumstance. Often leavened with humor, sometimes touching on the tragic-the cold hard facts of the risks involved. Stories connect with our own existence and adjust our thinking based on what we learn from what we hear. Good storytellers have a single intent--to touch the listener in some way. Hank McKinney does that. For those who have served you'll see bits of your own service in these stories. And I would be surprised if some of them don't bring a smile in remembrance. You will also sense the pang of separation from family, an unavoidable price paid by those who serve and their families. For those who haven't served--you'll learn much you didn't know. You'll find stories that cover the gamut of experience and responsibility, from midshipman to admiral, told in a refreshing conversational tone. Come onboard and spend some time with Hank McKinney. You'll come away with a better understanding and appreciation for the "Silent Service" and the men and women who serve. I guarantee you will learn things that you never knew about what was essentially a critical component of our front line defense during the Cold War.About the Author: Rear Admiral Henry C. (Hank) McKinney, USN (Retired) is a native of La Grange, Illinois. He graduated from Princeton University in 1959 with a degree in Engineering and a commission as an Ensign through the Naval ROTC program. He earned a Master of Science degree in Statistics from Stanford University. Originally serving in the surface Navy, he volunteered for nuclear submarine duty and served onboard both SSNs and SSBNs throughout his career including command tours and as Commander of the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars, the Defense Superior Service Medal, both the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars and the Navy Achievement Medal. He is also a past President and Chief Executive Officer of the Navy Memorial Foundation. He now lives in Minnesota and along with his faithful golden retriever reports to his shore based commander, his wife Mary. Their son is commanding officer of USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) and their daughter is a Chemistry teacher in Maryland.
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