Stealth Boat is a memoir of Gannon McHale's years in the U.S. Navy and of the men he served with in the Submarine Service between 1967 and 1970; and some of what they accomplished and experienced during that time. It is my also his remembrance of what it was like to grow up aboard a nuclear powered Fast Attack Submarine. McHale reported aboard USS Sturgeon (SSN 637) still a boy; and left a young man. This was the most important period in his personal development; and it profoundly affected the way he has lived the rest of his life. For many years any public discussion of the mission of Fast Attack submarines during the Cold War has been strictly guarded. The Freedom of Information Act now allows us to look back at a period in our nation’s history that is worth remembering; and the part played by the U.S Submarine Service in winning that war is undeniable. America in the late 1960’s was tortured by internal and external conflict. The war in Vietnam was unpopular and the Draft was still in operation.At the age of nineteen millions of young American men faced the probability of being drafted and sent to fight a war that many of them did not believe in. Some fled the country; others were drafted; and many more like the author chose to be proactive about their military service and enlisted. His book focuses on several men who did just that; and in the process became lifelong friends.
#1322592 in Books Other Press 2010-10-12 2010-10-12Ingredients: Example IngredientsFormat: Deckle EdgeOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.17 x .86 x 5.64l; .70 #File Name: 1590513797272 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. WitnessesBy Charlottekrn BookfairThe non-fiction work is an interesting and informative compilation of disturbing historical facts and records; complete with pictures and documentation. The author describes in detail; the encounters between the Nazi witnesses; those that testified against the Nazi regime; and those that defended the Nazi regime and denied any wrongdoing. Kohl also describes situations in which the testifying Nazis and the concentration camp victims met within the house.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A House in NuremburgBy Janemb35During the Nuremburg Trials; after World War II; a dwelling was maintained by the Americans to house the witnesses; both Nazi and Allied. The surprising thing about it was not only that both sides were represented; but that they got along on the whole very well (after all; as one of the officers observed; they were mostly `gentlemen' in the rather old-fashioned meaning of the term.) The comforts available at the House were due to the generosity of the Americans.This is not an especially `nice' book. It is a translation of a book written in 1945 by Christiane Kohl; a German newspaper journalist. Anthea Bell; esteemed British translator; translated it. The book does not shrink from describing the horrors of the camps; but that is not surprising; given the thrust of the trials. (It occurs to me that this guest house might provide a splendid setting for a dramatic play suggested by the characters and situations in the book.)This is a remarkable look into the post-war tensions in Europe and between victors and vanquished. Comparatively little mention is made of the poverty and hunger that followed the War; not even the shortages the War created. Perhaps their effect paled against the recent terrors of the Nazis and of the Allied bombing and invasion. And as noted above; this was not part of the immediate story. As the author suggests; people may have simply chosen for one reason or another not to discuss their traumas. Furthermore; it seems to me that the author has been at pains not to pass judgment on the inhabitants; although her word choices and factual descriptions are quite powerful and lead us to consider what has been happened.This is; in a way; a first draft of history. It is not concerned with character and motivation. Nor is it concerned with minor details. It is simply a mostly objective record; taken from the hostelry's guest books; of the guests who stayed there and their comments. It is not; alas; a complete record; for many `guests' chose not to record their visit. The author kept her speculations to those of which she was reasonably sure.There is so much we do not know about the Nazi horror. There are so many books on the subject: fiction; autobiography; biography; memoirs; each contributes to a picture of the whole and yet I doubt we will ever really understand what happened; why a nation of scholars and artists; scientists and teacher; poets and musicians and ordinary people many of whom were Christians were unable to stop it. On the other hand; when I was a graduate student I had a remarkable professor; a Conservative Jew; who commented in an Intellectual History class that many if not most of the Jews in the camps had voted for Hitler. His explanation was that this was in reaction to the rise of Communism.All in all; this is a fascinating read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating turn of historical events.By Marty DaveySomething you only think would happen in a movie. It tries to get into the heads of the visitors and witnesses; but can come off a little too factual. However; the story itself is incredibly compelling.
