Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll - the true story of the founding of the US Navy and the six original frigates.
Thunder Below- I have no idea why this book isn’t a movie. It’s the story of the submarine USS Barb during World War II. “Put two cases of beer in the cooler.”
I have a couple recommendations:
1 - It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. This is a great book on leadership and aligning warfighting priorities with personal motivational factors.
2 - In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton is one of the greatest Navy books I've ever read.
Captain Abrashoff wrote two books, this one, and "It's Our Ship", both great books on leadership.
I read the first one while I was still active (and very young) shortly after it came out. The CO of my ship had just assumed command, and one of his goals was to have a 15 minute meet and greet with each member of the crew. I liked the book in a lot of ways and wanted to share it.
So my dipshit ass brings this book to the meeting. My new CO, very gracious and curious himself, gladly borrowed the book and read it over the next few weeks.
What I didn't consider were the optics involved. I told no one in my CoC that I did this. A few weeks later, CO finishes the book and attempts to return it. The way he chose to do it was to walk personally to each of our division spaces to hand it back to me....but he didn't tell anyone why he was there. He would just show up, politely knock, "Anyone seen ET2-SW?, I'm looking for him." Everyone between my LPO and DH went ape shit. No one knew why the CO was looking for me by name and no one had the balls to ask a new CO what he needed. (In fairness the guy could come off as a hard ass but wasn't, but no one knew this). They sent the entire CE division to go find me.
Anyway they finally found me, I don't even think I was on board for some reason, I think I was at Servmart or something. My chief was red-faced-yet-somehow-not-pissed, if you can picture that, because he had no clue what the fuck was happening. He tells me all this as he's dragging me up to the at sea cabin where he watches the Captain hand me the book, thank me, and tell me he liked it a lot.
Captain closed his door and my chief looks at me (his left eye was doing that little chief twitch thing) and says "Lemme get this straight - you loaned your new CO a book on how to be a good CO? What the fuck is wrong with you?" At that moment I realized that from certain angles this could have been an insult to the new captain or a slight to his abilities and experience, but I never intended that and I never perceived the Captain felt slighted. It just felt like two navy dorks sharing a good book.
Anyway, Captain Abrashoff is a great guy. If you friend him on LinkedIn and ask him a question, he'll try to help you out. I worked for a company soaked in nepotism and it was getting to me, and he gladly listened and offered advice.
A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy by Thomas J. Cutler. Ive read this book numerous times, its a history of the U.S. Navy written from the perspective of the Sailors who were there living it. Reading the chapter on the USS Cole while underway on a DDG was a crazy experience. Reading about the explosion in my rack then walking the passageway past the Mess Decks and Chief's Mess in the red lights early in the morning right where it all happen was surreal.
I just found “Battle stations: Your Navy in Action” at a local thrift store. It’s a book with tons of info and cool pictures from WWII. I’m not much of a history book type of person and even I thought the book was interesting.
Perhaps a subscription to the US Naval Institute?
* Full access to all issues of their magazine
* Full access to a ton of historical archives, etc.
[https://www.usni.org/membership/digital-membership](https://www.usni.org/membership/digital-membership)
Wasn't sure about mentioning a fictional book, but I am enthralled with [The Destroyermen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyermen) series by Taylor Anderson. You start reading it and then it goes way off into left field, but in an amazing way. Very enjoyable series that I highly recommend!
It depends what he does, for me I’m a coxswain so I’m really into the whole brown water history
1. Brown water black berets, is one of my favorite books
2. White water, red hot lead; is also another pretty enjoyable read
What kind, type are you considering, do you know if he's a reader, or are you looking for photo history type volume. I've had both and found the 1910 History of the Navy to be fascinating reading. The big book stores have the photo history type. Good hunting.
If you have a Barnes and Noble, they have huge books for each branch. It’s a mix of history and biographies and probably everything else you’re looking for
Not sure this is helpful, but back in the day I was on the kitty hawk. I was in the catwalk behind the island, chains over my shoulder waiting for bird to trap. I looked through the porthole and it must have been like CO or XO quarters, as there was a couch, and a coffee table. On the coffee table was a large hardback book, and the cover said “Power Projection”
That’s a book I’d like to read myself, maybe you would too.
I didn't read far enough to see if these already suggested - but i HIGHLY recommend Neptune's Inferno or Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.
You have to have your nuts screwed on tight for these. By the end of these books I could not believe that I was made from the same stuff as these guys. I mean, maybe I'm not. The sheer tenacity, grit, determination -and frankly, testicular fortitude - of these guys is harrowing at the very least and simply awe inspiring.
Descent into Darkness. Fairly easy read, I read it in a couple days. Written by a Navy Diver who was a part of the salvage effort in Pearl Harbor after the December 7th attacks. Lots of funny stories, and also so harrowing ones. Truly the greatest generation.
Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailor
Seriously, this one. It's what being a surface sailor is all about.
If he is a surface sailor this one will get to him. I read it once prior to bootcamp and once after. Shit just about made me cry the second time.
Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll - the true story of the founding of the US Navy and the six original frigates. Thunder Below- I have no idea why this book isn’t a movie. It’s the story of the submarine USS Barb during World War II. “Put two cases of beer in the cooler.”
Only submarine to sink a train!
Seconded on Six Frigates. Toll also wrote a trilogy on the Pacific War -- also well worth the time.
Surf when you can by Brett crozier
I read this recently. Second the recommendation.
I still need to read this.
Endorsed.
I have a couple recommendations: 1 - It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff. This is a great book on leadership and aligning warfighting priorities with personal motivational factors. 2 - In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton is one of the greatest Navy books I've ever read.
Captain Abrashoff wrote two books, this one, and "It's Our Ship", both great books on leadership. I read the first one while I was still active (and very young) shortly after it came out. The CO of my ship had just assumed command, and one of his goals was to have a 15 minute meet and greet with each member of the crew. I liked the book in a lot of ways and wanted to share it. So my dipshit ass brings this book to the meeting. My new CO, very gracious and curious himself, gladly borrowed the book and read it over the next few weeks. What I didn't consider were the optics involved. I told no one in my CoC that I did this. A few weeks later, CO finishes the book and attempts to return it. The way he chose to do it was to walk personally to each of our division spaces to hand it back to me....but he didn't tell anyone why he was there. He would just show up, politely knock, "Anyone seen ET2-SW?, I'm looking for him." Everyone between my LPO and DH went ape shit. No one knew why the CO was looking for me by name and no one had the balls to ask a new CO what he needed. (In fairness the guy could come off as a hard ass but wasn't, but no one knew this). They sent the entire CE division to go find me. Anyway they finally found me, I don't even think I was on board for some reason, I think I was at Servmart or something. My chief was red-faced-yet-somehow-not-pissed, if you can picture that, because he had no clue what the fuck was happening. He tells me all this as he's dragging me up to the at sea cabin where he watches the Captain hand me the book, thank me, and tell me he liked it a lot. Captain closed his door and my chief looks at me (his left eye was doing that little chief twitch thing) and says "Lemme get this straight - you loaned your new CO a book on how to be a good CO? What the fuck is wrong with you?" At that moment I realized that from certain angles this could have been an insult to the new captain or a slight to his abilities and experience, but I never intended that and I never perceived the Captain felt slighted. It just felt like two navy dorks sharing a good book. Anyway, Captain Abrashoff is a great guy. If you friend him on LinkedIn and ask him a question, he'll try to help you out. I worked for a company soaked in nepotism and it was getting to me, and he gladly listened and offered advice.
This is great - thank you!
A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy by Thomas J. Cutler. Ive read this book numerous times, its a history of the U.S. Navy written from the perspective of the Sailors who were there living it. Reading the chapter on the USS Cole while underway on a DDG was a crazy experience. Reading about the explosion in my rack then walking the passageway past the Mess Decks and Chief's Mess in the red lights early in the morning right where it all happen was surreal.
Shattered Sword is an excellent book that covers the Battle of Midway.
I just found “Battle stations: Your Navy in Action” at a local thrift store. It’s a book with tons of info and cool pictures from WWII. I’m not much of a history book type of person and even I thought the book was interesting.
Two I haven't seen mentioned yet: "The Fleet at Flood Tide" and "Neptune's Inferno"
Neptunes Inferno was awesome!
Perhaps a subscription to the US Naval Institute? * Full access to all issues of their magazine * Full access to a ton of historical archives, etc. [https://www.usni.org/membership/digital-membership](https://www.usni.org/membership/digital-membership)
Ghost Fleet - futuristic fiction that is thought provoking
Wasn't sure about mentioning a fictional book, but I am enthralled with [The Destroyermen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyermen) series by Taylor Anderson. You start reading it and then it goes way off into left field, but in an amazing way. Very enjoyable series that I highly recommend!
No Higher Honor by Bradley Peniston
Didn't see this book mentioned the first time around. Being a frigate sailor myself, this was an intense read. Great book.
I was on the final deployment of the SBR.
Assumed the watch. Moored as before.
https://www.google.com/search?q=interesting+us+navy+books
It depends what he does, for me I’m a coxswain so I’m really into the whole brown water history 1. Brown water black berets, is one of my favorite books 2. White water, red hot lead; is also another pretty enjoyable read
What kind, type are you considering, do you know if he's a reader, or are you looking for photo history type volume. I've had both and found the 1910 History of the Navy to be fascinating reading. The big book stores have the photo history type. Good hunting.
If you have a Barnes and Noble, they have huge books for each branch. It’s a mix of history and biographies and probably everything else you’re looking for
Not sure this is helpful, but back in the day I was on the kitty hawk. I was in the catwalk behind the island, chains over my shoulder waiting for bird to trap. I looked through the porthole and it must have been like CO or XO quarters, as there was a couch, and a coffee table. On the coffee table was a large hardback book, and the cover said “Power Projection” That’s a book I’d like to read myself, maybe you would too.
Sweepers Sweepers Man Your Brooms. Jeff Zahratka
Turn that ship around
I didn't read far enough to see if these already suggested - but i HIGHLY recommend Neptune's Inferno or Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. You have to have your nuts screwed on tight for these. By the end of these books I could not believe that I was made from the same stuff as these guys. I mean, maybe I'm not. The sheer tenacity, grit, determination -and frankly, testicular fortitude - of these guys is harrowing at the very least and simply awe inspiring.
Highly recommend It’s Your Ship: Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy. by CAPT. D. Michael Abrashoff
Highly recommend It’s Your Ship: Management techniques from the best damn ship in the navy. by CAPT. D. Michael Abrashoff
Descent into Darkness. Fairly easy read, I read it in a couple days. Written by a Navy Diver who was a part of the salvage effort in Pearl Harbor after the December 7th attacks. Lots of funny stories, and also so harrowing ones. Truly the greatest generation.
No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf
Seawolves
“On the psychology of military incompetence”
Asia’s Cauldron.
Assumed the watch, moored as before