About the Book:

Short Description:

Sub Tales 5 is the fifth and final volume of the Sub Tales collection of US submarine history books by Charles and Frank Hood. It caps off the series with another generous serving of original stories and veteran insights covering the gamut of submarine operations. Like its predecessors, Sub Tales 5 seeks to both entertain and educate the reader about not only important milestones in submarine history but also ordinary moments experienced by submarine sailors as they go about their daily work.

Long Description:

For this book, the input of hundreds of submarine veterans was solicited to include their perspectives on several chapters covering topics of interest. These include the art of perfecting the submarine prank (requiring two chapters based on the sheer number of contributions), the meaning of Christmas celebrations while on patrol, the importance of music in decompressing and maintaining one’s sanity, and memories of many “close calls” that could have ended in tragedy. Former submarine sailors also weigh in on the importance of improvisation while underway and augment the chapter on submarine waste removal with dozens of recollections both humorous and macabre. Elsewhere in Sub Tales 5, you’ll find chapters about World War II that celebrate the valor of the crew of the USS Grenadier, the patriotism of a single Navy couple who personified the exemplary qualities of the “Greatest Generation,” and the tenacity of a priest stationed at Pearl Harbor to see his dream of a submarine chapel realized. Stories of profound tragedy aboard the USS Ulysses S. Grant and the USS Henry Clay are also included to remind readers of the fundamentally dangerous nature of the work performed by the members of the US Submarine Force—and the deep bonds that bind these sailors together long after their service years have been completed.