THE SILENT SERVICE REMEMBERS – VOLUME 1

About the Book:

Short Description:

The Silent Service Remembers (Vol. I) is truly a book of a different nature. It was written by submarine veterans themselves to impart a sense of authenticity to the stories. The title takes the reader into the minds of submariners and gives them a first-person perspective of life aboard a US submarine during the Cold War era. The Hood brothers served as editors for this project, collecting and organizing hundreds of stories and photographs from more than 30 men in this volume.

The stories of The Silent Service Remembers (Vol. 1), never before published, relate short episodes that have stood out in the mind of veteran submariners, be they hilarious or death-defying. These are the stories you’d love to hear if you took a submariner out for a beer and asked him a simple question: “Tell me some sea stories!” Through the stories in this collection is woven a consistent theme of the shared sacrifices and triumphs that convert a group of men from all walks of life and all persuasions into a professional crew. These are the tales of this elite force—the Brothers of the ‘Phin.

Each story stands alone, so the book may be read in any order. You will thoroughly enjoy these stories while gaining rare insight into the private thoughts of men who volunteered for submarine service. Through these tales, you will better understand that “Freedom is Not Free.”

Long Description:

It’s no revelation that submarine veterans are generally reluctant to share their stories. Many recollections are connected to secret missions, discussion of which is forbade by long-term confidentiality agreements. Thus, a significant chunk of a submariner’s memories are off limits.

But what if we (as editors) changed the ground rules a bit? By declaring that we didn’t want to delve into details that could compromise this oath of secrecy, we chose to focus on the many other non-classified aspects of submarine life that were still fair game. For example, the pranks…or the camaraderie…or the intense training…or the meaning of the dolphins insignia. By keeping the focus on those experiences and respecting the forbidden boundaries, we were able to solicit detailed stories about life aboard a submarine.

The stories—written by the men who lived them—run the gamut from harsh to tender, unsettling to sublime, and sad to hilarious. They contain several common themes, including love for country, a sense of adventure, an affinity for gallows humor, the pride of well-honed teamwork, and a profound sense among shipmates that they were all key participants in a larger mission. The 33 contributors who wrote stories for The Silent Service Remembers (Vol. 1) did so because they believe that their memories have intrinsic historical value and that the public should know, and appreciate, all that they did.

Nearly a full year in the making, The Silent Service Remembers (Vol.1) paints an intimate portrait of life below the sea in the US Submarine Force. Thanks for your interest.