New Book by Former Razorback Officer

Bruce J. Schick, CDR, USN (ret), submarine officer and former Operations Officer and Navigation Officer aboard Razorback from 1967-1969 has written a new book:

This is a no-holds barred look at life in the Navy during the Cold War. CDR Schick grew up during World War II, entered the Naval Academy in 1954, graduated in the upper 15% of his class, and after a short stint aboard a destroyer (during which, among other exploits, he sliced his ship's awning in two with his sword during a ceremony) he entered the Submarine School in Groton, CT in 1960. His final assignment was as Commanding Officer, USS Clamagore (SS 343).

Whale's Tales is a GREAT read, sprinkled lightly with period photographs, including all of CDR Schick's submarine assignments. The book is also sprinkled with coarse language because CDR Schick pulls no punches in his feelings about life in the Navy, nuclear submarines, his shipmates, or even his superiors. He admits that his lack of tact caused him problems and unabashidly tells of times when he created, "... a new enemy for life."

But his honesty, his love of life, and his love for his country leaps out from every page. At the end when CDR Schick writes, "I wouldn't do one thing differently.", you are reminded of a quote from another Navy veteran who said, "And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"

(That Navy veteran was, of course, President John F. Kennedy.)

Copies will be available at the AIMM bookstore shortly, or they can be ordered directly from the author for $19.95 plus postage. CDR Schick can be reached via e-mail at bjschick@earthlink.net.