Just A Sailor

EYES UNDER THE WATER When Steve Waterman left home in 1964, he was looking for the most exciting job the U.S. Navy had to offer. So Waterman became an underwater photographer, joining an elite group that numbered only fifteen men in the entire navy--men always on call for unusual and interesting assignments. Yet it was the time Waterman spent in Vietnam with Underwater Demolition Team 13 that deserves special respect. Existing in a state of adrenaline driven alertness, UDT-13 men carried out their harrowing missions. Stealthily, silently, they crept through Vietnam's waterways, never knowing if the next bend in the river concealed VC patiently waiting to spring a fiery, murderous ambush. Employing the wit and unvarnished honesty that got him into trouble more than once during his thirteen years in the navy, Waterman unfolds a compelling tale of an ordinary sailor who chose to serve his country during one of the most controversial, challenging times in its history.

There is nothing like a good sea shanty—or chanty, as it was originally called—to transport one to a different time, place, and mood. After all, few have a more powerful need to relieve boredom, weariness, fear, and loneliness than sailors. And a classic, generations-tested shanty can do just that—with humor, nostalgia, and often lasciviousness all at once. Whether at land or sea, the good fun of shanties is hard to contain. Sing them a few times, and you naturally want to learn more about them. "What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?" offers not only the lyrics of traditional shanties but the accompanying lore and history as well. Sung for as long as sailors have shipped out to sea, shanties are the collective creative work of seamen needing to ease the hardships of long sea voyages. Generations of sailors adapted the songs to their own needs and culture, forming a link from the age of oar and sail to the nuclear-powered navies of today. Compiled, annotated, and researched by accomplished storyteller Douglas Morgan, a longtime naval officer and author of the acclaimed thriller "Tiger Cruise, What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?" is a witty, fascinating, and unrestrained collection of more than twenty sea shanties—the perfect book for anyone with a hankering to sing and learn more about classic songs that have soothed generations of struggling souls. With more than 60 illustrations and explanations of naval terms and custom—including some of the bawdier parts of a sailor s life—"What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor?" promises insight into military life and literature and, most important, provides hours of good-humored amusement."

In 1888, a US Navy sailor begins writing letters to his niece. The letters tell her where he is and what ventures he has gotten himself into. His sailor letters are retrospective, written after things happen. He also must tell her how he got to the place in time he started writing. He is educated for the time, trained as a naval navigator, lighthouse repairman, and watch repairman. His language is as he would speak to his fellow crew—clipped, as sailors use few G sounds, and an apostrophe is used to indicate the word is shortened, as they do. He is honest and kind. He is well trained in sword fighting. His enlistment contract is not the standard form. His mother’s attorney wrote it. The fleet admiral approved it as he had served with the sailor’s uncle. His uncle was a noted ship navigator, shipmaster, an author of navy lore, and now provided ocean metrological data to the naval observatory. He has carried this on. His early experiences involve train travel to San Francisco. The ship charts the then Northwest Territory and the Alaskan coast. His group verifies charts of the Missouri River. Mostly, his ship supplies food provisions to navy frigates in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

A fellow approaches you and says, "I know where there is a sunken pirate treasure ship right here off the coast. Would you be interested in helping me for a fifty percent partnership?" He claims he heard a voice of a spirit asking for help and promises of great treasures. You dive on the site and find a large lump of corroded Spanish pieces of eight, worth many thousands. Dragging it up on deck you encounter a manifestation of a pirate spirit who spelled it out, no help, no treasure then he disappears along with the lump of ancient silver coins. Three individuals pool their funds to search a suspected underwater ancient treasure site and find more than they bargained for with a pirate's spirit demanding assistance in crossing over into a repentance afterlife. In assisting the spirits they find favor with other successful salvors and their allies, the US Navy who help keep them out of danger from modern day pirates and drug runners

In this firsthand account of life aboard the ships of the Great Lakes, Mark Thompson weaves together the threads of a story that relives a centuries-old tradition. Thompson began his logbook after he reported for duty aboard the Calcite II at Fraser Shipyard in Superior, Wisconsin, for the 1996 shipping season. A Sailor's Logbook is the first such book to chronicle a sailor's life at the end of the twentieth century. Not just a detailing of weather, cargo, and crew relations, A Sailor's Logbook is also an account of the daily lives of a diverse group of crewmembers as they share their sailing knowledge, "sea stories," and the many memories that accompany the pictures. Although there are ample resources in museums, archival collections, and company files regarding statistical logbook information, A Sailor's Logbook details the intricacies of daily life on a Great Lakes freighter. Thompson navigates the reader through the waters of the Great Lakes and his own life in this very special narrative.

Dive into Charles Kingsley's timeless work designed exclusively for the brave hearts of soldiers and sailors. This literary gem transcends time, offering a captivating blend of adventure, morality, and inspiration. Kingsley, a master storyteller, weaves tales that resonate with courage and honor, creating a narrative tapestry that captivates readers from all walks of life. From the unforgiving seas to the battlegrounds of life, this collection is a literary compass, guiding readers through the challenges of duty and sacrifice. Immerse yourself in the pages of this classic, where each word is a beacon of strength and resilience. Discover why Kingsley's work remains an indispensable addition to the libraries of those who face the call of duty with unwavering resolve.