Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War

Book excerpt: Would you like to know all about the inner workings of a U.S attack submarine? This nonfiction book, told through the eyes of the personal experiences of one of the authors, and greatly expanded now in its third edition with the input of dozens of other submarine veterans, explains how submarines are designed, built, manned, and operated. Key concepts such as buoyancy, navigation, periscope function, sonar and weapons are discussed in detail. You'll enjoy the format of this coming-of-age story of a young Navy man during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and along the way you'll learn about the intense training required for nuclear submarine service. Then you'll come aboard as the narrative turns to day-to-day details of life aboard a submarine--the missions, the routines, the psychological pressures, and the deprivations of living underwater for weeks at a time. The Silent Service, as this group is known, has a wonderful human story that has largely escaped the public domain, in part because of the classified nature of their missions. This book eschews the covert details and instead dwells on the human-interest side of submarine service. Filled with wonderful stories--some hilarious, others sad--and buttressed by 19 historical submarine essays, over 100 photos, and a detailed glossary of terminology, the book is a compelling read that will inform you and give you a newfound pride in the men and women who maintain our sea defenses 24/7. Also, all proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the Scholarship Fund of the USSVI. Makes a great gift for that Navy veteran in your life!