Kirjahaku

The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. Known for their black berets and limitless courage, they maneuvered their aging, makeshift craft along shallow coastal waters and twisting inland waterways to search out the enemy. In this moving tribute to their contributions and sacrifices, Tom Cutler records their dramatic story as only a participant could. His own Vietnam experience enables him to add a striking human dimension to the account. The terror of firefights along the jungle-lined rivers, the rigors of camp life, and the sudden perils of guerrilla warfare are conveyed with authenticity. At the same time, the author's training as a historian allows him to objectively describe the scope of the navy's operations and evaluate their effectiveness.Winner of the Navy League's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement in 1988 when the book was first published, Cutler is credited with having written the definitive history of the brown-water sailors, an effort that has helped readers better understand the nature of U.S. involvement in the war.

The last great naval battle of World War II, Leyte Gulf also is remembered as the biggest naval battle ever fought anywhere, and this book has been called the best account of it ever written. First published in hardcover on the battle's fiftieth anniversary in 1994 and drawing on materials not previously available, it blends history with human drama to give a real sense of what happened, despite the mammoth scope of the battle. Every facet of naval warfare was involved in the struggle that engaged some two hundred thousand men and 282 American, Japanese, and Australian ships over more than a hundred thousand square miles of sea. Cutler captures the milieu, analyzes the strategy and tactics employed, and re-creates the experiences of the participants, from seaman to admiral, both Japanese and American. It is a story replete with awe-inspiring heroism, failed intelligence, flawed strategy, brilliant deception, great controversies, and a cast of characters with names like Halsey, Nimitz, Ozawa, and MacArthur. Such an exciting and revealing account of the battle is unlikely to be equalled by future writers.

Today's sailors have too little appreciation of their heritage. To counter this problem, Thomas J. Cutler has compiled a history of our naval heritage in the form of A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy. The work is unique in two important ways. First, it is written thematically rather than chronologically. This allows recent history to be blended with more distant (but important) events in ways that will reinforce the timelessness as well as the timeliness of the U.S. Navy, thereby having a greater appeal to today's sailor. There are a number of themes being used--the most obvious are manifested in chapters with the themes of "honor," "courage," and "commitment," but others serve as useful vehicles as well; for example, there is a chapter called "What's in a Name?" that briefly discusses how ships have been/are named and then uses the many ships that have carried the name "Enterprise" as the theme for presenting significant portions of the Navy's history.?The other unique characteristic of this history is that it focuses wherever possible on the roles of ALL sailors rather than just the officers. That is not to say that Jones and Decatur are not there, but that the emphasis is along the lines of "the crew of the Bon Homme Richard fought on into the night..." rather than "Jones fought..." Also, there are plenty of individual sailor heroes who can stand alongside the Perrys and the Farraguts (Boatswain's Mate First Class Williams who won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, Dorie Miller of Pearl Harbor fame, Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr at the battle off Samar, etc.). Some emphasis upon what it was like to be a sailor (working and living conditions) at different times is included as well.

The success of the U.S. Navy in its more than two centuries of existence is due not only to the essential contributions of Sailors on active duty and in the reserve, but to the civilians who have worked as part of the Navy since its earliest days. But active and reserve Sailors go to boot camp or officer candidate school to prepare them for their new (unique) occupation. And the Navy has long provided The Bluejacket’s Manual to incoming Sailors to serve as an introduction and as a continuing reference so that they will feel more comfortable in a new and otherwise alien world, where floors suddenly become decks, where 1337 is a time in the here-and-now instead of a date from ancient history, and where uniforms are anything but! While it is impractical to send all civilian workers to a centralized indoctrination course, it is possible to provide a common reference, specially designed to acquaint civilians with this very special world they have entered. This book is that common reference guide designed specifically for those civilians, who like the Sailors in the Fleet, serve the nation and the Navy, and who need help in understanding where they are and what it is all about. All organizations and occupations have their own idiosyncrasies, and a big step toward “fitting in” has always been learning how to “talk the talk and walk the walk.” Like The Bluejacket’s Manual, this guide provides the words and steps needed to serve as an introduction for new employees and as a ready reference for veteran workers.

Today’s U.S. Navy is a massive and complex organisation, with hundreds of ships, thousands of aircraft, hundreds of thousands of people, and an annual budget in the billions of dollars that make it a powerful and important component of the American defence establishment, playing a vital role in maintaining U.S. national security, protecting against enemies in time of war, and guarding economic lifelines and supporting foreign policy in peacetime. Despite its obvious importance, most Americans know very little about their Navy, and learning about it has been a daunting task. Until now. In ten short chapters, the author reveals such things as the many titles that military people have, the various alphanumeric designations that military personnel use to identify themselves, the organisation of the Navy and the Department of Defense, the origins of such things as saluting, flag etiquette, side boys, and odd language, and an explanation of the many missions of the Navy. Also included is an introduction to the Navy’s colourful history, a primer on the various ships and aircraft that make up today’s fleet, a guide to reading a uniform, and the demystification of such things as the phonetic alphabet and military time. While not everyone need be an expert on the Navy, there is a middle ground that this book serves by providing a readable, edifying and often entertaining explanation of this important but sometimes mysterious branch of the U.S. armed forces. About the Author Thomas J. Cutler is a retired lieutenant commander and former gunner’s mate second class who served in patrol craft, cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers.

Military ways can be enigmatic, resulting in an alien world where acronyms often replace words and where “1330” is a time of day. Add to that, the Navy is not only military, it is nautical, which adds centuries of sea-going terminology and practices to the confusion. While the young men and women who sign on to become sailors in the United States Navy receive extensive indoctrination and training, their parents do not. As their sons and daughters are becoming uniformed, the parents remain uninformed.This book is both a translation manual and a cultural guide to their son’s or daughter’s chosen new world. Alongside chapters covering uniforms, ranks, ships, and aircraft, are explanations and guidance as to what to expect when their child first joins the Navy, the many benefits their sailor will enjoy, and what families should bring and do when visiting their sailors in their new and somewhat alien world. Designed to be an easy read as well as a useful reference work, The Parent’s Guide to the U.S. Navy is essential reading for those parents whose children have chosen to “go down to the sea in ships.”

Award-winning author, Thomas J. Cutler offers an in-depth and inspiring look at the truly heroic story of Ernest Evans and the crew of USS Johnston during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. The term “hero” is overused today, but the story of Ernest Evans and the crew of USS Johnston (DD 557) during the epic Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 is one of true heroism that may be equaled but never surpassed in the annals of American naval history. Undaunted by a vastly superior Japanese task force bearing down on their ship, Commander Evans’ crew laid down a smoke screen, launched all torpedoes, and opened fire with the main battery of five, 5-inch guns, diverting the Japanese fleet’s attention from the vulnerable escort carriers under their protection. Evans’ courageous leadership earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor, and his indomitable fighting spirit made him a true legend in the U.S. Navy. This inspiring book offers an in-depth look at Evans, the Johnston, and the ship’s crew. Award-winning author Thomas J. Cutler relies heavily on interviews he conducted with surviving crew members, as well as his own experiences while serving as an enlisted man in a similar destroyer. Readers can almost feel the sting of salt spray on their faces as Cutler presents a gripping account of Johnston’s year of service, from her commissioning to her sinking off Samar in October 1944. Often reading like a novel, this is a fascinating and poignant history of not only the ship and the crew, but of her Native American skipper who—forced to retreat in the early days of the war—fulfilled his commissioning day promise to “never again run from the enemy.” Evans was a 1935 Naval Academy graduate serving as executive officer of the aging destroyer USS Alden in the far-off Asiatic Fleet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Left virtually behind the lines as the Japanese rampaged their way around the Western Pacific, Alden was among only four U.S. warships to escape in the aftermath of the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942. Spending the next year in frustratingly mundane operations until given command of the newly built Fletcher-class destroyer Johnston, Evans then led his ship in gunfire missions during island-hopping assaults in the Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas before Johnston faced her ultimate challenges in the Philippines. A story for the ages, readers will experience the tedium and the terror of life at sea, the unique challenges of naval combat, and the horrors of trying to survive while adrift in hostile waters. They will know the terrible waste and the agonies of war but will be awed by what human beings can do in the face of great adversity and in the presence of inspirational leadership. The causes for which these men fought and sacrificed have faded with time, the machines they used to carry out their deadly business are now rusted relics of another era, and the waters show no trace of their wakes. But the glory of their deeds will never be forgotten.

Adopted by the US Navy for issue to all new sailors, A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy brings to life the events that have shaped and inspired the navy of today while highlighting the roles of all sailors--from seaman to admiral. Rather than focus entirely upon such naval icons as Stephen Decatur and Chester Nimitz, as most histories do, author Thomas J. Cutler, a retired lieutenant commander, brings to the forefront the contributions of enlisted people. You'll hear about Quartermaster Peter Williams, who steered the ironclad Monitor into history, and Hospital Corpsman Tayinikia Campbell, who saved lives in USS Cole after she was struck by terrorists in Yemen. Unlike most histories, A Sailor's History is arranged thematically rather than chronologically. Chapters are built around the navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment, its traditions of "Don't Tread on Me" and "Don't Give Up the Ship," and other significant aspects of the navy. As Cutler states in his preface, the book is not a whitewash. He includes mistakes and defeats along with the achievements and victories as he draws a portrait of a navy growing stronger and smarter while turning tragedy into triumph. The result is a unique account that captures the navy's heritage as much as its history and provides inspiration as well as information while emphasizing that most essential element of naval history: the Sailor.

The 26th edition of The Bluejacket's Manual continues the tradition of previous editions of this iconic work by serving as both an introduction to neophyte U.S. Navy Sailors and as a career-long reference work for all who wear the Blue and Gold. Readers of previous editions will note two significant changes in this latest rendition. The first recognizes the U.S. Navy's current emphasis on warfighting. While routine and administrative guidance--such things as uniforms, honors, and ceremonies, pay and benefits, standards of conduct, etc.--remain, this latest edition places greater emphasis on those aspects that Sailors are likely to encounter and must prepare for in the event of combat. The first chapter is titled and focused on warfighting, reflecting the emphasis on "Warrior Toughness" in the training curriculum at Recruit Training Command (AKA "boot camp") at Great Lakes, Illinois. Readers will find that this training emphasizes the psychological as well as practical aspects of preparation, providing a kind of "philosophy" that is tailored to Bluejackets who may well find themselves facing the challenges inherent to combat operations. Other chapters in the book--such as Weapons and Damage Control--complement this emphasis. The second major change to the book is its organization of information. The result is a more user-friendly book As always, the major purpose of revision is to bring the included information relevant and up to date. Readers will find coverage of those aspects of the Bluejacket's world that are evolving. Such things as cyberwar and drones are now included with the emphasis on warfighting. The Bluejacket's Manual, 26th Edition is a comprehensive yet manageable reference that will continue to serve the needs of the Navy and those who serve.