Scurvy Dogs, Green Water and Gunsmoke:Fifty Years in US Navy Destroyers, Vol 1

By Bob Cohen

Fifteen members of the Secret Scurvy Dog Society relate their own accounts, many humorous and some pointedly not, of life at sea on U.S. Navy destroyers during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189234307X
• ISBN13: 9781892343079
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Oak Tree Books
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Anthology of Destroyer Sea Stories

Volume I and Volume II together contain 101 short destroyer sea stories contributed by 18 different U. S. Navy destroyer veterans some who were young enlisted, some who were career chiefs and some who were officers when they served (scurvy dogs). Readers with no Navy experience have told me they were enjoyable. Readers with some Navy experience were enthusiastic. Of course I may be a bit prejudiced, I was one of the 18 contributing authors.

What a hoot

For anyone who was in the Navy, wanted to be in the Navy or knows someone who was in the Navy, these two books are great. The two volumns are collections of brief, 1st person articles about what life was really like for destroyer sailors, widely seen by most of the Navy as somewhat odd group of people. Written by both officers and enlisted men, they give outsiders a glimpse of what goes on on these small -- in comparison with most of the rest of the Navy -- cramped, uncomfortable ships. It sorts of gives you an idea of life at sea, periods of intense boredom interspaced by moments of hilarity, or panic. I've read a lot of naval history, but nothing gives a better picture of what it's really like than Scurvy Dogs.

Scurvy Dogs, Green Water and Gunsmoke

Scurvy Dogs, Green Water and Gunsmoke: Fifty Years in US Navy Destroyers, Volume 2 "Destroyers, now there's the real Navy!" Gobbell's review comments about Marines and SEALS might not be exactly gospel, but it's close enough. Learning about Tin Can Swabs, you learn they're pretty much grunts in a metal and aluminum AO (Area of Operations) and steel foxholes darting around the worlds ponds. They got some really cool rifles too! Shoot clean into next week. This ain't the Gator Navy dropping grunts off on beaches we don't like. It's about the Navy we don't get to see. The ones they arm. This collection of sea stories is worth the read. For you other Jarheads and Tridents out there who haven't gotten past the pop up books yet, get some help and look at the preface! The proceeds go to the Navy / Marine Corps relief Society in the honor and name of a fallen brother. So make an effort to get to the PX and get it, stow it in you AWOL bag! It appeals to me as a book that will travel well and long even in a ruck. It will be passed around multiple times and probably tours as well. There's that many laughs and almost that much entertainment in it. Semper Fi Mike

Long live the destroyermen

Pick an ocean, any ocean. Add a few Navy destroyers, throw in a healthy dose of salt spray, then brace yourself. Such a concoction breeds unique ship crews who are renowned as colorful characters with irreverent lifestyles. Now some of their own have jumped ship and penned these clever sea stories. These tales, some taller than others, offer unique insights into life aboard the "greyhounds of the sea." A good read.