Submarine duty during World War II was one of the most statistically deadly, physically demanding, and emotionally challenging assignments in the U. S. Navy. The boats had few crew comforts, and war patrols, typically thirty to sixty days in length, were so exhausting that the submarine sailors often got a month of rest after each patrol. What would motivate men to volunteer for this unmistakably difficult and dangerous job? This is the question that The Men will answer using the oral histories of enlisted submarine veterans, a collection of letters of one sailor who did not return, and other primary sources. These volunteers, from diverse locales and backgrounds, ignored the danger, accepted the privations, and exalted in the camaraderie. Their excitement, fear, and humble heroism is captured in their own words; the real story of the undersea war in the Pacific told by the men who fought it. A veteran of the United States Navy, Stephen Leal Jackson spent eight years in the submarine force serving on the USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) and the USS Florida(SSBN 728). Jackson's service included several Western Pacific cruises to the oceans, lands, and ports described in The Men. A lifelong student of American history, Jackson's ongoing research concentrates specifically on World Wars I and II. Jackson received his Master of Arts in American History from Providence College and is currently in the Ph.D. program at Salve Regina University. Jackson has served as the primary spokesperson for a major electrical utility on nuclear and environmental issues. His unique perspective as a onetime navy enlisted submariner, trained historian, and skilled communicator allows Jackson to provide clear and easy access to the fascinating experiences of the men who fought the undersea battles during World War II.

The inspiration for compiling this book, The Silent Service Speaks (Vol.1), came from a simple premise: Imagine yourself meeting with a Cold War-era submariner at a neighborhood bar for an evening of conversation over a pitcher of cold beer. What would you ask him that he could truthfully answer, and what would most interest you about his story?Such story-telling comes easy for most seamen, but in the case of our submariner, there's a catch: a lot of topics that you might want to discuss are entirely off-limits. Such is the submariner's lament. He has so many stories that he could share, but he must constantly exercise tremendous discretion in determining what can and cannot be disclosed. Your imaginary evening at the local bar might be interrupted by fits and starts as he chooses his words very carefully.But what if we changed the ground rules, declaring upfront that we didn't want to delve into details that could compromise his oath of secrecy, instead just focusing on the many other non-classified aspects of submarine life that are fair game? For example, the pranks...or the camaraderie...or the intense training...or the meaning of the dolphins insignia. By keeping the focus on those experiences that didn't involve intrigue and confidentiality, we could get some sense of what it was like on board a submarine while still respecting those forbidden boundaries. Stated in another way, we sought to describe the "day to day" and not the "cloak and dagger" of submarine service. The stories presented here run the gamut from harsh to tender, unsettling to sublime, and sad to hilarious. They contain several common themes, including love for country, a sense of adventure, an affinity for gallows humor, the pride of well-honed teamwork, and a profound sense among shipmates that they were all key participants in a larger mission. Several of the contributors reflected that their lives were never more meaningful or focused and that some of their very best years were spent in the US Navy. As these Cold War-era submarine veterans have grown older, their senses of nostalgia and mortality have deepened. Those who wrote stories for The Silent Service Speaks (Vol. 1) did so because they believe that their memories have intrinsic historical value. They understand that although certain parts of their submarine experiences may never be discussed, a far greater percentage of their memories are worthy of sharing. Their stories are not "tell-all" narratives, but they do provide many important insights into the struggles, sacrifices, and rewards of submarine service. In that sense, this volume represents an important contribution to the written history of submarines in the modern era. The 33 contributors to our book span the entire Cold War period, from the late 1940s to the 1990s and beyond. The book contains more than 150 stories and over 300 photographs, most submitted by the authors themselves. It also includes several poems, interviews, and other recollections. The editorial process centered on readability, consistency in terminology, and historical accuracy, while maintaining the authenticity of each contributor's voice. Nearly a full year in the making, The Silent Service Speaks (Vol.1) paints an intimate portrait of life below the sea in the US Submarine Force. As with the previous two submarine books written by Charles and Frank Hood, "Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots" and "Sub Tales: Stories that Seldom Surface", all proceeds from the sale of The Silent Service Speaks (Vol. 1) are donated to the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI) Scholarship Fund. This practice continues the authors' commitment to philanthropy and the desire to increase public awareness about the significance of the submarine community at large. As of June 2020 at the time of the initial publication of this book, the total proceeds raised for the USSVI Scholarship Fund have exceeded $32,000. Thanks for your interest.

After my tenure as national president of the Navy League and after I think, perhaps, I have nothing to prove, I was wrong. I am asked to speak at the annual Thursday night dinner of the Submarine Veterans of WWII in November 2008. I came in at the last minute and sat down at the designated table full of submarine veterans and their wives. I was the last one to sit down. The submarine veteran next to me listens while we visit at the table for a few minutes and then turns to me and says, "What are you doing here? You don't know anything about us. You aren't a submariner. Why should you be speaking to us?" And I thought, Here we go again.