Ask the Chief: Backbone of the Navy

Ask the Chief: Backbone of the Navy by Leahy, J. F.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781591144601.

Whenever sailors are confronted with "unsolvable" problems-be it a fouled anchor or paint that wont dry-they often throw up their hands and exclaim, "Wed better ask the Chief." That refrain, heard for generations throughout the Navy, is the theme for Jack Leahys newest book. Written at sea, his book provides a compelling picture of the Chief Petty Officers community in the U.S. Navy. As a guest of the Chief Petty Officers mess aboard USS George Washington during Operation Enduring Freedom, Leahy was granted complete and unfettered access to all areas of the massive carrier and the other ships in her battle group. He interviewed nearly one hundred Navy Chiefs from the aviation, surface, submarine, and special warfare communities and recounts their stories of daily life at sea. In doing so, he presents the true backbone of the modern Navy: the wisdom, character, and dignity of the Chief Petty Officers community. This book of contemporaneous oral history follows the format that proved so successful with Leahys earlier book on Navy boot camp. Color photographs help bring the story to life. 240 pages. 30 photographs. 10 line drawings. Hardcover. 6 x 9 inches.