Waving the Rules

The Korean War of 1950-1953 was a powder keg that could have easily escalated into World War III. Combatants North Korea and South Korea squared off in a bitter struggle to dominate the peninsula. North Korea received support from China and Soviet Union. South Korea was backed by the United States and United Nations. Fortunately, the war was contained due to keen strategic planning and did not spread into a global conflict. This included the reinforcement of secondary lines of defense through the mobilization of Navy warships and putting real teeth into NATO. Unfortunately, the legacy of the Korean War continues to burden our world, even to this day.

At the outbreak of the War, a plethora of inactive military reserves were called to duty, disrupting personal lives and professional obligations. This is the story of one such man's experience aboard a USS Navy Destroyer Escort initially assigned to patrol the eastern seaboard and protect American interests from Norfolk, Virginia to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Ultimately the ship is dispatched to the North Sea to protect NATO interests against potential Soviet aggression. The story is filled with good humor and true personal anecdotes of Navy adventures on the high seas while underscoring the real risks to life and limb inherent in manning a Navy ship in times of conflict. Also brought to light are the sacrifices made by the families of those who serve. It is truly a captivating collection of Navy tales with surprising twists and turns.