"Sea Story!"
&
Other Sketches
Memories and
musings from a life of adventure
By
CDR Corwin A. Bell, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Product Description
The book is a collection
of previously published stories, essays, rants, and musings by 'Skipper Al'
Bell, whose adventurous life has given him a unique perspective on the world.
The writings range from interesting accounts of real events to humorous lampoons
and fiction. Some are inspiring, while others are ironic. The gentle reader may
not agree with the author on some issues, in which case the reader is almost
certainly wrong. His writings are part Mark Twain, part Jonathan Swift, and a
large dose of “Mad” magazine. Some stories are serious and uplifting. Others
reflect brooding depression. All are entertaining.
About the Author
"Skipper Al," a retired U.S. Navy commander, was given his nickname by fellow
members of the San Diego chapter of MENSA, the high IQ society. He wrote many
nautical theme stories for "San Diego MENSAN." However, many of his stories were
opinion pieces, pure fiction, or satire totally unrelated to the military. These
stories were occasionally picked up and published in other periodicals. He has
collected some of the more popular stories, as well as some less well known that
reflect opinions that he feels a need to express. He hopes these stories will be
read by people who have reached the age of reason, whatever their chronological
ages. Al Bell considers his literary influences to be Mark Twain and Jonathan
Swift, but he says that "Mad" magazine must shoulder much of the blame for his
quirky outlook on the world. Al served 24 years in the Navy, many on ships and
riverboats involved in the Vietnam War.
Book Reviews:
"Sea Story!" & Other Sketches includes
non-fiction stories that took place while Al Bell was the Fleet Command Advisor
to the Vietnamese Navy based in Saigon, the Senior Advisor to the South
Vietnamese River Assault and Interdiction Division 72 (Raid 72) in the Mekong
Delta, the Weapons Officer on the USS Reeves (DLG 24), Skipper of the USS Morton
(DD 948), and XO of the Pearl Harbor Naval Station in Hawaii. In 1982, while Al
was skipper, Morton rescued two boatloads of Vietnamese "boatpeople" in perilous
situations in the South China Sea. His accounts are detailed and well written.
Also included in "Sea Story" are op eds,
pure fiction, or satire totally unrelated to the Navy. All stories are
informative, provocative, and many, fun. It is insightful reading about the Navy
brass' unwritten policies regarding rescues, the rescues themselves, and Al's
reconnecting with the rescued people and their families later in life. Al
approaches his involvement in a humble, unassuming way, often humorous, like
those of his genre. He is a hero, an unusual individual. Al is a talented
writer, his writing, revealing.
Richard Gorman
The tales sound dubious but remarkably all are true. The reader's belly laughs
will begin with the wonderful but incredible Seaman Posey for whom work was a
lifestyle option he did not choose. Posey's Vietnam naval service like todays
Greek taxpaying was a contradiction in terms.
Al Bell is a retired US Navy commander whose quarter century of service included
the Vietnam War from start to finish. His proudest moment came as a result of
ignoring orders and picking up escaping Vietnamese boat people.
Alternately whimsical and sharp, his views and little stories remind us how our
minds can be rich repositories of illuminating experiences provided life has
been adventurous.
Be prepared for My Trainee Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hitler was a Catholic. The
subjects are wide-ranging.
Well worth the modest investment involved.
John Foley
Available on
Amazon.com search term “CDR
Bell”
Or
At a better price, directly from the author and suitably inscribed
and autographed for $18 + $5 shipping & handling:
7633 Hazard Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 293-0010
corwinabell@aol.com