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Troubled Water: Race, Mutiny and Bravery on the USS Kitty Hawk
gregoryafreeman.blogspot.com ^ | September 2009 | Gregory A. Freeman

Posted on 10/24/2009 7:34:57 PM PDT by Ravnagora

NOTE: Here's some information on Gregory Freeman's latest book honoring some of our finest in the U.S. Military.

*****

I'm excited that my new book is now on sale, and I think my fans are really going to like this one. It's a fascinating true tale, and like all my books, it reads like a fast paced thriller.

TROUBLED WATER is the little known story of a 1972 race riot and attempted mutiny aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, and the astounding drama that ensued when the Navy’s first black executive officer of an aircraft carrier had to put his own life on the line to save the ship.

Wild mobs were running through a ship, tearing innocent young sailors out of their bunks and beating them mercilessly. Marines were eager to stop the violence but reluctant to fire on their fellow American servicemen.

And in the middle of it all – the two senior officers who will determine whether this already tragic episode ends peacefully or spirals down into one of the darkest moments in Navy history. The first is an accomplished white officer who has risen to the pinnacle of his career, the glory assignment for any Naval officer – captain of a United States aircraft carrier. He is a good officer, well meaning and honorable, but like most whites in 1972 he doesn't always understand the struggles faced by the black men who serve under him.

The second is a younger black officer assigned to the ship only recently to serve as the executive officer, second in command of the carrier. An ambitious, highly accomplished officer, he knows the spotlight is on him as one of the first black men in such a high profile position but strongly resents any suggestion he is there because of his skin color. But when the riots break out, he is still too new to the ship for the captain and crew to really know him.

Together – and sometimes separately, sometimes in spite of each other – they must find a way to end the violent race riot that threatens one of the world’s most powerful aircraft carriers.

This book is now available on Amazon.com or at your local bookstore.

Here are some reviews of the "Troubled Water":

"Even though the U.S. government continues to deny it, Gregory Freeman has dug out the true hidden story of the first mutiny in the history of the U.S. Navy. You'll enjoy this high seas thriller."

James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, Flyboys, and The Imperial Cruise

"Gregory Freeman is a master of riveting and thoughtful examinations of military sagas that no one else has the courage to take on. Troubled Water is his finest book in a distinguished career."

Gregg Olsen, NYT bestselling author of The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Mining Town

"Gregory A. Freeman's Troubled Water: Race, Mutiny and Bravery on the USS Kitty Hawk is one of the most riveting books I've read, perhaps ever. ... The author is on top of his game.... Troubled Water is a page turner and burner."

Robert Busko, Top 500 Reviewer, Amazon.com

*****

*****


TOPICS: Books/Literature
KEYWORDS: usskittyhawk

1 posted on 10/24/2009 7:34:57 PM PDT by Ravnagora
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To: Ravnagora

Hmmmm... will check it out...


2 posted on 10/24/2009 7:39:45 PM PDT by Lurking in Kansas (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: Ravnagora
Well, it's not the first mutiny. I swear people these days think history began last year.

There was a mutiny aboard the U.S.S. Somers in 1842. They hanged a bunch of them. One of them was the son of the Secretary of War, Somers. He was a jerk, but probably did not deserve to be hanged . . . the captain, McKenzie, was a jerk too.

3 posted on 10/24/2009 7:41:33 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary - (recess appointment))
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To: Ravnagora

Let me guess . . . the white sailors were the bad guys. The black CEO is the hero.


4 posted on 10/24/2009 7:44:57 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: Ravnagora

Bump for later.


5 posted on 10/24/2009 7:51:04 PM PDT by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: A_Former_Democrat

Yes, the mutiny needs to be “understood” in the “larger context” of the mutineers not being “understood”. I’m sure that the white sailors just weren’t sensitive enough. I also suspect that somehow the mutineers did not receive the full measure of punishment that anyone else would have gotten.


6 posted on 10/24/2009 7:52:49 PM PDT by achilles2000 (Shouting "fire" in a burning building is doing everyone a favor...whether they like it or not)
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To: A_Former_Democrat

Read the reviews on Amazon.com. They give a better picture of the book. It is pretty much agreed that the author is using the word, mutiny, somewhat loosely since there was never a conserted effort to take over the ship. It was really just a series isolated riots/fistfights. Between the captain and XO, both did right and wrong things. Sounds pretty even-handed. But it’s clear the author is looking through the lens of 21st century morals.


7 posted on 10/24/2009 8:04:40 PM PDT by Clock King (There's no way to fix D.C.)
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To: Ravnagora
Ah, the good old days when the courts sent the hard-core bangers into military service. Aboard a destroyer in the early 70's, I was the only one in deck division without a major felony.

The scary part was trying to wake up known killers for mid-watch.
8 posted on 10/24/2009 8:17:24 PM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: All

http://www.history.navy.mil/library/special/racial_incidents.htm


9 posted on 10/24/2009 8:26:59 PM PDT by freedomwarrior998
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To: Ravnagora

sounds like it might be a good read. I was v-2 division 1963 thru ‘65 then airgroup ‘65-’67


10 posted on 10/24/2009 8:29:35 PM PDT by UpToHere
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To: Ravnagora

“Ah, but the strawaberries... That’s where I had them....”


11 posted on 10/24/2009 8:54:38 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: AnAmericanMother

The Somers mutiny led to the founding of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, IIRC.


12 posted on 10/24/2009 9:34:09 PM PDT by E Rocc (I Pledge: To help the President get promoted to "private citizen" as soon as possible.)
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To: Ravnagora

Thanks for the heads up. My father was there and this might be a great present for him.


13 posted on 10/24/2009 9:38:43 PM PDT by TNdandelion (I'd rather have FedEx run my healthcare than USPS.)
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To: freedomwarrior998

Yup...read that report...sounds like Jessie and Al were on board and stirring the pot.


14 posted on 10/24/2009 9:45:08 PM PDT by FreeperinRATcage (I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for every thing I do. - R. A. Heinlein)
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To: onedoug

I wss in the Navy at that time. In fact in July ‘72 I had orders to a fighter squadrom that was aboard the Kitty Hawk. Thankfully my orders came in to transfer to the Seabees.

At that time the truth is people were scared to death of being “unfair” to blacks. They were seen to be militant. And the key word is “seen” when most were good sailors. But the few did creat a lot of problems.

I believe the incidents were mishandled from the beginning. First of all “meetings” should not have held. A Captain’s Mast could have been requested and you go talk to the captain.

When you are talking to superiors you don’t curse and shout.

If a sailor didn’t show up for his job or didn’t disperse or leave an area when ordered he should have been thrown in the brig and tried when they got back to home port.

An inch was given to a few people and they took a mile. The media jumped all over it because by then the media was against the war and the military.

Z-Grams! I loved Zumwalt!


15 posted on 10/24/2009 9:49:02 PM PDT by Terry Mross
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To: E Rocc

More imporant than the Somers-mutiny was the need to teach naval offices the science behind such things as steam propulsion. This wasn’t something that could easily be.taught in the old days of apprentising on a sailing vessel with. Officers that only knew about as much as you did. Plus there was already the example set by West Point.


16 posted on 10/25/2009 1:31:43 AM PDT by Tallguy ("The sh- t's chess, it ain't checkers!" -- Alonzo (Denzel Washington) in "Training Day")
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To: onedoug
"strawberries"

"The Caine Mutiny." A great book. The film was pretty good too. Both Bogart and Ferrer deserved Oscars. Van Johnson, who was in practically every movie made in the fifties (at least it seemed like it) was pretty good too.

17 posted on 10/25/2009 3:15:00 AM PDT by driftless2 (for long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
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To: A_Former_Democrat

Couldn’t be any other way. End of story. No need to read further. You know the drill.


18 posted on 10/25/2009 8:45:28 AM PDT by benasawin
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