Clive Cussler, prolific author and sea explorer, dead at 88

Clive Cussler, a popular author and sea explorer, died on Monday, his family announced in a Facebook post.

"I want to thank you, his fans and friends for all the support, for all the good times and all the adventures you have shared with him," she wrote. "He was the kindest, most gentle man I ever met. I have always loved him and always will. I know, his adventures will continue."

He published more than 50 during his career, two of which were later made into movies -- "Raise the Titanic," released in 1980, and "Sahara," in 2005. His books were published in more than 40 languages in over 100 countries, according to his website.

But Cussler wasn't just a novelist. He was so passionate about maritime discoveries, he even started a nonprofit dedicated to them National Underwater and Marine Agency, a volunteer foundation dedicated to "preserving our maritime heritage through the discovery, archaeological survey and conservation of shipwreck artifacts,"

Yes that’s another one—there are a couple of others I see at Costco, it’s always “FAMOUS WRITER (with NO NAME GHOSTWRITER [in small print]).” These writers are now just a franchise, they sell off their name for others to use.

Unfortunately, I’ve come to the realization that popular fiction, like a lot of other things in the country, is mostly now FAKE.

Cussler— RIP.Founder of National Underwater and Marine Agency— which found some 80 lost underwater wrecks including:
RMS Carpathia, the ship which was the first to come to the aid of the Titanic survivors.

CSA’s submarine vessel— The H. L. Hunley, the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy vessel - during the American Civil War. Found in Charleston Harbor, and completely restored by US Navy and other restoration experts, supported by Cussler and other Foundations. In a museum- including the bend gold engraved coin from Capt. Dixon- who kept it with him- it having stopped a minie ball at Gettysburg!... found on his “remains” in the position of his pant pocket.

And-— the CSS Manassas, the First ironclad of the civil war, formerly the icebreaker Enoch Train.

and.. now questionable but still a mystery— the Mary Celeste.

Thank you Clive— for your larger than life character Dirk.

On Christmas Eve 1944 my Father was on the SS Leopoldo, a converted Belgian troop ship in the English Channel, headed for Cherbourg, France and the Battle of the Bulge. He was a marksman in the US Army’s 66th Infantry Division: “The Black Panthers”. (They were the original Black Panthers). Around 6pm the ship was hit by a torpedo and sunk. Almost 800 US Soldiers died that night. But the Allred’s didn’t want the Germans to know about the loss, so it was covered up; the survivors had to swear secrecy and the families were never told how their loved ones died. After the war the sinking of the Leopoldville was forgotten until Clive Cussler. Clive was in the English Chabnnel in 1995 looking for an ancient treasure wreck when his sonar revealed a large ship that was not on the charts. It was unknown. He examined the wreck and eventually found the truth about what had happened. He wrote about this in his preface to the book “Cyclops “. My father was one of the survivors, and after a stint in the hospital at Cherbourg he went into battle. After the war the Black Panthers organized a veterans organization. Clive met with them at their annual convention and became a good friend to many of them. Every family of the young men who perished on that Christmas Eve eventually were told the truth and so had received a long delayed closure. Thanks to Clive Cussler they were able to board a ferry and return to the actual resting place of the Leopoldville, and there remember, and cry, and pray; and lay a wreath on the waves in tribute to their buddies below. Thank you Clive Cussler for helping us to complete our commitment to our country and those who laid down their lives to keep her free.

"He led the effort that eventually found and raised CSS Hunley."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indeed so. I respect the claim of Lee Spence -- but it was Cussler who applied technology with the dogged persistence that led to this:

I had the honor of working on Hunley research before the recovery -- and to still be working on technical details of the torpedo and its triggering mechanism...

Thanks, Clive, for lots of good reads -- and re-reads -- and for starting me on decades of absorbing research!

TXnMA

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