JULY 2004 DiMercurio Fan Club Newsletter

Opinions, everybody's got one and after reading H. Jay Riker's "Silent Service, Grayback Class," I decided to write Mike DiMercurio and share my thoughts about the experience. Below, you can read an expanded and refined version of the email I sent to Mike.

Hi Mike:

I just finished reading H. Jay Riker's "Silent Service, Grayback Class" and it was the most excruciatingly hard to read, piece of crap I've ever seen. I have serious doubts Mr. Riker has even been inside a sub, much less did his homework on the inner workings and procedures aboard a sub. When firing torpedoes he just has his captain tell the weps officer to shoot and then describes the man pushing buttons. There's no "firing point procedures," no solution set, no weapon ready, no standby, no order to fire from the captain, no turning of the trigger, just pushing buttons like they do in old WWII movies. He also uses the 1MC to announce general quarters, saying "All hands, now, general quarters, general quarters, hands to stations, general quarters," all while the boat is approaching an enemy target. That sounds like something a surface ship would do. I'm telling you, I was ready to throw the book across the room when I read stuff like that. He even had two boats surfacing on a covert op so they could send a rubber raft with an outboard to communicate captain to captain for a conference so they wouldn't have to use their radios. I mean, c'mon, wouldn't surfacing be more dangerous than using radios or the gertrude in open waters, even if communication protocols had been compromised? Riker also describes sonar as having enemy torpedoes appear as blips on a screen. That sounds like Hollywood and the movie "Crimson Tide," but not reality. I about lost my mind reading this book. You've got me spoiled Mike, and there is no doubt in my mind who writes the real "authentic" sub combat novels. Riker's publisher's web site claims him to write remarkably authentic stories. Bull-friggin-s**t! Okay, sorry, had to get that off my chest. Hope to hear from you soon.

Best,
Tim

In response to this email, Mike had this simple reply.

"Yuk, yuk, this is great. Why don't we put this email on the fan site?"

So there you have it, a typical exchange between Mike and me. Opinions may vary, but I know and Mike knows who really writes truly authentic submarine combat novels. To me, there's Mike DiMercurio, and then there's everyone else. No ifs, ands or buts, period.

Agree or disagree with me, but either way, I'd love to get some emails from anyone who has their own opinion on this matter. But, if you choose to opine on this subject, I do ask that you give me examples with author's name and book title, so I can judge for myself. Then, I will buy said book, read it and email you with my retort. Let the debate begin!

Best wishes and fair sailing,

Tim Sharp
President,
The Michael DiMercurio Fan Club

from: dwiseman@skyenet.net
sub: USS Hammerhead 364 & 663 Reunion
body: NEWSLETTER NO.1

HELLO HAMMERHEAD,

MY NAME IS WILLIE DUNAGAN, RMCS(SS) RET. USN AND I WAS A MEMBER OF THE PRECOMM UNIT AND SERVED ABOARD FROM FEB'67 TO FEB'74.

I AM PUTTING TOGETHER A REUNION FOR HAMMERHEAD AT THE NORFOLK WATERSIDE MARRIOTT HOTEL LOCATED AT 235 EAST MAIN ST. NORFOLK, VA. 23510

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ME VIA EMAIL OR SNAIL MAIL :

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TEL. NO.:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

THE DATES FOR THE REUNION WILL BE THE 14TH, 15TH, AND 16TH OF OCTOBER 2004.

I HAVE A WEB PAGE AT HTTP://PAGES.IVILLAGE.COM/USHAMMERHEAD PLEASE VISIT THIS SITE FOR CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE REUNION.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT THE REUNION, KEEP IT UP, WE NEED AS MANY SHIPMATES AS WE CAN GET.

SEE YOU IN OCTOBER

WILLIE DUNAGAN
105 BABBTOWN RD
SUFFOLK, VA 23434
(H) 757 539 3680
(C) 757 735 2628
(W) 757 836 5577
(F) 757 539 3815

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USSDevilfish.com Michael DiMercurio E-Mail: readermail@USSDevilfish.Com Tim Sharp President, The Michael DiMercurio Fan Club E-Mail: tsharp@USSDevilfish.Com