Big Red: The Three-Month Voyage of a Trident Nuclear Submarine

As a former submariner on U.S. fast attack submarines, I was skeptical as to how accurate this book could be.

I was hooked before the end of the first chapter -- in fact, I was blown out of the water, pardon the pun.

The author must have not only gotten immense cooperation from the navy, but also from many of the sailors. The level of candor in this book is unparalleled.

The book started to read like a glowing review of submarines, where no one was less than 100% gung-ho navy. But you soon start to see some of the attitudes of real people -- not everyone is happy in their job, many people become exhausted, lonely, and scared -- it's not all medals and photo opportunities.

I can't wait to have my family and friends read this book -- it discusses the life I had lived in subs in detail and clarity that I could never hope to achieve -- you won't get a more accurate picture without signing on the dotted line.

After reading this book I may never be able to read another underwater fiction novel again. The book actually reads like a novel, with many characters contributing to the outcome of the book, with the difference being that this story is ongoing.

The points made in the book for the continuance of these deterrent patrols is a strong one. I am sure there are people who actually believe that the world is a great big happy place now and these submarines are an anachronism at best. And to those people I would say, read this book, see what is going on and sleep well.

However, and you knew there just had to be a "however", I have just one criticism of the book. Or to be precise, the way some of the crew members are described. It is almost a reverse prejudice, a sort of "look how much we entrust to these people" kind of thing. What I mean by this is that when Mr. Waller is describing crew members, he invariably tells of them being tall, dark haired, whatever. But when a Black crewmember is described, Mr. Waller goes out of his way to point out that this is a Black person he is talking about. Almost as if to say, "see, they are here and we do give them important jobs." I have actually noticed this sort of thing in other books, and it just seems to leap off the page at me when I see it.

Aside from this, the book is excellent and I would rate it a "go out and buy" type of book. You will not be dissappointed.

I finished this book wanting to read more. As I read the part about the simulated launch of the missiles, I was chilled to the bone about what would happen if they had to be launched for real. I have a better apreciation of the Navy, especially its submarine service, because now I know that it is in excellent hands.

The USS Nebraska is one of the best submarines out there. It is almost constatly on duty, sailing underwater for months at a time, its crew at the ready to launch a horrific death upon whomever the President of the United States tells them to. This is the story of how they do what they do, and how they cope with life in cramped quarters, no natural sunlight, 18 hour days rather than 24 and the pride these men take in doing their job.

Waller spends little time trying to editorialize what the men of the USS Nebraska do while underway, rather he lets them tell their stories through interviews and stories. By using this no nonsense approach Waller allows the men speak for themselves and let you look into a world very few outsiders have ever been able to peer into. I felt honored just to have read Big Red and I hope I never have to have the crew do their job.

For so many young men, submarines are the things of fancy - objects of awe that create dreams. Many people are members of the Submarine corps, but for those of us that are not, we have to rely on people like Douglas Waller to help us understand all that goes on during a "regular" patrol.

Waller was granted uncommon access to spend a patrol on board the USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), and gives us a wonderful account of those three months.

Starting with the challenging departure from home port (this particular submarine is not based at a shore port like some ships; instead, it is based slightly inland, which requires travel down a lengthy channel before reaching the ocean), Waller engrosses the reader from page one.

I enjoyed the entire book - I felt as though Waller was giving me the opportunity to spend three months on patrol (although I did it in a few days, reading through the 400+ pages that he has written for us). I never once found myself wanting less - I do not think that he included any non-relevant information or extraneous details.

After reading this book, I have a better understanding of how tough the life of a submariner can be, and why these men demand our ultimate respect. Three months sitting underwater with virtually no human contact except for your shipmates must play havoc with a sailors' psyche, but they all perform admirably.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the United States Naval Submarine Corps.