All Eternity Lies Before Me

By Loreen Gibbons

Book Overview

A suspense-filled real-life drama perfect for veterans and fans of military dramas alike, the author interweaves her memories as a Navy pilot's wife with the tale of what happened to her husband's crew after having to ditch their crippled plane in stormy North Pacific waters during the Cold War. Alfa Foxtrot 586, a P-3 Orion turboprop, was conducting a sensitive Cold War mission off the Kamchatka Peninsula on October 26, 1978, when a propeller malfunction turned into four engine fires and the pilot--Loreen Grigsby's husband, Jerry--was forced to ditch into remote, mountainous seas churned by a frigid North Pacific storm. The aircraft sank within ninety seconds, taking one of the three rafts with it--which left thirteen men to huddle together in the remaining two rafts, the smaller of which soon began to leak. Told from Loreen's perspective as a navy wife at home as well as through the eyes of the men who survived the disaster, All Eternity Lies Before Me weaves a gripping tale of struggle, uncertainty, grief, and heroism. It shares Loreen's terror as she receives notifications about her husband's crew's desperate battle against wind, seas, and biting cold. It details the ad hoc search and rescue mission, a valiant effort to rescue the men before time runs out. And, tragically, it tells how a young Navy wife becomes a widow and single mom. But Jerry's death is not the end of Loreen's story--and in the years following his loss, she discovers resilience, strength, and even new love with one of the accident survivors, Matt Gibbons. As she begins her journey toward a brighter future, she's inspired by the camaraderie and brotherhood forged between the survivors and their rescuers--and ultimately, the long-term lessons learned by all involved become part of the lasting legacy of this event.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1647428203
• ISBN13: 9781647428204
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: She Writes Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

All Eternity Lies Before Me is Spellbinding

All Eternity Lies Before Me opens a window into real world Navy operations. Just as real is the widow it opens into Service members’ family experiences and day to day life while Service members are deployed for many months at a time. I was a VP-9 squadron mate and deployed to Adak at the same time as Crew 6. I flew many flights with LCDR Jerry Grigsby. I knew the story of Alpha Foxtrot 586 intimately. Or so I thought. Loreen’s account includes many details I didn’t know before reading the book. Loreen’s portrayal of the operational aspect of Navy flights from Adak is spot on accurate. Her personal story is a moving and heartfelt memoir. It offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of a Navy wife. This book is a must read. Once you start, you can’t put it down.