Adventures Of A Tennessean
(Biography/Adventure)
By James Carl Duncan, Lt/Col
(Marine Ret)
ISBN #978-1481741576
177 Pages
Price
Rating 5-Stars
“A Young Man’s Journey”
The story really begins in 1948,
when young Alvin Eunis Duncan graduated from high school and enlisted in the
U.S. Navy for a three-year tour. At 18 years of age, and fresh from a small
town in Tennessee, Red as he was nicknamed, was off to see the world. We follow
him through basic training, advanced training in engineering, then through
Under Water Demolition (UDT), the forerunner of the SEALS, and finally to Asia
and the Pacific where he worked in salvage for years. We get a first hand view
of China in 1950, and the Far East in general, as his team work the islands
while dealing with communists youths, and cannibal headhunters, and learn what
it was like serving in the Navy back then.
The final chapters take us to the
Korean Conflict, and his extended enlistment because of war. He had sailed to
the North Pole on the USS Askari with Admiral Byrd’s expedition, and worked with
the crew sounding the coast of Korea a year before the war for possible landing
areas for American troops should war break out.
The stories were passed down to his
son, James Duncan, who began this book as a family history, but because of the
military aspect, and important data seen through the eyes of his father, he
felt the book would also be of importance to both military and history buffs.
As a twenty-year veteran, I enjoyed the book, and got a kick out of his basic
and advanced training, remembering with fond memories those days on the
obstacle course, firing range, and general cut-ups, especially how none of us
wanted to see a “Maggie’s Drawers” over our target. And how tough young men
were back then. Anyone who ever wore a uniform, no matter what branch, will
find this book a fun look back at how young men were before our youth went
south. There were a few times I had to laugh, wondering how the Navy got along
after this man’s enlistment was over, but didn’t we all feel that way? And I
think all of us have stretched some of our war stories in retelling. I know I
have. But reading about this red haired Tennessean, I had the impression he was
quite capable of all the deeds he performed in this tale. Highly recommended
reading.
Tom Johnson, Author
Cold War Heroes (France)
Bad
Moon Rising (Vietnam)
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