Last night I was skimming through Clancy's book titled "Submarine". I got to the portion dealing with living arrangements which went into some detail on the mess hall facilities. He mentions the mess area has a soda dispenser which no longer dispenses something called "Yogi Cola" which apparently sucked.

I did a Google search and came up with nothing. What is Yogi Cola?

While I am at it, how do you think Clancy does on "getting it right" when it comes to Navy/submarine matters? I recall reading Clancy's first go at writing on Army matters in "Executive Decisions". I was not impressed.

He writes well, in my opinion. I have (I think) all of his fiction books, and read them often. But his description of a 688 left me wondering what sub I was serving on.....

For a fiction writer, Clancy does a good job of writing fiction, include "Submarine". I got quite a chuckle out of several sections of the book when it became obvious that he was guessing about what might happen in classified areas of the boat.

Clancy takes a good deal of literary liberty with the truth. On the positive side, no one will ever know the true capabilities of a U.S. submarine by reading a Clancy book.

This is my thought on how Mr. Clancy did his research. Picture in your mind a submarine hang out bar in either Groton or Norfolk. Mr. Clancy is buying drinks for a bunch of bubbleheads and trying to get information from them about the boats they are on. After awhile Mr. Clancy excuses himself to make a head call. And then the conversation goes a little like this:

Bubblehead #1: Holy Crap he believed that stuff.

Bubblehead #2: No S&^t! I had a hard time keeping a straight face.

Bubblehead #3: Well dang if he believe that then let't tell him this...............

Bubblehead #1: Yea but let's make it look like we don't really want to tell him until he buys another round.

I think you get the picture. Not that Bubbleheads would ever, ever do anything as sneaky as that.

Don't get me wrong like the other said he is a good FICTION writer. I really liked Red Storm Rising. But nonfiction hummmmmmmm.

The Submarine Book?

That book was non fiction? Is that right?

It said on page 29 that the money difference means a sailor can get married and support a family. Right. On food stamps. I got out of the Nav to have a family. Being gone all that time is hard on the wife and kids,and I did not love the job enought to put them through all that. Bless the families that do, though.

Then it says that the esprit de corps makes up for how bad it sucks to be on a boat. Not really. I love the guys I served with, but most of the misery was not caused by them, but the people appointed over me. They made life miserable when it didn't have to be. Can't put crappy command climate in the book, I guess.

Then, it talks about dining being a pleasure. What Navy are they talking about? I am grateful for the cooks we had, but even they could only do so much with the lousy supplies they were given. Best food in the Nav my eye! The only time we got the best food is when our chop could open purchase in foreign ports. Then we ate like Roman Emperors.

I'd say the book is full of crap. The crews rocked, but the system stinks, and probably still does. The Skipper and his men can only do so much with what they are given.

Yogi cola? I have never heard of that.

Clancy is just like any other author... do anything to sell books.

He's much better when he makes CHT up than when he tries to be... ahem... accurate. Read his fiction... avoid his "non" Fiction. He don't know crap. My DOG knows more about being on a submarine than Clancy does.

I pretty much agree with what Stumpy said. It's a harsh life. Not one that is very conducive to a family. I learned that one the hard way. I don't regret my time in Submarines... but I also don't want to do it again.

quote:

Originally posted by mpwimmer:
This is my thought on how Mr. Clancy did his research. Picture in your mind a submarine hang out bar in either Groton or Norfolk. Mr. Clancy is buying drinks for a bunch of bubbleheads and trying to get information from them about the boats they are on. After awhile Mr. Clancy excuses himself to make a head call. And then the conversation goes a little like this:

Bubblehead #1: Holy Crap he believed that stuff.

Bubblehead #2: No S&^t! I had a hard time keeping a straight face.

Bubblehead #3: Well dang if he believe that then let't tell him this...............

Bubblehead #1: Yea but let's make it look like we don't really want to tell him until he buys another round.

I think you get the picture. Not that Bubbleheads would ever, ever do anything as sneaky as that.

Don't get me wrong like the other said he is a good FICTION writer. I really liked Red Storm Rising. But nonfiction hummmmmmmm.

Hahahaha! I have a similar take on Clancy, but it comes from a somewhat different angle. I actually met him. I was on leave at home when he came to the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground to do reasearch for what would become "Executive Decisions". He gave a speech/book signing open to the public. Had some interesting things to say. After meeting and greeting he went off to get an info dump on the M1 tank and M2 IFV. At some time before or after this trip he went to the National Training Center where our armored/mech units train for desert war.

Well in the book, everything works perfectly. I got the impression as the above scenario but instead of having a bunch of enlisted folks telling him silly stories, it was a group of colonels and generals feeding him the Party Line.