September marks the "official" release month of the biography of Capt. Michael Augustine Healy, USRCS. The citation is Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy: From American Slave to Arctic Hero. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 2009. It retails for $34.95. You will probably have to have a bookstore order it for you, or you can get it online, or from the publisher.
It is appropriate to open the book in the month he was born in 1839, Mr. Strobridge and I spent 30+ years gathering material, and discussing, Healy. I visited archives and manuscript holdings on the West and East Coasts, Alaska, and even rode the HEALY for a couple of weeks. Probably the most beautiful place I have researched is the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. There I looked at Mary Healy's diaries (wife), and Frederick's one diary (his son), plus other material. Find out in the book about Michael's diaries. We were able to "dig" out material that I doubt if anyone in the USCG knew. For example, did you know Michael as a young man was sent to France to attend a school. Find out why this was important to his life. Few things that are important to Healy's life is as they seem on surface, and this is especially so concerning his trials. As my limited budget allows, I want to travel to different locations to do book presentations and signings. Of course, I have to be invited, one major bookstore chain has turned me down, but the book is new and I will wait to see if the reviews are favorable and try again. I will put my schedule down on my web site. I hope USCG readers, and others, will find the book as interesting as it was to research and write.
Congratulations on the culmination of 30 years of effort. My order is in, but I must confess that I'm currently about 3 months behind in my Proceedings and a month behind in The Battle for America 2008, but Mike will go to the top of the heap on arrival. And I'll confess that my perverse nature will miss the volcanic reaction of Master Chief Wells. Oh well, I guess we all have to make sacrifices for the common security and peace.
