The Arnheiter affair [Hardcover]

Neil Sheehan (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394473639
• ISBN-13: 978-0394473635
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Neil Sheehan is the author of A Fiery Peace in a Cold War and A Bright Shining Lie, which won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 1989. He spent three years in Vietnam as a war correspondent for United Press International and The New York Times and won numerous awards for his reporting. In 1971, he obtained the Pentagon Papers, which brought the Times the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for meritorious public service. Sheehan lives in Washington, D.C. He is married to the writer Susan Sheehan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is true and accurate!, March 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arnheiter affair (Hardcover)

This story is so very true and the description of Marcus Arnheiter is factual. The man should never have been given command of a ship much less left to remain in the Navy. He is a disgrace to our military forces everywhere. I served under him when he was the XO on the USS Ingersoll as a radionman.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I know it's true because I was there., September 3, 2004

By 

Slick Nick - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arnheiter affair (Hardcover)

In March of 1966, I was on the USS Falgout DER-324 which was tied alongside the Vance in Manila Bay. I recall hearing the infamous reveille tape while I was there. I learned all about Arnheiter and his reign of terror from a couple of Vance sailors while I was on liberty one night. When I read the book a few years later, I realized that it was all true. Because the Vance was a sister ship of the Falgout, the book was a very interesting read for me. I recommend it very highly if you're interested in Naval history and Navy justice.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately, it's all true., September 5, 2005

By 

Don Graeter "dgraeter" (Prospect, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Arnheiter affair (Hardcover)

When I was S Division Officer aboard the USS El Paso from 1971 to 1973, one of my stalwart Chief Petty Officers was SNC Gustavo P. (Gus) Revita. Chief Revita was a fine Navy man in every respect. I respected him, liked him and relied heavily on him. He never let me down.

The Chief served on the Vance throughout Arnheiter's command and had the quarterdeck watch when Navy brass finally came aboard to relieve Arnheiter of his command. I wouldn't betray the Chief's confidences by posting here everything he told me. I will say that he was reluctant to discuss the situation but told me and others who asked him about it that everything in the book was absolutely accurate.

I knew other officers who knew Arnheiter before he was given command of the Vance. None could believe the Navy gave him command at sea.

I love the Navy but it made a terrible error here before finally correcting it.

This is a well written and highly readable account of the tragedy of the Vance. I highly recommend it.