BROTHERHOOD OF DOOM: Memoirs of a Navy Nuclear Weaponsman [Paperback]

James S. Little (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2007

"No one knew what our job was on the ship. Navy Nuclear Weaponsmen were shrouded in secrecy, and entrusted with the most powerful deadly weapons on earth. Our families and countrymen's lives depended on how diligently we performed our duties." -Jim Little

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Cover: An A-6 Intruder, a carrier-based medium attack, all-weather bomber, and his wingman streak away from the blast of a nuclear weapon dropped on target. (An original watercolor painting, by Jim Little)

About the Author

James (Jim) Little was born during the early years of World War II in the fertile farmlands of San Joaquin Valley, California. His book, Brotherhood of Doom: Memoirs of a Navy Nuclear Weaponsman, details his naval career, which began with, schooling in Great Lakes, Illinois and, New Mexico. He was involved in the Cuban Missile Blockade, and the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, followed by five deployments during the Vietnam War. The book details his assignments aboard aircraft carriers, and assignments at overseas locations, and assignments in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a "Mustang" (an officer who rose up through the enlisted ranks). His assignments as a nuclear weaponsman ranged from an assemblyman (wrench turner), to a position as an officer responsible for over one-third of the nation's stockpile, and as a highly placed member of stockpile management, and planning committees. The book ends with his job as an Officer in Charge of a Sound Surveillance Underwater System (SOSUS) base, during the time of Desert Storm. During his 30-year career he was awarded 29 medals and ribbons, and various letters of appreciation and commendation. His highest award was the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded by the President of the United States.

Jim and his wife Carmen enjoy retirement in rural Oregon. And as a friend said of Jim, referring to his enjoyment of watercolor painting, "For thirty years he was involved in work that could have destroyed the world, now in retirement he works to paint the world."

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc. (September 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601453116
• ISBN-13: 978-1601453112
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compels you not to put the book down, October 12, 2008

By 

Richard E. Gurule (Santa Rosa, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BROTHERHOOD OF DOOM: Memoirs of a Navy Nuclear Weaponsman (Paperback)

As a former GMT/WT who didn't have an opportunity to serve with Gunner Little I have to say that from the time I picked up the book till I put it down, it was amazing all I could think of was if I were to change some of the names and dates the book pretty much followed my experiences in the Navy. It's good that someone wrote a book that documents our time in the Navy. Most anything you read or see is about Navy pilots and this is a behind the scenes look at the enlisted and officer rating that was hidden behind doubled barbed wire fences and locked behind armed Marines. A small elite organization that took pride in its accomplishments. We still meet once a year to rekindle our memories. And if anyone wants to find out more about us log onto Navy Nuclear Weapons Association dot com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasure to read, May 15, 2011

By 

Hank Nehring - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: BROTHERHOOD OF DOOM: Memoirs of a Navy Nuclear Weaponsman (Paperback)

I was fortunate to have worked with Jim Little during the time of his second tour in Guam. It was so much fun to relive the experiences he describes in his insightful book. I laughed a great deal as he recounts the events and people who made up the Guam brotherhood. Jim always displayed his great sense of humor via his cartoons. None of us ever got by with anything no matter how embarrassing it might have been. If you made a mistake or were caught doing something questionable you would find yourself as a character in one of Jim's cartoons. He would draw them in the break room on the chalk board for all to see. The cartoon would remain there until someone else did something to pique his humorous side.
Jim and I had very similar career paths and experiences in our diverse service as nuclear weapon ordinance men and I must say it was interesting reading about his long service in the Navy.
It is with some mixed emotions that I reflect on the billions of dollars and the thousands of men and women who supported the maintenance and safe keeping of the huge stockpiles of these potentially deadly weapons in the U.S. Arsenal. My career was mostly in the Army but it was a wonderful experience to have spent four years in the Navy part of which was spent working with Jim Little and folks at U.S. Naval Magazine Guam. I am glad these weapons are gone but I am also a bit sad these military occupations are now defunct. We were a part of history that hopefully will never be needed again. We were truly a brotherhood.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WITNESS TO HISTORY, June 16, 2009

By 

William E. Yunt "Gene Yunt" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BROTHERHOOD OF DOOM: Memoirs of a Navy Nuclear Weaponsman (Paperback)

Jim Little's recollection of his 30 year Navy experience succeeds at several levels. His personal saga identifies people we can all relate to; a soap opera of life that covers loneliness, rebellion, favoratism, obesity, AIDS, infidelity, and achoholism.
The timeline of the book covers virtualy all of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. As such, it becomes a historic device to review all of the military and diplomatic events from the Cuban Missile Crisis to Operation Desert Storm. Importantly, this is not a celebrity general or politician out to pad his legacy, but the unique experience of a sailor below deck shepherding the most deadly weapons afloat. His duty assignments include a who's who of the big ships including the Midway, now on permanent display in San Diego. I wish I had read this book before I got to take the amazing tour.
Parents will be well served by using the real life insights contained herein as a teaching device. Much is learned by accepting ever greater responsibility, learning the skills nessesary for promotion, and coping with difficult people and stressful situations.
This book has great potential as a historical and curtural reference but needs further development to succeed totally. I would have appreciated a more detailed table of contents to to better anyalize what's inside. An expanded appendix detailing important subjects as ship histories, culture of the the various home ports, personnel evaluation and promtion practices, endless inspections, and cultural evolution of the Navy itself could have been read separately and libereated the personal narrative for a faster read.
Little's attention to detail and those precious letters home saved by his devoted mother lend credibility to the accuracy of this story.
This is not fast food, it's the whole buffet. The patient reader will gain much nurishment from this meaty missive.