Crazy Ivan Based on a True Story of Subm [Paperback]

W. Craig Reed (Author), William Reed (Author)

Book Description

No other U.S. Navy diver, photographer or spy has taken pictures of any Soviet submarine from as close proximity as did W. Craig Reed of the Soviet Victor III that almost ended his life. Crazy Ivan chronicles this true story, for the first time in print, and reveals intimate details about near-death underwater espionage missions once classified at the highest levels of Top Secret.

"When I enlisted...I had no idea I would become a Navy diver assigned to nuclear fast attack submarines conducting underwater espionage operations with U.S. Navy SEAL teams. I had no idea that I would accidentally become embroiled in a Top Secret Codeword program that would take me 400 feet down into the black, cold waters just off the coast of Soviet Russia, where sophisticated listening devices were strapped to a Soviet communications cable.

I also had no idea that I would be called upon to take close-proximity espionage pictures of the Soviet's most lethal attack boat, resulting in one of the Cold War's most devastating collisions between a U.S. and Soviet submarine. A never-before revealed accident that nearly cost the lives of 130 sailors."

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Crazy Ivan is now out of print. Please look for the author's next non-fiction book, Hunting the Red Bear: Inside the Secret US-Soviet Underwater War, from William Morrow (HarperCollins) in 2010. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

W. Craig Reed served six years in the U.S. Navy as a Fire Control Technician First Class, SEAL-Trained Navy Diver and Special Operations Photographer, deployed on nuclear fast attack submarines. Mr. Reed was the recipient of Navy Expeditionary medals in relation to the completion of several Top Secret operations. During his tour of naval duty he received Marksmanship and Sharp Shooter rifle and small arms medals and the Navy Good Conduct medal. Mr. Reed earned a degree in marketing after receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1981. He has published several articles in leading high-technology publications and has received numerous industry awards for advertising and marketing programs. He currently provides communications, sales and marketing expertise for high-technology companies and is co-author of Tarzan: My Father with Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. and William Reed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Showcase Press
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595006132
• ISBN-13: 978-0595006137
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,389,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Craig Reed served as a U.S. Navy diver, submarine fire control "weapons" technician and photographer for special operations on nuclear fast-attack submarines. Craig earned commendations for completing secret missions during the Cold War, and is an alumnus or member of several military, veteran, and technology associations.

When not writing, Craig is a partner in Aventi Group--a technology marketing consulting firm (www.aventigroup.com). He was a former vice president and board director for the Silicon Valley American Marketing Association, founded two software companies and co-authored the book Tarzan, My Father with the late Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. Craig is the author of the thriller DNA and the non-fiction memoir Crazy Ivan: A True Story of Submarine Espionage. RED NOVEMBER: Inside the U.S. - Soviet Submarine War is Craig's latest non-fiction thriller published in May 2010 by William Morrow/HarperCollins. Born into a Navy family on the island of Guam, Reed lives in Silicon Valley, CA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Crazy Ivan, Lazy Writer, May 1, 2004

By 

M. Chapman "superedit" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crazy Ivan: A True Story of Submarine Espionage (Paperback)

This is an exasperating book. Author Craig Reed gives the reader just enough details to keep him on the hook, then glosses over other incidents and examples from his career that would have made this book a much bettter read. Rather than tell the whole story, he cuts seeminly at random from anecdote to anecdote.

Towards the end of the book, Reed has left the Navy after an "incident" he was "inadvertently drawn into, which resulted in Captain's mast [discipline]...one that I was eventually cleared of." Well, what happened, Craig? First you've left the Navy, and one chapter later, you're back in, on a better boat, on another spy mission -- what happened in the interim? It's this sort of material that would have given the reader a better look at Navy life, instead of one painted with broad brush strokes.

For a more balanced and far more readable look at submarine life, I recommend Andrew Karam's "Rig Ship for Ultra-Quiet." Reed may be a brave and patriotic Navy diver, but he still could have benefited from a better editor.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Been There, Done That, (but 20 years earlier), April 21, 2001

By 

Robert P. Walters "submarine sailor" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crazy Ivan Based on a True Story of Subm (Paperback)

Wow, a page turner. I was on a diesel boat that was in the same vicinity in the late 50's. We didn't have divers aboard, but we had what we called 'spooks'. They listened to the 'radio' and we recorded 'sounds' and took bearings on radar installations. We also took pictures, but used a 4 x 5 graflex that kinda attached to the periscope. Our sound gear wasn't as good as it was on the Haddo, but it worked. It was all electron tubes and there was some down time...

It was good to hear of some of the antics that went on when Mr. Reed reported aboard. I doubt if that's allowed in the 'new' Navy....

Crazy Ivan is a definite MUST READ for any 'sewer pipe' sailor..

As the song goes. "Those were the Days, my friend.."

Oooga, Oooga.. dive dive..

Walters FTU3(SS) USS Caiman (SS 323)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading, March 4, 2007

By 

J. Phippen "MM1(SS)" (Bettendorf, IA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crazy Ivan: A True Story of Submarine Espionage (Paperback)

I just finished reading Crazy Ivan and found I couldn't put it down. Having put the USS Greenling in commission and being around during some of the earlier submarine 'adventures' I found very little that I could fault in your writing. Some of the nuke technical facts weren't quit right, but coming from a 'forward puck' it was close enough. I enjoyed your style and the stories more than I could ever say. Thanks for taking me back aboard.