Customer Reviews

Dink-Gadink

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The writing in this book was abysmal and the actual story was ... meh.

If you want to read a book about the Naval Academy, you're much better off with The Return of Philo T. McGiffin by David Poyer, A Sense of Honor by James Webb, or Darkside by P. T. Deutermann.

First let me say this is an enjoyable book. It gives a side of midshipmen life that is not normally seen. I've been associated with many aspects of the Academy and seen many friends and then sons go off to their plebe year and so much of how these young men think and react is so accurate and well it should be since it was written by a former Midshipmen. (I omit women, because so does John Scanlon, even though they were present during his years in Annapolis)
Despite the moans and complaining there are the thoughts, that do occur, that in 3 ½ years they could be asked to lay down their lives for "the greatest nation on earth". Those young men that I have witnessed go through this 4 year molding usually do feel that they have been given an opportunity to become better than they actually are; but as `Dink-Gadink' is mostly made up of - it is the sometimes seemingly absurdities of especially plebe (1st) year. The Dink-Gadink is the ever present clock in Mother B - Bancroft Hall where all the midshipmen live, and that is the sound those synchronized clocks made.
The humor is done admirably with the exception of the extraordinary lengths Scanlon goes to insult NIS, the Naval Investigative Service (now better known to the TV watching public as NCIS). Believe me most services have no love for their investigative services, but the absurdities that Scalon writes of are ridiculous. The NIS men drop guns and badges and use slipping wigs and over glued mustaches. It's really beyond insulting, especially if we are to believe the end where they uncover an illegal scam run by some upper classmen. Hopefully not to give away plots I also wonder where the selling of exams went. It seems to be forgotten as well as the ramifications of a non- reported honor code violation when plebes discover one of their friends is married (a huge honor code violation).
Despite my complaints this would be an interesting book to have any military incoming student read and probably one that would bring huge smiles and reminiscences of anyone who has attended any military academy.