The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures [Hardcover]

Captain William R. Anderson (Author), Don Keith (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2008

Now, for the first time, the captain of the submarine USS Nautilus tells the newly declassified story of his ship's desperate Cold War race beneath the polar ice pack.

The Cold War was in full swing. The Soviet Union had just successfully launched Sputnik, and President Eisenhower badly wanted to redeem the reputation of the US as technologically superior. "Operation Sunshine" was the answer: under top-secret orders, the Captain and crew of one of the first nuclear submarines, the USS Nautilus, crossed under the North Pole and became the first naval vessel to forge all the way under the polar ice pack to emerge near the former Soviet Union. Readers will voyage along with Captain Anderson as he shares newly declassified stories of his sub's encounters with terrible storms, fire in the hold, collisions with ice, broken compasses, and more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Anderson graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1942 and served in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1962. He participated in 11 submarine combat patrols in the Pacific and was awarded the Bronze Star and other combat awards. Anderson was the commanding officer of the Nautilus, the first atomic submarine, from 1957 to 1959 and made the first transpolar voyage under ice. He also served as assistant to Vice Admiral H. G. Rickover; was a consultant to President Kennedy for the National Service Corps, 1963; and was elected to Congress. Don Keith is a 25-year broadcast veteran, a career that included earning a number of awards as a broadcast journalist and media personality. He has published 15 books, including the national best seller, Final Bearing. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785227598
• ISBN-13: 978-0785227595
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ice Diaries, August 17, 2008

By 

John Yuill (Cumberland, RI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures (Hardcover)

Having been blessed to be a crewman in US Nautilus on all three of her Arctic cruises, one in 1957 and two in 1958, with the last successfully gaining the North Pole, I'm familiar with all the details. However, it was such a pleasure to read our late skipper's recent and highly updated accounting of those wonderful days. Anderson's first book,'Nautilus 90 North', written just after the Polar trip of 1958 was also a great read, but of necessity, omitted much of the background information and intrigue that led up to all these trips, especially the 1957 trip. Capt. Anderson was one of the most remarkable and humble men I've ever had the privilege to know, and as was his nature, always put the interest of the crew and ship before himself. This is reflected in his writings and as I read 'Ice Diaries', I could hear his soft Tennasee accent speaking right off the pages. Anyone who has an interest in history, the sea, the Navy, or especially submarines, will enjoy this book. It is a complete accounting of our adventures across two years of under ice excursions and I highly recomend it. It should be on every school library shelf in the country. John C. Yuill

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping account of a real and daring adventure., August 11, 2008

By 

Bruce Trinque (Amston, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures (Hardcover)

You might not think that an account of a real world event such as the first visit to the North Pole (and transit of the Arctic Ocean) with its outcome well known could be suspenseful and gripping. If so, you have not read "The Ice Diaries: The Untold Story of the USS Nautilus and the Cold War's Most Daring Mission" by William R. Anderson (the commander of Nautilus during that historic voyage) and Don Keith. Although the story has been told before, this time many previously classified aspects are explored in detail and perhaps for the first time the real nature of risks and daring are evident. Anderson and Keith describe the first two attempts to reach the Pole, both defeated by inexperience, faulty equipment, and sheer lack of knowledge of underwater Arctic conditions. But Anderson and the crew of Nautilus persevered and performed brilliantly to achieve not only reaching the Pole, but to cross all the way from the Pacific to the Atlantic in doing so. "The Ice Diaries" is a page-turner of the best sort. And it is pleasing to report that Anderson took great pains to make clear the contributions of everyone involved, although he remained modest about his own role. Fifty years afterwards, it may be difficult to realize what an extraordinary achievement it was, and the impact it had, both upon public opinion and on Cold War strategic thinking. The voyage of Nautilus from the Pacific to the Atlantic via the North Pole can justly stand alongside the Apollo moon missions as one of the greatest adventures of the Twentieth century made possible by evolving technology.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ice Diaries, November 19, 2008

By 

Eric Shuler (Oradell, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ice Diaries: The True Story of One of Mankind's Greatest Adventures (Hardcover)

The Ice Diaries
The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Daring Mission
By Captain William Anderson with Don Keith


Publisher Thomas Nelson
Pp
2008
Photos
Index




I looked at the dust jacket The Ice Diaries, The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Daring Mission and it caught my eye. The reason I looked at it was very simple design a miniature submarine and the title and the author's name. I usually do not read many books about the United States let alone books dealing specifically with submarines. The book is about the Nautilus, its crew, and their two attempts and finally, the success of being the first nuclear submarine to go under the North Pole.


I have been aboard the Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut. It was the US Navy's first nuclear submarine and it was ahead of its time. When I toured the boat I noticed it was much bigger than World War II submarines. The interior of the Nautilus is clean and a great deal of the areas is stainless steel. The diagram on the tour guides shows all the areas except the nuclear power plant.

I took it for granted that submarines could go under the North Pole and could operate years with out refueling. I did not realize how difficult it was to do. The book Ice Diaries takes you back to the 1950's when the Russians were launching satellites and our own rockets were blowing up on the launch pad. The reader discovers President Eisenhower was behind the mission to go under the North Pole. He wanted to show the world that the United States had the ability to accomplish a technical challenge that no one else had done before.

Reading Ice Diaries, I learned that Admiral Rickover was initially opposed to the Nautilus going under the North Pole. The reader will feel the frustration of the two failed attempts and the success of the third mission. There was much riding on these voyages our national pride was at stake.
As a soldier, I learned how a submarine and crew work together as team. I know why the Nautilus was our premier sub and has been preserved for future generations. Ice Diaries is a very interesting book. I suggest you read the book and then visit the Nautilus in Groton, CT and you will understand what a crowning achievement this one submarine made in our history.


Eric Shuler
MAJ NJARNG (ret)