Customer Reviews

Intrepid: The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Another naval aviation book success from the computers of Bob Gandt and Bill White, a non-fiction one this time that already has been number 518 on the best sales list of Amazon.com after only three days on the street. This book was also selected by the Military Book Club as a primary selection in the near future.

Despite the more than tepid review of "Publisher's Weekly" quoted above, "INTREPID" is a well written, tautly scripted military history written by a veteran naval aviator and commercial airline captain with over 30,000 hours of air time. His dialogue of the people involved in over 60 years of the USS Intrepid's history is either taken from tapes and manuscripts and interviews of those involved or derived from Gandt's deep knowledge and research of things naval, not contrived as claimed above by the "Weekly." The authencity is real, it is there, and it makes for first class reading as noted by other military authors above.

The occasion of the totally renovated USS Intepid's return to the Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City's harbor is the underlying reason for this work, but it turns out to be much more than that. The over half a century of active duty service for this nation and as a living naval history center that all can visit makes Intrepid very special. And so is this book. Gandt and White, the latter the initial curator and now president of the Intrepid's museum site, have collaborated to write a truly definitive and gripping account of this famous vesel's career -- one so impressive that the U.S. presidential aspirant and former naval aviator who flew missions from the Intrepid, John S. McCain, wrote the foreward to this volume. For him to do so gives the reader a unique perspective as to the authencity of this brand new tale of the especial and very historic aircraft carrier.

For all involved in this production, from publisher Random House to the two authors, to John McCain, who recognizes good naval aviation history when he sees it, the ultimate navy accolade: "Well Done!"

INTREPID appears, at first glance, to be just another book about a warship. Not until I got into it did I realize this was a story about people, many of them incredibly heroic. That this ship is still with us sixty-five years since she was commissioned is a miracle. Even more of a miracle is how she survived five kamikaze strikes, a torpedoing off Truk, fought her way through some of the greatest sea battles of all time, then soldiered through the Cold War and three combat tours in Vietnam. It's all here, told from the viewpoints of gallant Americans serving aboard a gallant ship. Highly recommended.

FlyBabe, Satellite Beach, Florida

I discovered this book on the Don Imus Show on RFD TV.
A well written history of a great ship. A must for any history buff.

I bought the book when I visited the Intrepid in NYC on Memorial day, thinking it would be very exciting. When I started to read it, i was a little dissapointed in the tone of the book,as the chapters were written in a oddly undramatic style, despite the exciting story they were trying to tell. My favorite chapters were the WWII chapters, and the chapters about the Fisher family who gave so much to our military families. The ship itself has a great story to tell, and seeing it is a must if you visit NY, but, the book itself does not live up to the potential.

My husband bought this because we're friends with one of the ace pilots who flew off her. I picked it up to read the parts about that friend and was hooked. Every page is a shining example of the fact that America is "the home of the free because of the brave". The authors have woven interviews with pilots and crew members, journals, and ship logs to make a very readable book that puts it's readers in the pilot seat for some incredible battle recollections. We had visited the Intrepid in New York in 2001. I wish I had the insight of this book to help understand that visit. We plan to go back to visit her again since the restoration. When we were there, we were overwhelmed with the docents' personal stories and the emotional reaction of the young people who were visiting with us. I'm ordering another copy for a "loaner".

The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship Intrepid

Publisher Broadway Books
Pp 349
Photos

The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship Intrepid by Bill White and Robert Gandt is a very comprehensive history of a the aircraft carrier Intrepid. I reside within fifteen miles of the Intrepid and have visited her many times. I know of the history of the Intrepid, but the book made me realize how little I actually knew of the legendary aircraft carrier.
I was aware she served in WW II in the Pacific and Senator John McCain was a pilot aboard her during the war in Vietnam. Also, during the dark days of September 11, 2001 she served as a command post.
As a soldier, I am always amazed something so big can float and then be able to launch combat planes. The book begins with her actions in WW II and describes in detail the combat the Intrepid participated in and the kamazike attacks the ship withstood. The Intrepid WW II actions are very impressive by it and that alone would make an interesting book. The Intrepid was one of the few fortunate aircraft carriers to be selected to be refit after World War II.
After the Vietnam War, the Intrepid assisted NASA by recovering astronauts from the Atlantic Ocean. Later the Navy would decommissioned her and but decided to bring her out of mothballs and recommission her for continued service. The authors Bill White and Robert Gandt go into detail about the changes to the Intrepid.
September 11, 2001 the Intrepid served as a command post for the United States Government as much of their office space was destroyed in the World Trade Center. The Intrepid to this day has a mission to support New York City in times of crisis. This is an incredible feat as this ship is over 60 years old and with the new refit by the Intrepid Foundation she will continue to welcome people aboard her decks.
One of the chapters, I found extremely interesting is how the Intrepid came to New York and became a museum. The founders gave much of their own money to preserve the Intrepid. The process of bring a war ship to a city is daunting as well as expensive. The authors make the reader really appreciate the scarf ice and vision to bring the Intrepid to New York.
I enjoyed the book and if you have time read the book and if you in New York make sure you visit the Fighting I on the Hudson River in New York City.

Major Eric Shuler (ret)
NJARNG

White has done a fine job in this book. I was a plane captain assigned to a Corsair along with one of his interviewees, Felix Novelli, also a plane captain of a Corsair. White has obviously done much research, and accurately so. His descriptions of battles with the kamikazes are quite realistic and bring back many memories, frightfully so. White cites Novelli's witnessing the attack on the Franklin. I, too, witnessed this. I was in the chow line on the port side when the attack occurred. I saw the plane and witnessed 27 explosions before turning away. I simply could not bear to watch any more. One point in the book that I question, and it is minor. But, I do have to admit that my memory of the April 16 attack is somewhat vague, but it seems that the two kamikazes attacked from on high off the starboard side rather than from low astern as White describes. I do have to admit to being very busy at this time, however, since my battle station was a 40mm quad tub on the port side just aft of the elevator where the suicider struck. I was quite busy handling ammo at that moment and 63 years have taken a toll on my memory. Nevertheless, the book is a fine representation of the "Mighty I" and what she went through while I was on board. I highly recommend this book for WWII buffs and any others interested in the history of aircraft carriers of that period.

It's about time that this book was written. Indeed, every one of the US Navy's long serving aircraft carriers deserves a book like this. Intrepid is the history; no, not history, the story, (history is facts dates, figures; a story is people, events, reality.) of one ship. Read of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the invasion of Okinawa, Kamikaze attacks, recovery of early astronauts, hunting submarines in the Cold war, Yankee Station operations into North Vietnam and you will find USS Intrepid in each of the histories. What White and Gandt have done is examined the historical sources and then added a generous measure of interviews and personal recollections from the men who were there and assembled them into a readable and coherent story in one book.

The selection of Bob Gandt as co-author was wise. As a tailhooker, his knowledge of carrier operations gives Intrepid an accuracy and immediacy that would not be possible otherwise. Gandt is the author of many aviation books and a best selling series of flying novels whose story telling skills have developed to a fine degree. Evident even when he is writing non-fiction.

The price of the book for the Kindle is higher than the hard cover price? I have volunteered on the Intrepid, know many of the former crew and am a great admirer of the ship, and the organization now running the museum. When I heard Bill White had written a book, I immediately went to find it. But Amazon and the publishers are playing games again - so I will read the book, and I will find a used copy at an old-fashioned bookstore. Another strike against Amazon and the Kindle.

I get to NYC about twice a year and always make it a point to visit the Intrepid.
Bob Gandt's great book has made those visits much more meaningful.
He really makes the ship come alive. excelent work!
Tony C.