Customer Reviews

Just a Sailor: A Navy Diver's Story of Photography, Salvage, and Combat

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thirty years after the events depicted so vividly in "Just a Sailor," I not only met Steve Waterman but learned that our trails had crossed in both California and Virginia. It is through that circumstance that I am able to vouch for the authenticity of this fascinating book.

I like authenticity in literature, whether fiction or non-fiction. As a matter of record, many, if not most, of the SEAL genre of books lack authenticity. Here, then, comes Waterman, a non-SEAL who did a lot of SEAL things, writing a book that tells the gospel truth about the way things were in the Teams (and the rest of the Navy, for that matter) during the 1970's.

Waterman's authentic portrayal of Navy life in the '70's, in its own way, rivals Harper Lee's depiction of life in the Depression South in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Having lived in both the Navy and the South during the periods written about, I can vouch for the authenticity of both works and favorably compare the two. Waterman may not be a literary giant, but he both knows how to tell an exciting tale and lay it all out there for the reader to visualize.

"Just a Sailor" makes fascinating reading for students of the Viet Nam War, for historians, and for readers who simply want a hard-to-put-down read. Don't miss it.

I give this book five stars because it's one of a kind and no other book can compare to it. Steve Waterman tells his story with pure, unadulterated honesty. We don't get questionable details and ham-fisted opinions like we do with so many other true-accounts of military service. Steve's prose is straightforward and conversational. He puts you in his shoes and takes you on a trip from the floor of a truck camper in Maine to the deck of the Navy's politically correct submarine rescue platform, with dozens of interesting, and, at times, harrowing stops in between, including a tour in Vietnam. Steve wanted to leave Maine and find something special, and he did -- he became one of only 15 Navy combat photographers. (There are only 15 of these guys at any one time in the Navy.) Read this book and you'll come away with some new insights into military service. Find out what it's like to have the job of combat photographer and handle the various types of equipment; engage in marine salvage; go on a treasure hunting expedition; serve with the UDT-13 in Vietnam; take part in an underwater habitat experiment and more. Steve's recollection of his service in the Navy is remarkably honest and telling.

Waterman tells his autobiographical story in such a modest manner, it is easy to forget how brave he is. A member of the Underwater Demolition Teams that were a precursor to NAvy Seals, he did things few in the world can claim. This book is full of personal and factual info on his UDT experiances. But it is also a tale of his experoiances as an underwater cameraman, salvage operator, and commercial diver. Very intersting book, good photos even in the paperback. Highly reccommend for those interested in this subject!!

As a former Navy Photographer (PH2 before Watermans time) I throughly enjoyed his wondering through his Navy life. I remember the A and C schools being much the same as he described and got the "feel" of his underwater training and activities just if I had been there. Steve has grasp the real feeling of his Navy life and demonstrates it quite well to the reader. If you are offended by a few "blue" words this may not be your reading delight but if you want to see the world through a Navy Photographer/Divers eyes, this is one to read!

I had just finished Bernie Chowdhury's "The Last Dive" when I first learned of this book. The contrast could not be greater. Here is no tale of "personalities" competing on dives to the "Andrea Doria" or sunken U-Boats. "Just A Sailor" is a good, honest tale of the mid-60s to late 70s Navy career of the author.Not all the action is below the surface, much of it is on dry land, with no detrimental effects. Since the author was a Naval photographer and a diver, the combination of the two skills only adds to the story. The inevitable Navy politics and occaisional back stabbing serve well to round the plot out. These are all real people here! A few minor points: The plain vanilla cover does not serve "JS" well. There is more on the inside than may be apparent. If there is a reprint, the publisher should dress it up! A glossary of Navy/dive/photo terms would have helped this reader but this omision is not serious. I liked the bottom-of-the-page footnotes- a nice touch. Finally, why not a Vietnam only sequel? Mr. Waterman can write, he must have some great photos and I don't think the market is flooded with Navy-Vietnam books. "Just A Sailor" is for those of us that like things plain and unfettered. Recommended!

One mark of an excellent book is that the reader does not always agree with it. That is the first evidence that the writer is telling the truth, his truth, and without sugarcoating. On the other hand, there are small mountains of books whose purpose seems to be to inflame passions of the readers, which is powerful evidence that the writers are simply screaming for attention. "Just a Sailor" rang with truth because there were times that the author sincerely... me off, but he never seemed to do it for the sake of such. He was just telling things as he saw/sees them, which takes courage. As with probably every book I have read - and that would be thousands - there were parts that I enjoyed more than others. In "Just a Sailor" I enjoyed the Vietnam narration but, surprisingly, found the "civilian aspects" and the diving and photography just as interesting.

I tend to find it annoying in some military books (and in some books on business or on government), when the author gives a blow by blow of the internal politics. Hearing all the tales and reasons why the "commander is incompetent" or why the "REMFs should all be dropped in the ocean" grows old. There were a couple of times when I thought the author was going that route. But, luckily, he sailed away at the last minute, which let me know that he had seen the political icebergs but wisely chose to avoid them, favoring instead to tell what was unique about his story. I found the technical information regarding the bends and other diving information was very interesting, well presented, and held my attention the strongest. This was an excellent book, and I look forward to the author's next.

Steven Waterman's JUST A SAILOR has taken me to a world within the Navy that I previously didn't know existed. The trip is adventurous, dangerous, and almost always humorous. Waterman's refreshing style of writing is a splash of cold water in the face of this reader of military history. I highly recommend that you read this book if you enjoy reading: about the military life, about combat, about UDT / SEALs, about the Navy, or you just want to read something that is a diversion from the typical military nonfiction. I hope Waterman continues to write since I always need/enjoy a splash of cold water.

If you love adventure, the Navy, photography and diving, "Just a Sailor," by former Navy photographer/diver, Steve Waterman, is a must read. "Just a Sailor" is a no non-sense account of what it's like to serve as an enlisted man in the U.S.Navy with the elitist of the elite. It's a story that any Sailor, particularly enlisted people will be able to relate too. It's a story of hardship, travel, low pay, dangerous work environments and combat. "Just a Sailor" details how a veteran Navy man who truly loved the Navy and the many adventures it offered, foresaw the approaching era of political correctness and decided to leave the Navy. It is one of the best books I've ever read dealing with the pre-PC Navy. Waterman has painted a vivid picture of what Navy life "used" to be like.

Art Giberson, Author of "Photojournalist," "Blue Ghost: The Ship That Couldn't Be Sunk" and "Eyes of the Fleet: A History of Naval Photography"

If you dive into "Just A Sailor" with minimal prior exposure to the workings of the military (like I did), you'll happily find this book does not alienate you through miles of military mumble or intricate technicalities, but rather it draws you into each intriguing page as though you were present through it all. The pictures of Steve's experiences still linger long after having finished the book. I was truly disappointed when I ran out of pages. Steve's genuineness and candor will cause you to feel as though you've known him for years as he escorts you through his personal and professional world, successes and regrets, triumphs and trials. A delightful journey it is. This book should come with a warning: "May Cause Late Night Reading Addiction."

Mr Waterman writes a down to Earth account of life in the U.S. Navy in the sixties and seventies. It's a good read for anyone who is interested in life in the military during a turbulent time in our history. Real people and real places add rich detail and keep the story moving along.