Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions [Hardcover]

William P. Mack (Author), Royal W. Connell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870214128 | ISBN-13: 978-0870214127 | Publication Date: June 1980 | Edition: 5th

This classic compendium focuses on the ceremonial customs and traditions practiced throughout the U.S. naval establishment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a mine of information for the aspiring officer." -- Journal for Maritime Research, May 2004

"...this latest revision retains the easy readability that has made it so popular for the past seventy years." --Sea Classics, January 2005 --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Royal W. Connell, a retired commander in the U.S. Navy and 1970 graduate of the Naval Academy, served as a mission commander in the E-2 Hawkeye. He currently teaches naval science at Annapolis High School, where he established the city's first NJROTC unit. William P. Mack, a retired vice admiral in the U.S. Navy and former commander of the Seventh Fleet, served with distinction in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Among his many writing achievements are three Naval Institute professional guides as well as Commodore Kilburnie. He died in 2003. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 386 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press; 5th edition (June 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870214128
• ISBN-13: 978-0870214127
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,941,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navy 101, January 21, 2001

By 

"frenum26" (Stationed in Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions (Hardcover)

This is an excellent source of knowledge with a wealth of information. If you want to know about the origins of Naval terms and how certain Naval traditions came about (ie..The Crossing of the Equator, Change of Command ceromonies) this book explains most of it. My only complaint is that it revolves around the officer community too much. I think it would have helped to add some more enlisted info too! So I highly reccomend this book! Fair Winds and Following Seas!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navy custom explained, October 10, 2001

By 

S. Lawrenz "Lendorien" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions (Hardcover)

A book that covered exactly what its title suggests, "Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions" is clearly intended as a manual of traditions and customs for naval officers. I don't doubt that it would come in useful. It's a true treasure trove of information concerning the United States Navy's unique culture.

The best part is the fact that it goes extensively into the backgrounds of many of the traditions and customs the Navy is steeped in. It is a scholarly book on history as much as it is about custom and tradition.

As a person not in the navy but with an interest in its history, this book was entertaining and informative. If you're interested in such things, "Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions" is definitely worth a look.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what the title suggests., April 29, 2010

By 

JT (Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions, Sixth Edition (Hardcover)

I bought this book in the hopes of picking up on some of the traditions and customs of the Navy that I may have missed. The book definitely covers a pretty good amount, but what I have found is that they almost completely ignore the enlisted community. This is a pretty big omission as far as I am concerned and is why I marked the score where I did. I bought this book thinking that it would cover "Naval" ceremonies, customs, and traditions not just "Officer" ceremonies, customs, and traditions.

In the end, I am disappointed in the purchase. I only recommend this book if you are possibly joining the Navy to become an officer or are an officer already. If you are looking for a book on all the ceremonies, customs, and traditions of the Navy, there are probably better sources out there than this book.