Salvage Man: Edward Ellsberg and the U.S. Navy [Hardcover]

John D. Alden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557500274 | ISBN-13: 978-1557500274 | Publication Date: December 1997

A biography of an unconventional naval officer who confronted the Navy's conservatism, service politics, and professional jealousies in his work salvaging sunken docks and vessels and rescuing men trapped in them. Includes black and white photographs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 301 pages
• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557500274
• ISBN-13: 978-1557500274
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,533,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Salvager of public opinion as well as ships, March 21, 2000

By 

Mark A. Stoffan (Asheville, North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salvage Man: Edward Ellsberg and the U.S. Navy (Hardcover)

Edward Ellsberg (1891-1983) was a brilliant marine engineer who developed salvage techniques still in use today. His work often saved the hides of the senior navy brass who frequently caused the situations Ellsberg fixed. His raising of two sunken submarines in the 1920's led to public recognition and special promotion by act of Congress. During WWII his work played an immense role in furthering the Allied war effort. His name deserves to be remembered as that of a truly great American who strove to do his best in any situation and who placed excellence above personal gain. I enjoyed this work after having grown up reading Ellsberg's own books. Alden has done an outstanding job of which Ellsberg would be proud.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on an important man, November 4, 2000

By 

Patrick S Andrews (Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salvage Man: Edward Ellsberg and the U.S. Navy (Hardcover)

Mr. Ellsberg's accomplisments are hardly known outside a select group. Yet what he was able to do during the war impacted the entire war effort in that theater of operations. The techniques he used are still practiced today. The tone and view are from an officers perspective so if you want to learn about what it was like to be a diver I recommend "Descent into Darkness" by Raymer. Salvage Man shows the behind the scenes action that is often not known or completely misunderstood by those at the working level. As a working diver I could appreciate the size and scope of the tasks Mr. Ellsberg was expected to accomplish. In typical military or diving fashion, he was not given the people or equipment that would have been expected. This book is great for sharpening your skills if you are a diver or supervisor who would like to see other ways of getting things done.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful story of a very interesting man, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Salvage Man: Edward Ellsberg and the U.S. Navy (Hardcover)

Admiral Ellsburg was a great American. He was intelligent beyond books. He figured out methods for how to do things that we still use today. It is truely fascinating to learn about this man who did so much for his country.