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Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo by [Cheevers, Jack]

Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo Kindle Edition

by Jack Cheevers (Author)

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WINNER OF THE SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD FOR NAVAL LITERATURE

“I devoured Act of War the way I did Flyboys, Flags of Our Fathers and Lost in Shangri-la.”—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In 1968, the small, dilapidated American spy ship USS Pueblo set out to pinpoint military radar stations along the coast of North Korea. Though packed with advanced electronic-surveillance equipment and classified intelligence documents, its crew, led by ex–submarine officer Pete Bucher, was made up mostly of untested young sailors.

On a frigid January morning, the Pueblo was challenged by a North Korean gunboat. When Bucher tried to escape, his ship was quickly surrounded by more boats, shelled and machine-gunned, forced to surrender, and taken prisoner. Less than forty-eight hours before the Pueblo’s capture, North Korean commandos had nearly succeeded in assassinating South Korea’s president. The two explosive incidents pushed Cold War tensions toward a flashpoint.

Based on extensive interviews and numerous government documents released through the Freedom of Information Act, Act of War tells the riveting saga of Bucher and his men as they struggled to survive merciless torture and horrendous living conditions set against the backdrop of an international powder keg.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Length: 449 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 14805 KB
Print Length: 449 pages
Publisher: Dutton Caliber (December 3, 2013)
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00C5QQI3A
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,581 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #73 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Asia > Korea
- #112 in Books > History > Asia > Korea > North
- #121 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Diplomacy

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Top customer reviews

Courageous crew pays for brass-hat incompetence

ByJoseph A. Haran Jr.on March 4, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

It's perfectly clear to me, having read Jack Cheevers' well-researched and well-written book, that much of what went on regarding the U.S.S. Pueblo was never revealed to the world--until now. A debt of gratitude is owed the author by all of us, for without his book we'd remain greatly misinformed about a tragedy which could and should have been prevented.

Anyone who is even remotely interested in imprisonment, intelligence gathering, the Korean Peninsula, military culture, naval activity, politics, post-traumatic stress, psychology, the Second Indochina War, or torture should read this book. Obviously, those interested in the seizure of the U.S.S. Pueblo and the fate of its crew will find this book enlightening.

While not wanting to give anything away, as it's all of a piece, I'll nevertheless address a subject about which I've retained some small knowledge: destruction of classified documents and equipment. Imminent capture of such items by a hostile force was, during the period examined in this book, a scenario not taken seriously by relevant authority. The U.S.S. Pueblo's crew had neither the means nor the training necessary to destroy classified machines and materials on a moment's notice, as the ship captain's repeated requests for proper destruction equipment had been denied.

In short, the "blue water" navy and its admirals had little respect for crews and ships embarked on intelligence-gathering missions. (This nonchalant attitude, however, did not prevail within the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.) Shocking as such high-level incompetence is, it's equally shocking to learn of treatment accorded some of the U.S.S. Pueblo's crew upon their release from captivity.

The sole fatality aboard U.S.S. Pueblo was Damage Controlman Third Class Duane Daniel Hodges (1946-1968) from Creswell in Oregon. May he and Commander Lloyd Mark Bucher (1927-2004) rest in peace, along with their 18 shipmates who have also passed away.

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A great story of American heroes and a ship that let them down!

ByScott Marquisson April 7, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a tremendous read about 86 sailors and their 11 months as POWs of the North Koreans. If you are in your mid-late 50s (I am) you may remember the story so many years ago. This book covers the work-up of the doomed voyage, the capture, the imprisonment, and homecoming in a very fast paced read. As I said before, I knew about the incident before (think forest) now I know about the branches of the trees! Bravo Zulu!

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Lyndon Johnson made a huge mistake re the Pueblo... Politics trumped common sense...

ByDeeon October 1, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Great but sad story and well researched. I believe the Russians received 15 crypto machines from capturing the Pueblo. Those machines fit nicely with the key lists John Walker sold to the KGB starting just before the Pueblo was taken. In his 18 years of spying, the Russians probably paid less than $1 million dollars for a treasure trove of information about the U.S. military's secrets. In the words of top KGB officials, had a war broken out during the 18 years of John Walker's spy ring, they would have won because they had a seat at the Pentagon.

Starting in 1985, it cost the U.S. about $1 B to set up a new security system. Yes, John Walker was a traitor and should have been executed. His ring was probably the worst spy ring the U.S. ever encountered. John Walker also gave the russians information about how noisy their subs were. They bolted motors to the hull which sends noise out into the ocean. Noise in the ocean will always be detected by the United States. Look at all the submarine disasters --- The U.S. Sosus program discovered the locations of all the sub disasters, including Russian Subs.

North Korea captured the Pueblo from International Waters and turned over the crypto machines to Russia. North Korea still holds the Pueblo. The U.S. should have demolished the Pueblo as it was tied to the dock in North Korea. Demolish the Pueblo and the crypto machines would not have been available to the russians.

The crew of the Pueblo could not destroy the crypto machines partly because they were welded to steel work surfaces. Lyndon Johnson did us no favors by allowing Walker to stay alive. Walker wrote a book.. I refuse to read it......

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Highly Recommended!

ByEdward J. Palumboon April 11, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The "Pueblo Incident" was a first of its kind in my memory, and clearly the worst possible scenarios were not covered in the OpPlan. The '60s was a difficult period of trial & error in hard lessons for all branches, but 11 months of captivity was too great a price to pay for oversight by the officers and crew of the USS Pueblo. I've read "Bucher: My Story" and Cmdr. Bucher, a career officer and professional, spared the Navy his criticism. I cannot be as generous. This book objectively reports the plight and treatment of the men as well as the aftermath and finger-pointing session to follow when they were repatriated. I was on active duty at the time and marveled at the inability of the chain of command to promptly respond, to take decisive action. While this book better explains that, it was still evidence of poor planning on the part of Bucher's command structure, a hard lesson that would benefit future operations. This book was well researched, I enjoyed it and recommend it.

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Terrific book

ByRogeron February 18, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I never knew or fully understood what I did know of this sad time in US history. The captain of the Pueblo. Although less than politically correct was the type of officer this country needs in it's military. The book is an indictment of the US Navy playing the "blame game". Every US serviceman knows in his heart that if captured by an enemy. His immediate brothers and sisters in uniform will do anything they can to bring them home. Unfortunately, once that immediate time has passed you're no more than a political pawn.

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Most recent customer reviews

The 1968 Pueblo Incident well explored

Review - Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo by Jack Cheevers

The book “Act of War” by Jack Cheevers is a tour d’ force.Read more

Published 1 month ago by gt surber

Five Stars

A great narrative of a tragic event the US should have never let happen.

Published 1 month ago by William R. Griffiths

Amazing war story, without a war!

This is great read, related to the Korean War. The USN you sent the Ill prepared Pueblo into dangerous waters without adequate preparation, and it was just to listen in to...Read more

Published 1 month ago by Jerome V. Murphy

It has done exactly what I got it for.

Thanks for a great product!! Delivery date in time as expected... Met all my expectations and I am very happy with it. Definitely worth every penny. Pretty good.Read more

Published 2 months ago by Tony House

Excellent read. As a CT who spent 10 years ...

Excellent read. As a CT who spent 10 years with the Naval Security Group, I can say that the book is technically accurate.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Steve Miller

Heros

Great historical review. I was 12 when the Pueblo was taken but remember it well. Joined the Navy when I was 18. I would have been proud to serve under Captain Bucher.Read more

Published 4 months ago by Larry B. Thatcher

A very strong book

I remember the Pueblo incident well because at the time of the ship's capture I was involved in a mission very similar to the one the Pueblo crew was carrying out, and I imagined...Read more

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer

North Korea..

Great book.. factual information and a real eye opener about North Korea ! They really brainwash their people and their soldiers about how bad the Americans and South Koreans...Read more

Published 7 months ago by Judy Green

Excellent historical narrative

Terrific book for those interested in history. North Korea is a brutal place and the treatment of our American sailors was beyond brutal.

Published 7 months ago by Kindle Customer

Five Stars

Excellent

Published 10 months ago by Douglas W. Bonnot

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