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Introducing MWSA member Jack Wells
After
an uninspiring childhood in Corry, PA, I enlisted in the US Navy in June 1960, 3 days after high school. Boot camp and technical
school in San Diego was followed by almost two years aboard USS OBSERVATION ISLAND (EAG 154) home ported in Florida. Selected
for the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program in 1962, I attended Penn State University, graduating in 1966 in Electrical
Engineering while concurrently achieving the first class petty officer grade. Commissioned Ensign, USN, I spent two years
on USS GURKE (DD 783) out of San Diego, then a year on USS BANNER (AGER-1) in Yokosuka, Japan, and another year plus on the
staff of Commander Mine Flotilla ONE out of Sasebo, Japan. During these assignments I earned the Combat Action and Vietnam
Service Medal with five campaign stars along with other decorations.
In December 1970, I left active duty as a Lieutenant,
although I continued in the reserve component, ultimately commanding two amphibious warfare ship augmentation units, a fleet
training group and a communication unit. Surface Warfare designated, I progressed to the rank of Commander and went on the
retired list in 1983 after 23 years total service.
In the civilian world I worked in the food processing industry and
retired as Technical Director for Mars, Inc. in late 1998. While employed I had the opportunity to visit and work in many
different countries, especially in South America. But retirement also allowed for pursuing a couple of long term dreams.
My wife and I cruised the Caribbean in our 33 foot sailboat – one dream realized.
The other dream was to write about
my experiences in the Navy during the Vietnam War. I decided that I would write in the historical novel medium not wanting
to use actual names of the characters in real life. I quickly learned that planning on writing and actually doing it were
quite different and that each story line would grow and change as memories came flooding back. The first proof was a disaster
and required lots of editing and rewriting. Making the characters come alive was a challenge. Converting my own feelings
during combat into words required introspection. It was difficult.
In 2007 the first book Quicksilver: a greyhound
at sea was published. I used my military title: CDR Jack L. Wells, USN (Ret.). This book dealt with life aboard a destroyer
during the war and revolved around one fictional junior officer. It received nice reviews. Comments like “one can almost feel
the sea beneath them as they read” or “the characters come alive and are believable” from others who had served on “tin cans”
during the post World War II period were rewarding. The National Association of Destroyer Veterans gave it three stars.
Now
the second book Paper Dragon, Wooden Ship is in print. It deals, again in historical novel format, with the failed US intelligence
ship exercise: USS BANNER (AGER-1), USS PUEBLO (AGER-2) and USS PALM BEACH (AGER-3), along with the EC 121 shoot down incident
in 1969. Even in the late 1960’s the Peoples Republic of Korea was an ongoing and vexing problem that the USA couldn’t deal
with. The second half of the book tells the story of Market Time operations in minesweepers off the coast of Vietnam and some
riverine operations in the northern I Corps area of Vietnam. It also chronicles the influence military service has on an individual’s
personal life. Many marriages do not survive the forced separations of an active Navy career. Again it follows one fictional
officer and ties to the first book.
There are two more books in the works: Haze Gray Cruise Ship and Southern Cross,
Autumn War. These books continue the story of the fictional officer from the first two books. The first will be about amphibious
ships during the cold war in the Mediterranean and the last about naval intelligence operations in Brazil and the Falklands
war between the British and Argentineans. It is my belief that few in the United States understood how furious that war was,
how many ships were lost or damaged and how it helped establish US Navy doctrine for years after its conclusion.
Finally
there is a fifth book coming and it may be out prior to books three and four. The title is Breath of the Choson Dragon.
It
is my sincere hope that each of my books will allow the reader to experience what life was like in the Navy and at home waiting
for a sailor to return. In many instances the crews aboard ship are at the far pointed end of the spear and have no knowledge
of the strategy that sent them into harms’ way. I want to enable my readers to understand Navy operations from the day to
day interaction of the people conducting them. I want to convey some of the frustration and sacrifice our service men and
women endured and still endure to serve their country. And, I hope that I can show how the humor and comradeship of arms
makes dangerous situations less threatening for those same brave heroes. www.jackwellsauthor.com
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