SUBIC: A Sailor's Memoir: Based on the Story of Bobby Earl Perkins

Submitted by Jim Greenwald on January 10, 2013 - 11:50

Book Information:
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Cover:

Author's Summary

In this riveting memoir, Bobby Earl Perkins recollects the constitutional issue of racial discrimination and how his Christian faith ushers him amid the seemingly insurmountable struggles to establish his pride and dignity while stationed in Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippines. This sailor's account somehow mirrors the civil rights movements happening back in the U.S. soil in 1960s and provides a glimpse of how a group of servicemen, in a risk-taking effort, upholds the sense of justice and equality that every American is entitled of--even aboard a foreign land. Subic is a story that is not so ordinary; however, its significance is not alien to many.

MWSA Review

The story is old, one which we mostly believe is in the past but, it rears its ugly head periodically even in places one would think it has been eradicated, racism.

SUBIC is one such story. Bobby Earl Perkins was on the receiving end of it in his duty station in the Philippines. A few individuals made a clearly open display of how they felt about black sailors. Despite the negative attitude and hostility demonstrated by albeit a few Perkins overcame it and completed a successful naval career.

Why? That is the question one should walk away with. Why at that time in the military should he and others have had to endure racism and or prejudice in any form. The answer should make us all look within ourselves for answers.

Clearly blacks are not the only ones to experience this problem. Women had and are still having difficulties in their military careers. Perkins was forced to break the chain of command to get some justice, hopefully he feels better about the military today and that his experiences are not those of today’s service members, a short book, but worth a read, worth a reflection on the attitudes of each of us.

Reviewed by: Jim Greenwald (2013)

Author(s) Mentioned:

Elleng Brown, Barbara

Reviewer:

Greenwald, Jim

Work Type:

Book Reviews

Tags:

Historical