Stories from the US Navy: I A Suicide in the Mediterranean

MWSA Review

Stories from the US Navy by Bob Stockton is an interesting look into life aboard the Navy's largest surface ship, an aircraft carrier, often referred to by sailors as a "bird farm."

Few people realize the pressures and responsibilities of life on a carrier. Those pressures become obvious when a sailor commits suicide one night while at sea. Stockton weaves a good tale explaining both sides leading up to the suicide.

A good overall story which allows the reader to gain insights into and understanding of what shipboard life is like. 

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2015)

Author's Summary

Radarman Second Class Zack Martin finds himself with time for reflection while taking a smoke break on a moonlit early morning aboard a Navy aircraft carrier. He'd prefer to be almost anywhere else than aboard a "damned bird farm" crossing the Gibraltar Strait. The veteran sailor is not happy and longs to find a way to get back to destroyer duty in the Pacific.

The trick will be to accomplish that without sinking his Navy career. Carrier sailors find it challenging to transfer back to the surface fleet, and an ensign fresh from training who is bursting with self-importance isn't helping matters. Yet another bungled job by a shipmate leads to a life altering decision by the brass and before long Martin may have the opportunity he's always wanted.