Better than the Titantic tale

books:

	• Sailing into the Abyss: A True Story of Extreme Heroism on the High Seas William R. Benedetto Citadel, 2005 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 20 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Entrancing!

This book is superbly written. The amazing story of the SS Badger State is magnetic, and even more fascinating because it's true! I will recommend this book every chance I get, and I will keep my copy as a prized possession.

"Sailing into the Abyss"

This book is spell binding, excellently written and so full of history that it makes you want to reach out for more info.

A true story for our time and one that needs to be shared. If you want to know more about the Coast Guard and what it's like to be at sea, this is the book to read. I'm having trouble putting it down.

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Those in Peril Upon the Seas

"Sailing into the Abyss" by William R. Benedetto is to the Merchant fleet what the "Perfect Storm" was to the sword-fishing fleet.

The book gives "arm-chair" sailors like me, uncontrollable shakes and chattering teeth even...with a hot cup of coffee in hand! Benedetto's writing abilities plunges the reader directly into the cold sea next to the unfortunate struggling seaman who has just abandoned his sinking ship.

This is the riveting story of the Merchant vessel "S.S. Badger State" that was taking its deadly cargo of bombs and munitions to Da Nang to help support our troops and the war effort in Vietnam. Shortly before Christmas of 1969, the "S. S. Badger State" runs into two gargantuan storms that seem to converge directly into the men and cargo of the "S.S. Badger State." The bombs break loose in their cargo holds, and then...
you must read the book!

The author is really a superb writer and nautical historian. However, he sometimes gives too many historical examples of similar events to intensify the fate of this particular ship and incident. His examples are extremely interesting but...often too long. These constant historical vignettes only serve to take the readers focus away from the main events at hand. Much of that ancillary information could easily be put into another book on historical ship wrecks.

William Benedetto deserves the highest praises for sharing his expertise and love for those who suffer peril upon the seas.

A truly good book and one that all sailors, past and present should read.

Aye--Aye Captain!

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Better than the Titantic tale

Sailing into the Abyss, is a true story of a merchant ship encountering very foul wheather while ferrying ammunition to Vietnam. Unlike the Titanic story which esentially is one catastrophe(e.g. iceberg hits ship) event, the crew of the S.S. Badger State, encounters many trials. Through the author, the readers gets "into the head" of the captain as decisions are made and options exhausted.

The author speaks with authority. He is a maritime lawyer, and twenty-six year veteran of the Coast Guard. However, he is not a professional author. There are a few awkward transitions from telling the story of Badger State and providing some background of the Merchant Marine.

Sailing into the Abyss, reminds me of the true of story of Capt. Schakelton and the Endurance, If you enjoy reading about that true tale you very likely will enjoy Sailing into Abyss. If you are not familar with that story, but enjoy reading something different in military/naval history, then this is book for you. Even if you a not a history buff, the human drama makes a compelling a true tale.

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Rescue at Sea

This was an interesting read especially for us that have spent some time at sea ourselves. There are however weaknesses, in my opinion, which downgrades my rating. The author has taken some artistic license with his narrative. I would have thought he could have been more specific in regards to actual weather conditions. These must be available from records available to the company, the Navy or the routing service. The descriptions of the weather are too general. Another thing I found curios was a near total lack of a description of the contact and communications held between the ship's Master and the company - States Marine. There must have been volumes!

Still, all in all an interesting enough description of the events during those dramatic days. Not a pleasant way to spend a Christmas at sea.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

In the spirit of The Perfect Storm and Shadow Divers, Sailing into the Abyss presents a minute-by-minute account of the sinking of the Merchant Marine vessel the SS Badger State, a cargo ship loaded with bombs being sent to support US troops in Vietnam. A true story that rivals that of any fiction thriller, Sailing into the Abyss uses eyewitness accounts, official documents and rarely seen photos to relate what would become the deadliest sea disaster of the Vietnam War Sailing into the Abyss compellingly documents a tragedy while celebrating the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

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