"In this volume, acclaimed naval novelist David Poyer uses his storytelling skills in a non-fiction format that makes the characters come alive . . . The common threads that tie the stories together are character and honorC traits imbued during their years as Naval Academy midshipmen." – Paul Stillwell, historian, author of Battleship Missouri: an Illustrated History and other books
"...David Poyer, '71's outstanding articles for the Naval Academy Alumni Association magazine Shipmate are being published in a single volume. It will give us all easy access to his well-written knowledge of the past." – James Cheevers, Senior Curator, U.S. Naval Academy Museum (Retired).
"Our readers love Dave's stories, and he's captured our shared history in the pages of Shipmate and this new book." – Kristen Pironis, Editor, Shipmate Magazine
"Heroes of Annapolis is an inspiration from cover to cover." – Quarterdeck Magazine
The United States Naval Academy has no monopoly on heroes – naval, marine, or otherwise. But over the last ten years, the most popular living author of American sea fiction has spent thousands of hours researching for Shipmate, the U.S. Naval Academy's magazine. The extraordinary personal stories of adventure and courage he's collected span American history from the Civil War to the War on Terror.
HEROES OF ANNAPOLIS shines light into corners of history that still affect us today. For example, our huge prison population can be traced to Richmond P. Hobson, "The Most Kissed Man in America." Merian C. Cooper was a fighter pilot and film director whose iconic KING KONG has been remade over and over. Philo McGiffin became a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Chinese Navy, commanded a battleship during the Battle of the Yalu, and surveyed many of the islands China is claiming today. Other graduates held bridges under fierce fire, hunted buffalo on horseback, sacrificed their lives to save shipmates, shot down snipers with pistols, rescued fellow aviators on enemy territory, advised presidents against escalation in Vietnam, led Iraqi militias in Baghdad . . . and much more.
Poyer tries not to engage in hero worship, or glorify war. Still, for at least one shining moment, each of the men and women profiled made the difficult choice: To risk it all, for flag, country, honor, and those they led into battle.
