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| To ALL service people out there in America. Okay, gents, and ladies, the following nice person would like stories from Veterans of all eras for inclusion in a book project she is writing. Please send your tales of adventure, humor, real life stories you recall from your military service years to: Mrs. Patty Hardin P.O. Box 212 Long Beach, WA 98631 Ph. # 360-642-5801 Or e-mail: sharkey51@centurytel.net May 2009  NAKED RUN TO MORNING, IS NOW AVAILABLE. YOU CAN ORDER IT THROUGH MOST ANY MAJOR BOOKSTORE, OR GO ON LINE AND ORDER IT FROM www.iuniverse.com www.amazon.com www.bn.com (Barnes&Noble) www.booksamillion.com www.borders.com Order via phone to iuniverse by calling 1-800-288-4677 Ext 501 Both hardcover and quality paperback is available.  1959 Green Coves Springs, Florida Don Gould Bill Sneed  Congrats to Jeremy Richardson of Marshall, Texas on his wise choice of joining the world's best Navy 
We all salute you, Jeremy. Now that you have a life, make something of yourself!! You're now about 5 years ahead of the dingbats you left behind in Marshall. They'll still be with their two-bit jobs when you come home on leave!!! You have a lot going for you now, Jeremy. Keep up the good work. Your mother and sister are sure proud of you.
Bill Sneed, 1961 Johnny Cupp & Bill Sneed aboard USS Wisconsin BB 200 years later: Bill Sneed Charlotte USS Compton DD 705 Reunion in Branson, Mo April 2008 Just received this book review from Tommy Holder's brother, Johnny W. Gordon, but first let me enter Tommy's short note that he enclosed with the review: Merry Christmas, Chief, to you and all your loved ones. I don't send Christmas cards and as you can tell by this stationery, I don't write mch either! I just wanted to send you what my brother sent to me about your book. I hope you can read his writing. For that matter, I hope you can read mine also. That's not exactly what I asked him to do, but you can tell he really enjoyed your book. Take care, Tommy Holder His brother's "Review" now: Mr. Sneed's debut novel is both interesting and ambitious. It reminds me of "The Sand Pebbles" by Richard McKenna; also Tom Clancy since the novel is highly technical and educational. I am very fond of this novel and found it to be an enjoyable read. It has much to recommend it: action, romance, humor, a strong spiritual message, a well-depicted setting in time and places, and a realistic story, that, if it did not really happen, it certainly could have. It even has poetry and a short story in it. There is even a dream-like sequence invading the main character and the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor that reminds me of "Dr. Strangelove." The main characters are Chief Petty Officer Phillip Keith and Kris Palmer, a Christian for which he has a mutual attraction. Keith is transferred to USS Biscay, a WWII destroyer manned by a female crew to see its safe return to the U.S. When the captain asks him to play detective and investigate a drug-smuggling ring aboard the ship; he and Kris set out on the action-filled adventure of danger and excitement. They are even helped by a hamburger-and-fries-eating beagle named Door. Involving a cast of interesting and believable characters, the novel builds up to a climatic end with a terrible storm, mayhem and murder, and not a little soul-searching. Mr. Sneed seems reluctant to use any blue language, although the story call for it at times. The heavy-handledness and preachiness of the Christian message may offend some readers. Ironically, these may very well be the people who could benefit from it the most. For those who "Believe", no explanation is necessary; for those who do not, no explanation is possible. It is my sincere hope that this novel finds its way to many readers and that Mr. Sneed will continue to write. Johnny W. Gordon Janurary 2009: I received an email from Tommy about his brother who wrote the above "outstanding" report on my book. Tommy stated that he had been trying to get hold of his brother for several hours, but no phone answeres at his home. He called another brother to have him meet him at Johnny's house. When they got there they called the police so they could enter the house. Sorry to report, but they found Johnny dead from an apparent heart attack. Tommy said his health had been failing for several years beforehand. God bless a fine person, Mr. Johnny Gordon. Johnny's brother, Tommy Holder, and I served aboard the USS Charles H. Roan DD 853 homeported out of Newport, RI back in '66 and 67'. I have never met his brother, Johnny, nor talked to him. But I would like to since he gave the book such an outstanding review.  Taken after a Veterans Day Ceremony at the high school "I JUST FINISHED READING YOUR BOOK. IT REALLY GETS HOLD OF YOU AND WON'T LET GO! EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, JUST BETWEEN YOU AND I, I GOT CHOKED UP A TAD, YEP. I DID. YEP, DARN GOOD BOOK. THINK JUST MAYBE THE LORD WILL BE PROUD OF YOU. NOW THAT I READ THIS BOOK, JUST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I CAN GET SOMETHING DONE AROUND HERE. GOOD READ!" CMS Middletown, Ohio "Mr. Bill. My daughter gave me your book for Christmas. Once I started reading it, it was hard to put down. As a Yeoman in the Navy I never experienced the life or times of the real workers, the real sailors, but I could just imagine, reading your book how interesting and exciting your job was. I want to read your next book. Please put me on your mailing list!: BL Dallas, TX Still, another one. This from South Carolina: "It kept me interested all the way. I am not a qualified as a critic, but I will say that your objective of promoting Christianity was well done!" Harold Wade author of "COLD WAR FIGHTER PILOT". ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS WELL-WRITTEN BOOK BY E-MAILING MR. WADE AT Another one: "Chief Bill. Book read! Good read! Congratulations! Nice job! JL, Wisconsin (Master Chief Boiler Technician, USN) Subject: Fantastic!!! "Although I had great faith in your writing abilities, you overwhelmed me! Read the whole thing in three days---the ending was perfect!! And there has to be a sequel. You developed Phil so well that another book is a natural. Phil now has a life! Great book!!!" Major Albert Perez, USAF (Ret) Lockhart, Texas ___ 
BLACK OIL CHIEF, USN: Exciting, vivid characters, pure Navy, with a Christian undertone, sure to please!!!
I am very excited about my book, BLACK OIL CHIEF, USN, finally being published. After many revisions and changing the characters a bit, which involved mega skull labor and countless rewrites, I now really feel that I have the novel that I have looked for all these years. But, gee, it now frightens me a bit to know that this story will go PUBLIC soon. It's sort of like being a cop again in that I am "putting it on the line". I am thankful that I have studied the craft of fiction all these years while writing the novel. While I think it's a great book, I am only the author. You're the reader. You judge...when the book comes out. I will let all know when this great event happens. SPECIAL NOTE: I would like to give special thanks to the thousands of crew members of USS Waldron DD 699, the Naval Historical Museum in Washington and its curator, Finney Jr, Edwin who was also a crew member of Waldron: edwin.finneyjr@navy.mil for allowing me to use their "prized" ship photo for the cover of my novel. Many thanks, guys. God bless.
Black Oil Chief, USN "marketing" synopsis:
With its action-packed boiler room operations and crew conflicts, Black Oil Chief, USN parallels with Richard McKenn' s The Sand Pebbles. It is the story of Chief Boiler Technician Phillip Keith, three weeks short of his 20 year retirement goal.
Expecting an easy voyage to the USA from the Philippines aboard a modern cruiser, Keith is suddenly transferred to a WWII destroyer. Young women assigned to his division make efforts to awaken his spiritual awareness, but the hardcore chief shuns their attempts.
The captain assigns Keith the secret mission of securing proof that the ship is being used to smuggle drugs. The drug leader, Elwood, vows he will stop at nothing to get the cache of "goods" Stateside, even if it means murder...again!
While Keith struggles with emotions for one of the women, he encounters conflict with a deckhand named Lynch. Lynch has Keith put on report for assaulting him. Keith gets his due in a "first time ever revealed" fire room scene.
Discovering the drug culprits, Keith and a woman, Kris Palmer, are intercepted by Elwood. In a hurricane-like storm, they are bound together and thrown overboard. Not even the ship's mascot, a beagle, can save them!
The novel ends in a "never before used" spiritual twist that will satisfy any reader.
Navy duty stations of Chief Bill Sneed, USN (Ret): USS Howard D. Crow DE 252 (Reserve while in high school 1958 & '59) USS Robert H. McCard DD 822 (Active duty July 1960) Reenlisted into Regular Navy Feb '62 USS Compton DD 705 (Newport, R.I.) (advanced to 1st Class, E-6) Voted "Best Ship" of my Navy career USS Dyess DD 880 (Vietnam, probing inland rivers and along coast)1966 USS Charles H. Roan DD 853 (1966- 1969) Mediterranean Cruise...again! *Discharged from Navy (1968), and joined Merchant Marines, sailing on two merchant ships before re-enlisting back in Navy. Met and married Charlotte Crowell (RN) during this absence from my Navy career. USS Bennington CVS 20 (Vietnam) 1968 Navy Recruiting Branch Station, Corpus Christi, Texas (1969 to April 1972). Made "Chief" on recruiting duty) USS Downes DE 1070 (good ship, good crew, turn to!) - was aboard her from 1975 to 1977. Am going to the 2008 reunion. Hope to see you there, esp Carl Angell and family). Thanks, Chaplain Mike Halley for info.
USS Barbey FF 1088 (good ship and crew; last ship of Naval career) SIMA, San Diego, California (1978 - July 1980) Oct. 07: While I think all my ships I served aboard are very special and I love every one of them, I can't go to every reunion as this would cost a lot of $$, and travel time would be staggering, but I am going to try and go to a few. I plan on attending the USS Jouett reunion in 2008. *Chosen as the best duty station of my 20 year Navy career: USS Compton DD 705 
BLACK OIL CHIEF, USN
Brief Synopsis of book:
Murder. Women aboard a combat ship. Drugs. Crew conflicts. Not conducive to retirement for CPO Phillip Keith, three weeks short of his 20 year goal; especially in a storm when he is thrown overboard. Even the ship's mascot, a beagle, can"t help him. Uplifting spiritual ending.
  Johnny Cupp Bill Sneed Emile Duchemin John McDougal Ohio/Tennessee/ & City Dump!! Texas New York Conn. Branson USS Compton reunion To the USS Waldron DD 699 crew: A bit of explanation first: The tough-ship ship photograph on the cover of my book is of the USS Waldron DD 699 taken in heavy seas of November 1952. Mr. Ed Nugent of Ruston, LA sent me a BW photo of the actual picture. I also attended the business meeting of the Waldron Reunion crew last summer when they held it in San Antonio, Texas. It was a delight, treat, but most of all, an honor to be present among this fine crew of sailors. We met and talked and laughed like we were all old friends, which, being Navy-related, we were! These guys were so kind they asked me to join them at their banquet which followed 2 hours after the business meeting. I though this very noble of them. So, here's the book photo of their ship: 
I took several digital photos but they didn't turn out very well. Will attach them later, but they're rather blurry. Anyway, it was really an honor to be invited to another ship's reunion. This is rather rare. I even joined their crew as an associate member. Proud of it. You betcha, Buckwheat!!!ha Seriously, though... | |
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