N4KC Publishes 13th Book--True Sub Story

Long-time amateur radio enthusiast and best-selling author Don Keith has published his thirteenth book, the true tale of an amazing World War II submarine. Keith tells the story of the USS Batfish, which sank three enemy submarines in three days, an almost impossible feat. However, the details of the story make it an even more remarkable, death-defying accomplishment. Keith also recounts how that submarine has come to rest today in a bean field in the middle of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma, not far from the Cherokee Nation’s capital.

In the Course of Duty is not just of interest to historians or military buffs. It delves into the very human story of the submarine’s unbelievably young crew and the personalities of her strong-willed commanding officers who voluntarily risked their lives to defend their country from a fanatical enemy. That theme resonates with events of today. And Keith also describes the determined group of sub veterans in Oklahoma who decided they wanted themselves a submarine—come hell or high water—to serve as a memorial to their fellow submariners who died in the course of duty, and how those men conspired to bring Batfish to the middle of the Cherokee Nation. (Note: local hams in Muskogee, Oklahoma, occasionally operate from Batfish’s radio room as a special events station.)

The book has been selected as a featured selection of The Military Book Club in its special Veterans’ Day offering. Best-selling author Robert Vaughn (Whose Voice the Waters Heard) says, “This is a must read for anyone who has a concept of duty, honor and service to one’s country.” Former submarine skipper William Anderson, who took USS Nautilus under the polar ice cap on her historic mission, says of In the Course of Duty, “Well told…a fascinating true adventure.” The Associated Press has described Keith’s work as “moving and worthwhile reading.”

Keith’s other works have dealt fictionally with college football, the broadcasting business (in which a ham was a key character), NASCAR racing and a nuclear submarine stalking drug dealers who are intent on bringing a deadly strain of cocaine into the U.S. aboard a mini-sub. That novel, Final Bearing, is a national bestseller. His debut novel, The Forever Season, was named “Fiction of the Year” by the Alabama Library Association. He also did another non-fiction book, Gallant Lady, which told the amazing story of Batfish’s sister World War II submarine, USS Archerfish, which sank the largest vessel ever sunk by a submarine, at one point had the Navy’s only all bachelor crew, and performed a top-secret mission that contributed mightily to our victory over the Soviets in the Cold War.

Details of all of Keith’s works can be found at his web site: www.donkeith.com.

Don holds an amateur extra license and has held the callsign N4KC since the early ‘70s. He operates most bands, CW, SSB and VHF/UHF FM and is a regular on the U.S. Submarine Veterans Net, Monday through Saturday at 1530 UTC on 14.243 mhz and on 7.279 mhz Friday and Saturday nights at 0100 UTC.

In the Course of Duty by Don Keith
Published by NAL/Caliber, an imprint of Penguin Group USA
ISBN: 0-451-21659-8 336 pages trade paperback $15

 

Yes Indeed, the Batfish lies in a Military Park in Muskogee, OK right off one of our beautiful overpriced turnpikes.  I believe they were planning on taking it further north up the shipping channel to Kansas City (or somewhere close by KC?) and it ended up not being able to make it around a turn outside the small town, and has been sentenced to serve as a play-toy for local children and tourists.  Suprisingly, it's actually in pretty good shape.

73
Mike KD5RJZ