Act of War
Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo
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4.4 • 52 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
WINNER OF THE SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON AWARD FOR NAVAL LITERATURE
“I devoured Act of War the way I did Flyboys, Flags of Our Fathers and Lost in Shangri-la.”—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
In 1968, the small, dilapidated American spy ship USS Pueblo set out to pinpoint military radar stations along the coast of North Korea. Though packed with advanced electronic-surveillance equipment and classified intelligence documents, its crew, led by ex–submarine officer Pete Bucher, was made up mostly of untested young sailors.
On a frigid January morning, the Pueblo was challenged by a North Korean gunboat. When Bucher tried to escape, his ship was quickly surrounded by more boats, shelled and machine-gunned, forced to surrender, and taken prisoner. Less than forty-eight hours before the Pueblo’s capture, North Korean commandos had nearly succeeded in assassinating South Korea’s president. The two explosive incidents pushed Cold War tensions toward a flashpoint.
Based on extensive interviews and numerous government documents released through the Freedom of Information Act, Act of War tells the riveting saga of Bucher and his men as they struggled to survive merciless torture and horrendous living conditions set against the backdrop of an international powder keg.
Customer Reviews
Act of War
The story of the Pueblo is either unknown or long forgotten by most Americans, but Cheevers provides a very detailed account of the events surrounding its outfitting, capture, treatment of its crew and painstakingly slow negations with the North Koreans. For the first time the entire story is told by Cheevers after extensive research, personal interviews and the freedom of information act. Act of War is a great read, full of detail,and research. The last "made for TV movie" about the pueblo was made in 1974 and certainly without the detail this new book brings to light. Perhaps it's time for a big budget Hollywood telling of Act of War.
Act of War
This book is not only a great read but a history lesson. It should be required reading for any student of history. Jack Cheevers manages to take a huge amount of research and turn it into a coherent and interesting book. Well done Cheevers!
Plenty of details about the capture and subsequent imprisonment
I was a CT stationed in the Philippines when this occurred. I remember seeing documents proving that Pueblo was in international waters. Also heard mess decks intelligence that a CRITIC had been sent but not received. We didn't, of course, understand why no U. S. forces of any kind had not been sent to her assistance. This book answers that question.
I think the book is well written and does a great job telling the story of Captain Bucher, the ship and the crew.