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Rating: 
Summary: incredible sea story saved for posterity
Review: I have been a long time reader of naval and maritime history and only heard of this incident last year (2000). It covers a period in naval history that doesn't get much notice from the general public (1916 when the US Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to restore order). The author is a well known and respected chronicler of naval history, deservedly so. The incident is a about a tidal wave, a phenomenon not yet understood by science (or the Navy), that besets an armored cruiser (captained by the author's father) while it was anchored in Santo Domingo. The main problem was how to get up to full steam so they would be able to head out to sea and safety in time. The story gets very exciting when it talks about the problems in the coal fired boiler rooms as the waves washed water down the stacks. This would make a great episode for the TV show JAG because a captain is ultimately resposible for damage to his ship and this one had to face a court martial to establish what happened. I won't reveal the fate of the ship, the crew, or Capt. Beach because that's a big part of the story, but it's a very exciting tale that needs to be remembered. It reads like an adventure novel where it takes a chapter or two to set the stage and then the excitement builds to fever pitch as the situation unexpectedly deteriorates. I only gave it 4 stars instead of a 5 because the author had to repeat sections of the incident from the perspective of different locations and people. But it was so exciting at that point that the repetition was OK because you didn't want to put the book down. The heroism of the crew fighting an uncontrollable force of nature earned them 3 Medals of Honor. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: incredible sea story saved for posterity
Review: I have been a long time reader of naval and maritime history and only heard of this incident last year (2000). It covers a period in naval history that doesn't get much notice from the general public (1916 when the US Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to restore order). The author is a well known and respected chronicler of naval history, deservedly so. The incident is a about a tidal wave, a phenomenon not yet understood by science (or the Navy), that besets an armored cruiser (captained by the author's father) while it was anchored in Santo Domingo. The main problem was how to get up to full steam so they would be able to head out to sea and safety in time. The story gets very exciting when it talks about the problems in the coal fired boiler rooms as the waves washed water down the stacks. This would make a great episode for the TV show JAG because a captain is ultimately resposible for damage to his ship and this one had to face a court martial to establish what happened. I won't reveal the fate of the ship, the crew, or Capt. Beach because that's a big part of the story, but it's a very exciting tale that needs to be remembered. It reads like an adventure novel where it takes a chapter or two to set the stage and then the excitement builds to fever pitch as the situation unexpectedly deteriorates. I only gave it 4 stars instead of a 5 because the author had to repeat sections of the incident from the perspective of different locations and people. But it was so exciting at that point that the repetition was OK because you didn't want to put the book down. The heroism of the crew fighting an uncontrollable force of nature earned them 3 Medals of Honor. A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Wreck of the Memphis
Review: My father was A Warrent Machinist in charge of the engine room. He is mentioned in th book. He had his lungs cooked and spent a year growing new lineing on them. Died 1928 from pneumonia,and was told if he ever got it , he would.He was removed from the Memphis by breaches bouy. The ship is still visable in Santo Domingo harbor.
Rating:
Summary: An illuminating look at a Naval disaster.
Review: Wreck of the Memphis is the story of a Navy cruiser, Memphis, formerly named Tennessee. It is the story of an afternoon in the Dominican Republic, where in less than an hour, the ship went from being fully prepared for war, to a beach wreck at the base of a cliff. It is the story of a ship and it's captain who happens to have been the author's father. The event which lead to the loss of the Memphis was US intervention in the Dominican Republic. It is period in US Naval history that is little known and less written about. Captain Beach's book fills in some of the details of this time. The aftermath of the loss of the Memphis is as equally interesting as the events leading up to the loss of the ship. Now comes the question 'Why did it happen' to be answered. The man held responsible is the captain of the ship and in this case the author's father is the man being asked the question. The verdict and future career of senior Captain Beach make for interesting reading. This is a fine book and an excellent read. I first read this book when it was first published and I have read it periodically ever since. It is a great addition to any nautical library.
Rating:
Summary: An illuminating look at a Naval disaster.
Review: Wreck of the Memphis is the story of a Navy cruiser, Memphis, formerly named Tennessee. It is the story of an afternoon in the Dominican Republic, where in less than an hour, the ship went from being fully prepared for war, to a beach wreck at the base of a cliff. It is the story of a ship and it's captain who happens to have been the author's father. The event which lead to the loss of the Memphis was US intervention in the Dominican Republic. It is period in US Naval history that is little known and less written about. Captain Beach's book fills in some of the details of this time. The aftermath of the loss of the Memphis is as equally interesting as the events leading up to the loss of the ship. Now comes the question 'Why did it happen' to be answered. The man held responsible is the captain of the ship and in this case the author's father is the man being asked the question. The verdict and future career of senior Captain Beach make for interesting reading. This is a fine book and an excellent read. I first read this book when it was first published and I have read it periodically ever since. It is a great addition to any nautical library.
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