Obviously, the lifeblood of any book and magazine publisher is its authors, and the U.S. Naval Institute, the parent organization of Naval History, is no exception. In this issue, we are pleased to feature three of our best, award winners all, who offer history in an uncommonly digestible form. Leading off is retired Navy Commander Tyrone Martin, a former Naval History Author of the Year and originator of what has been one of this magazine’s most popular features, “Salty Talk.” Over the next several issues, he will take us to the shores of Tripoli, recounting for its bicentennial the Barbary War that spawned many of the U.S. Navy’s first real heroes. In this issue, he takes us with the boarding party as it torches the captured USS Philadelphia to keep her from serving the enemy. Commander Martin will cover every major naval aspect of the war, and we intend to offer the collection as a special premium for future subscribers to the magazine.
Another former Naval History Author of the Year, Jerome O’Connor, weighs in with the latest in his studies of relatively obscure factors that had a dramatic impact on the prosecution of World War II. This time, he reveals how braced the U.S. Navy was for war in the Atlantic, long before the attack on Pearl Harbor. One of the original “Quiz Kids,” Jerry has been writing for decades from his hometown in Chicago. But only over the past few years has he blossomed into an engaging and meticulous historian, with articles appearing not only in this publication, but also in British Heritage, World War II, and the Naval Institute’s Proceedings.
Rounding out this literary lineup is retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Merrill L. “Skip” Bartlett, an old friend of the Naval Institute and one of the most entertaining authors ever to record the colorful history of his beloved Corps, warts and all. He has written, cowritten, or edited five books, including biographies of two Marine legends, John Lejeune and Pete Ellis, along with two studies of the history of amphibious warfare, and an illustrated history of what he calls “the smaller naval service.” For this issue, he surveys a span over which something called “The Old Corps” reigned, one in which politically correct behavior was a rare commodity.
This year promises to be an exciting one. First, we welcome aboard a new Chief Executive Officer and Publisher to the Naval Institute, retired Marine Major General Tom Wilkerson, a long-time supporter of the organization who has a successful track record in running operations such as this one. And while it is too early to reveal any details, we have a dynamic editorial plan in place that promises to enhance what you already have come to expect from Naval History.