The title, “On Which We Serve”, is an anthology of values and virtues as derived from the activities taking place on the flight deck of a WWII fleet aircraft carrier as experienced by the author. This book consists of 355 full-page National Archive photographs, each of which has a half-page caption that seamlessly segues into a half-page discussion of life-lessons learned on that flight deck based on First Principles. These topics are such as responsibility, accountability, respect for others and self, earned self-esteem (those who have such will “never” do anything antisocial), empathy, trustworthiness, and similar values and virtues. The title also embraces the Navy motto: Honor(to see one’s duty), Commitment (to do one’s duty) and Courage (to fulfill one’s duty). This book is truly unique in that it is one of a kind for all time (first person) as well as being timeless.
I must explain that this book is “one of a kind for all time” for the simple reason that no other book has ever been written about activities on the flight deck of a WWII aircraft carrier and none will ever be in the future (in the first person) since all those who might do so are either dead or soon will be. This then will be the only one of its kind forever and ever and ever. Amen.
The author grew up in Montclair, NJ where he attained the Eagle Scout Badge w/ Bronze Palm at age 14 and played on the Newark Academy varsity football and basketball teams. He then served in the navy during WWII, then graduated from Yale University (BS Business Administration). Next he worked in NYC banks and electronic companies. After seven years, he earned a BS Electrical Engineering degree. Next he worked for a company managing the Polaris Missile System for the U.S. Navy. This led to working for the U.S. Navy Electronic Systems Command in Washington, DC as a management engineer until retirement in 1991. His outside interests centered on the field of robotic devices and the use of computers to develop neural network applications (in medicine, maintenance, decision-making, and other IF-Then problems). Later on he compiled a Trilogy consisting of this volume and two additional volumes (with a changed Volume 1 front cover).
This book has been renamed from "Flight Deck, A Pictorial Essay Of A Day In The Life Of An Airdale" to its new name, "On Which We Serve" which is much more appropriate to the content of the book and its greatly expanded text (it never was a "warfare" book but rather it is a "wartime" book).
Marjorie Atkins
I strongly suggest that you Google "Navy Hymn" and listen (YouTube) to the various versions as to what I consider to be a proper prelude to reading "On Which We Serve".
Edward Atkins
Author: Edward Atkins
Publisher: Ship-n-Planes Publishing, 13705 Lakewood Ct., Rockville, MD 20850
ISBN: 9780971013414
Pages: 775, Paperback & Hardcover
Genre: History/Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin
Date review completed: October 22, 2010
“Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all. ~ William Temple”
In Flight Deck: A Pictorial Essay of a Day in the Life of an Airdale (Volume I, Second Edition) Edward Atkins narrates his thoughts to the reader in a humble fashion of wisdom, insight and honesty. In his book which is a monumental achievement to the Navy, he reflects back to his service during 1945 and 1946 aboard the Essex-class aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Antietam (CV-36), honorably named after the Civil War battle that claimed 23,000 casualties, the bloodiest single day in American history.
As a curator in a museum would take patrons throughout the exhibits and add insight resulting in a higher appreciation and understanding, Edward Atkins curates his book of Naval Archive photographs with his personal story, impressions and insight. His words are captivating as it becomes clearly evident to the reader that each and every word, thought and opinion is there for the reader’s benefit, not for the author’s. As there is just so much time a man has in life, it is important to pass along to others the essence of what has happened; how men have created this world in which we inhabit, and why things are the way they are. From the onset of Edward Atkins’ remarks asking “forgiveness” for typographical oversights due to his physical limitations, to his closing salute, “Antietam, Hail and Farewell,” the reader is brought into a first-hand diary of how life was upon a ship created for a sole purpose of warfare.
An “Airdale” is crew on the flight deck of a carrier. A lackluster job of perfunctory repetition, moving and securing aircraft; it is as important as any small gear in a machine without which the mechanism would cease to operate. Furthermore, Edward Atkins does not in any way make himself out to be a hero, as clearly in the onset he states that the word “Veteran” applies to those that have been in combat, and his role was “ancillary” to the war effort. Although one never knows if the enemy is just over the horizon, this is not a book of war stories. The focus of the book is dealing with the inner workings of the carrier, along with the task force provided for support and protection.
The photographs depict the carrier in all of its glory, at sea and in port, with the anonymity of the men which bring these metal skeletons of force to life. Almost every photograph has been taken from the National Archives. Most interestingly, Edward Atkins writes a narration for each photograph using two distinct “voices.” One being the seasoned gentleman of elder years, with the historical knowledge and wisdom earned through his life’s achievements.
Gary Sorkin