📚 U.S. Navy Recommended Reading: Books, Memoirs, Yearbooks & Guides
241214-N-SK738-1032 ATLANTIC OCEAN (December 14, 2024) Information Systems Technician Seaman ITSN Damean Pare, Assigned to the Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Reads a Book in the Ship’s Library. USS George H.W. Bush is Conducting Routine Operations to Ensure Readiness and Lethality. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Pierce Luck) | GGA Image ID # 2350b83e99. This image is based on a modified version of a U.S. Navy photograph. Attribution Notice.
✅ Internal / GG Archives Selections
These are books, issues, and newsletters already in your collection, worth calling out:
GG Archives – Navy Archives → Books section: specialty titles about boot camp, company rosters, training manuals.
Magazines: e.g., All Hands, Bluejacket, Naval Training Bulletin for historical photo essays, stories of duty, rank/rating changes.
Newsletters & Transient Personnel publications: insights into deployment stories, career changes, ratings evolution.
🌍 External / Exemplary Books & Cruise Books
Here are some “best of the best” external titles and cruise books that pair well with your archive, offering broader context or powerful narratives.
| Title | Author(s) | Why It’s Good / Useful for Students & Veterans |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour | James D. Hornfischer | Incredible narrative of Battle off Samar in WWII — intense, personal, dramatic. Veterans and students alike find these stories memorable. (Wikipedia) |
| US Navy: A Concise History | Craig L. Symonds | Short but comprehensive overview of U.S. Navy’s evolution; great for getting the big picture. (Five Books) |
| Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy | Ian W. Toll | Deep into early navy history, shipbuilding, politics. Useful for understanding origins and structure. (Five Books) |
| Sea of Glory: America’s Voyage of Discovery | Nathaniel Philbrick | Geographic & exploratory missions; broadens the idea of naval service beyond combat. (Five Books) |
| Learning War: The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the U.S. Navy | Trent Hone | For more advanced readers: how strategy and doctrine changed over time. Good for servicemembers wanting the “why” of Navy operations. (Five Books) |
⚓ Cruise Books, Photo & Yearbook Types
Cruise books (ship or deployment yearbooks) are excellent for visuals, names, unit info, and the lived experience aboard ship. GG Archives has many, and external sources like Naval History and Heritage Command list collections.
Naval History and Heritage Command
Specific favorite formats: “Deployment Book” or “WestPac Cruise Book” editions from famous ships/carriers.
For students, a cruise book helps “see” how the Navy organizes itself, roles, ratings, uniforms, etc.
🧒 Student-Friendly & Veteran-Focused Notes
For students (grades 9–12): select books with strong narrative, vivid stories, perhaps fewer technical/inside-base jargon. Titles like The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors or US Navy: A Concise History are excellent.
For veterans / future recruits: books that explain ratings, ranks, culture, daily life (rather than only battles) are very valuable. Cruise books, training manuals, and internal GG Archives photos strong here.
Specialty books (boot camp books, NTC yearbooks) give powerful identity and relatable content for those researching ancestors or careers.
📘 GG Archives Books, Yearbooks & Cruise Books
- 📚 Navy Books Collection — Overviews, recruiting guides, officer promotion manuals.
- 📰 Newsletters — WAVES, WAVE Reservists, and specialized branch publications.
- 📘 Cruise Books — Personal histories of Navy deployments & ships.
- 📓 Boot Camp Yearbooks — NTC Great Lakes, Orlando, Bainbridge, San Diego, and more.
🧭 Explore More
Visit our 🔗 U.S. Navy Reference Section for more resources including ranks, career guides, training programs, and historical films.
📰 All Hands vs. Our Navy Magazine – What’s the Difference?
✅ Publisher & Authority
| Magazine | Publisher | Official? |
|---|---|---|
| All Hands | U.S. Navy (Bureau of Naval Personnel) | ✅ Yes |
| Our Navy | Our Navy, Inc. (Private) | ❌ No |
All Hands was an official Navy publication created by the Navy for its personnel. Our Navy was independently published and distributed commercially to sailors and the public.
🧭 Purpose & Editorial Control
| Magazine | Purpose | Editorial Control |
|---|---|---|
| All Hands | Inform, train, and inspire enlisted personnel | Military Editors & Public Affairs |
| Our Navy | Report Navy news, human interest, and morale | Independent Civilian Editors |
📆 Publication Timeline
| Magazine | Years Published | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| All Hands | 1922 (as BuNav Bulletin) – 2011 (print) | Monthly |
| Our Navy | 1907 – Early 2000s | Monthly/Bi-Monthly |
🔍 Use by Veterans, Historians & Genealogists
All Hands: Great for official policies, award notices, command changes, and historical Navy perspectives.
Our Navy: Excellent for snapshots of Navy life, photos, recreational stories, and less formal coverage.
📚 GG Archives Research Tip
“All Hands” reflects the Navy’s official voice and directives. Ideal for tracking promotions, assignments, and honors.
“Our Navy” adds color and context — from liberty ports to daily life aboard ships. Both publications serve different but complementary roles for research.
