On Watch; A Memoir

xv, [1], 568 pages. Illustrations. Maps. Chronology. Appendices. Glossary. Index. Price-clipped DJ is in a plastic sleeve. Inscribed by the author on the half-title page To Janet Hall With respect Bud E. R. Zumlalt Jr. On Watch is largely a critical appraisal of the military policies of the Richard Nixon presidency during the Cold War. Zumwalt spends the first three chapters dealing with his early life, which included his time at the U.S. Naval Academy, service during World War II, and his family. Most of the volume addresses the years 1970 to 1974, when Zumwalt served as United States Chief of Naval Operations. In it, Zumwalt critically appraises the military policies of the Nixon presidency with regard to Soviet containment at the height of the Cold War. Zumwalt also takes aim at Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. Zumwalt charged: Rickover continually worked to ingratiate himself with members of the United States Congress as a means of consolidating personal political power; underhandedly challenged the authority of the Chief of Naval Operations; and would "stop at nothing" to ensure the primacy of nuclear programs over conventional armaments. Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. (November 29, 1920 January 2, 2000) was an American naval officer and the youngest man to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. As an admiral and later the 19th Chief of Naval Operations, Zumwalt played a major role in U.S. military history, especially during the Vietnam War. A decorated war veteran, Zumwalt reformed U.S. Navy personnel policies in an effort to improve enlisted life and ease racial tensions. President Richard Nixon nominated Zumwalt to be Chief of Naval Operations in April 1970. Upon being relieved as Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam, on May 15, 1970, he was awarded a second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service. He assumed duties as Chief of Naval Operations and was promoted to full admiral on July 1, 1970, and quickly began a series of moves intended to reduce racism and sexism in the Navy. These were disseminated in Navy-wide communications known as "Z-grams". The measures to reduce discrimination against women and racial minorities were adamantly opposed by some. Zumwalt instituted the 'Mod Squad' - Destroyer Squadron 26 and later 31 - to give promising young officers early command experience. Billets were a rank lower than normal. Zumwalt reshaped the Navy's effort to replace large numbers of aging World War II-era vessels, a plan called "High-Low". Instituted over the resistance of Admiral Hyman Rickover and others, High-Low sought to balance the purchase of high-end, nuclear-powered vessels with low-end, cheaper ones - such as the Sea Control Ship that could be bought in greater numbers. Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, preferred buying a few major ships to buying many ordinary ones. Zumwalt proposed four kinds of warships to fit the plan; in the end, only the Pegasus class of missile patrol boats and the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) class of guided missile frigates became reality. But the Perrys stood as the most populous class of U.S. warships since World War II until the advent of the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) destroyers. Elmo Zumwalt Jr. retired from the Navy on July 1, 1974.…