Sea Pay

by Bob Dorgan

Educated at Valley Forge Military Academy, Dorgan is well prepared for life in the US Navy when he is forward deployed halfway around the world to the USS Midway. But he soon learns life aboard an aircraft carrier can be full of danger and chaos as the ship nicknamed the "USS Never Dock" undertakes an emergency Indian Ocean deployment to relieve the crippled aircraft carrier USS Ranger in 1979 and becomes activated as the first carrier battle group "on station" in the Arabian Sea following the fall of the US embassy in Iran later that same year. Dorgan quickly turns his job into an adventure that pays very well. With a general court-martial looming, he and his shipmates continue to add adventure and excitement to their "tour of duty," both on and off the boat-until one night, when an unexpected turn puts an end to it all.

290 pages, Hardcover

Published July 31, 2022

Reviews

[Gregory Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back many memories

In recent years, perhaps because of age, or nostalgia, I’ve begun to look back on the historical events surrounding my short, four year Naval enlistment. Wikipedia searches didn’t fill my insatiable desire to add context and meaning to that part of my life. I read “Tanker Wars”, “Inside the Danger Zone”, and “No Higher Honor”. These books made me realize that we were involved in a high stakes game at that time in history. I served from ‘86 to ‘90 onboard USS Ranger. So, the timeframe of “Sea Pay” is a few years before my time in the Navy. Though a few short years ahead of me, Bob Dorgan and the sailors of the USS Midway participated in events that set the stage for events that sailors of my era endured. While historical context is present, it’s not really a history book. This is a story about an Electrician’s Mate and his friends. From the lows of receiving a “Dear John” letter and loosing shipmates in a tragic accident to the highs of “crossing the line” and returning home from a long deployment, or the insanity that took place in Pattaya Beach and Olongapo, I literally lived those events as Dorgan tells them. Why? Because I’ve been there. I was reminded of simple pleasures that sailors experience while underway, and how a letter from home means everything.
I read this book over the coarse of three days. Once I got started, I couldn’t put it down. Shortly after finishing the book, I found myself at the NEX on NBSD (32nd Street). I ran into a sailor who was talking to his parents. From the conversation, I could tell he was about to finish his enlistment. I asked him, “How short are you?” He replied, “Excuse me?” I said, “It sounds like you’re a short timer. How short are you?” He said, “Six feet.” I shot back, “No. No. How much time do you have left? Are you a two digit midget?” He said, “We don’t use that terminology anymore. I’m on terminal leave.” Surprisingly, he said, “It’s a shame.” I thought to myself, “It is, and I’m glad that I served during the 80’s.” As Dorgan describes it, it was truly a boy’s club. Any enlisted sailor who served from ‘75 to ‘90 will closely relate to this book: especially those who sailed the Pacific. Enlisted sailors from any era will taste the salt air, hurry up and wait, kiss King Neptune’s Baby’s belly, open a letter from home, and be transported in space and time to the USS Midway in the late ‘70’s. Thanks for reminding me, Petty Officer Dorgan, of a difficult, but rewarding time in my life.
Greg Moore, EM3
E-Div
USS Ranger

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sea Pay by Bob Dorgan is a rollicking tale of an enlisted sailor making the most of his time in the United States Navy during the late 70s and early 80s. The straightforward, autobiographical story follows Dorgan through his early years at Valley Forge Military Academy and then onto his Navy career stationed aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Midway. While bending some rules (and breaking others), Dorgan goes into great detail about his day-to-day duties and the wild adventures he and his fellow sailors went on during their precious time off-duty.

Sea Pay is an interesting read. Dorgan’s attention to detail is quite remarkable. As an electrician working in the E Division of the ship’s engineering department, the author’s duties amounted to more than mere grunt work. His descriptions of the internal workings of the Midway really paint quite a picture. I could imagine working in the bowels of a steam-powered aircraft carrier and just how exciting (or miserable) that could be.

As he familiarizes himself with his duties and the rest of his crew, Dorgan does get up to some unsavory practices to increase his “sea pay.” I’m not sure how many boy scouts would approve of his other enterprises. While Sea Pay is a nice slice of enlisted life, it does run aground on the technical side of things.

Bob Dorgan’s writing style is extremely literal. Almost every detail is specifically told, but little is shown. There’s a kind of emotional detachment. For example, after an entire chapter describing “wild” liberty in Thailand, he rather nonchalantly ends the chapter with, “We were sorry to hear that several of our shipmates did not make it back to the ship alive, victims of the big H—heroin. They were gone but not forgotten.” It’s a jarring end, and there is little to no reflection by the author.

Sea Pay is a fascinating depiction of Navy life from that particular time told from the viewpoint of someone that was living it. This true story account will give readers an inside look at life on an aircraft carrier.

[Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of Bob's book through a giveaway. I'm glad I did and that I read it. I made two Mediterranean Cruises on Ike with VAQ-132 during the early '80s and had a lot of similar experiences. Some stories won't be told. Others shouldn't. Some wouldn't be understood other than by fellow sailors who has been there and done that. It's easy to get focused on many of us being apparent whore dogs and dope fiends rather than seeing the truth of us being young men far from home for the first time with gigantic adult responsibilities trapped by the whims of corrupt and incompetent politicians who sit safely at home while sending us into harm's way. Navy life was a love/hate relationship for many, if not most, of us.

Hopefully Bob's books will help others see the sacrifices made and still being made by the seven percent of Americans who proudly serve their nation.

[Joe Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way it was on the Midway.

Petty Officer Dorgan and I spent a few cruises together on the Midway. We didn’t know each other, living on a ship with 4500 other people, but probably bumped elbows in a passageway. I had forgotten the long days and constant ops and the time between port visits.
I must say, I wasn’t aware of the drug trade.
I remember our two beers, and the Cactus.
Thank You for reactivating an old sailors memory.

[Rob Roy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book to relive the thrilling days of yesteryear, and for that it well served its purpose. The author recounted his days aboard the USS Midway from 1977 to 1980. He has excellent insight into the day-to-day activities of sea duty in those days. The catch, and isn’t there always a catch, was that he was a drug dealer, and no small-time operator either. He thinks of himself as a Navy veteran, but he has besmirched the sea service. I do not recommend this book.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midway Magic

This wonderfully written story of a three year period of a Midway Sailor is simply Tremendous !! so served also on the USS Midway many years prior, and this story brought all of my three years memories to me as if I was there. Thanks for the memories, (as Bob Hope said) I will recommend this book to all of my fellow Navy Veterans. R. Pope, USN (Retired)

[Rovertoad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A drug dealer in the Navy

I was in the Navy the same time as Bob was, but I didn’t realize the drug problem was as serious on surface crafts as he writes. I enjoyed his book except when he kept calling an aircraft carrier a “boat”. I also had a problem wrapping my mind around a person who was proud of being a drug dealer. Very different type of reading.

[Denis Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reliving Days Gone By

I did twenty years in the Navy and three of those were in Japan. I too crossed the line, went to PI, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. I could really relate to the author's recollections! It makes me want to write the story of my own time in the Navy!

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an okay read. Not exciting, like past ones.
I did not approve of sailor drug use. As a USN veteran myself, I had no issue with random drug testing. I had nothing to hide. No place for it. They are in charge of equipment, & people’s lives.
They need a clear head.

[Michael E. Mann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I served on Midway the same time as the author. Dont remember him and glad I dont. He writes of his dealing drugs like he’s proud of it. Drugs were a scourge in the Navy in the ‘70s and led a great many men to be “bottom blowed” out on failed piss tests, and poor performance. Screw him!

[Curtis Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the glamorization of drug use by a young sailor. I have spent over 27 years in the US Navy and this is nothing more than someone wanting money from his "experience" in the Navy, his drug experience