Mike Downs's Blog
February 19, 2018
Mare Island scene of novels
Mare Island is a special place for me. Just a few miles away, it evokes in me WWII stories of brave men and women fighting for our country. I based two of my novels around the shipyard using the Navy base as the backdrop. Before the yard was abandoned by the Navy in 1996, it had a very rich history.
Commissioned in 1854, Mare Island was the first US Navy shipyard on the West Coast. Commander Farragut, the man that made the famous quote, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” took the first command of the island. The yard would grow slowly as the Navy gained strength. The recurring theme for the yard during its 142 years would be times of dire spending cuts to times of rapid growth as the yard responded to threats of war.
Responding to the Navy’s need to build and repair ships during war times is something the men and women always did with exceptional dedication. During WWI the yard built a destroyer, the USS Ward, in 17 1/2 days. This would be the same USS Ward that fired the first shot at Pearl Harbor to sink a Japanese submarine. WWII in my eyes became Mare Island’s finest hour. The 5000-acre yard swelled to over 45,000 employees that worked 24 hours seven days a week in three 8 hour shifts.
Even as they repaired hundreds of battle damaged war ships of every type, they managed to pump out hundreds of brand new war ships. There was a constant stream of ships that came in for overhauls and new types of equipment. Rush orders for improved types of radar, sonar, better armor, better and bigger guns were installed in ships and boats. Before the war, installations of these types of materials would take months or years.
Mare’s dedicated workers did the jobs in weeks, one crew taking over from the other, constantly in motion, getting the ships out, back to the war’s front line.
These men and women also dedicated their earnings to the war effort by buying war bonds. The dollars they contributed paid for all 17 submarines the shipyard built during the war. That came to almost 76 million dollars. Mare Island built 5 out of the 7 top scoring submarines of the war.
The yard is closed now, a ghost of what it once was. Buildings dating from the 1850’s stand empty in the morning mist that swirls up from the Mare Island Strait. It is today open for visitors: a museum on Railroad Avenue is an excellent start to learn more about the famous yard. A trail on the south end of the island offers plenty of interesting places to see, plus if you climb the gentle hill you will be presented with a panoramic view of the Carquinez Strait, San Pablo Bay, Richmond, and the skyline of San Francisco.
For those of you wanting more, an outstanding book that documents the first one hundred years, A Long Line of Ships by Arnold Lott, is a gold mine of information.
Walking along the waterfront you can still feel the vibrancy of the time when workers rushed about their jobs. Welding sparks flew; mountains of supplies were loaded, giant cranes scurried back and forth on train rails. Ships were stacked three and four abreast and everyone was eager to get back in the fight to save our democracy. Yes, a special place indeed from a time when axis powers wanted to destroy America’s every ideal. A time our ancestors pulled together to end the villainy.
Commissioned in 1854, Mare Island was the first US Navy shipyard on the West Coast. Commander Farragut, the man that made the famous quote, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” took the first command of the island. The yard would grow slowly as the Navy gained strength. The recurring theme for the yard during its 142 years would be times of dire spending cuts to times of rapid growth as the yard responded to threats of war.
Responding to the Navy’s need to build and repair ships during war times is something the men and women always did with exceptional dedication. During WWI the yard built a destroyer, the USS Ward, in 17 1/2 days. This would be the same USS Ward that fired the first shot at Pearl Harbor to sink a Japanese submarine. WWII in my eyes became Mare Island’s finest hour. The 5000-acre yard swelled to over 45,000 employees that worked 24 hours seven days a week in three 8 hour shifts.
Even as they repaired hundreds of battle damaged war ships of every type, they managed to pump out hundreds of brand new war ships. There was a constant stream of ships that came in for overhauls and new types of equipment. Rush orders for improved types of radar, sonar, better armor, better and bigger guns were installed in ships and boats. Before the war, installations of these types of materials would take months or years.
Mare’s dedicated workers did the jobs in weeks, one crew taking over from the other, constantly in motion, getting the ships out, back to the war’s front line.
These men and women also dedicated their earnings to the war effort by buying war bonds. The dollars they contributed paid for all 17 submarines the shipyard built during the war. That came to almost 76 million dollars. Mare Island built 5 out of the 7 top scoring submarines of the war.
The yard is closed now, a ghost of what it once was. Buildings dating from the 1850’s stand empty in the morning mist that swirls up from the Mare Island Strait. It is today open for visitors: a museum on Railroad Avenue is an excellent start to learn more about the famous yard. A trail on the south end of the island offers plenty of interesting places to see, plus if you climb the gentle hill you will be presented with a panoramic view of the Carquinez Strait, San Pablo Bay, Richmond, and the skyline of San Francisco.
For those of you wanting more, an outstanding book that documents the first one hundred years, A Long Line of Ships by Arnold Lott, is a gold mine of information.
Walking along the waterfront you can still feel the vibrancy of the time when workers rushed about their jobs. Welding sparks flew; mountains of supplies were loaded, giant cranes scurried back and forth on train rails. Ships were stacked three and four abreast and everyone was eager to get back in the fight to save our democracy. Yes, a special place indeed from a time when axis powers wanted to destroy America’s every ideal. A time our ancestors pulled together to end the villainy.
January 28, 2018
Fire 'em Up
I would like to start this blog with a shout out to the brave firefighters that saved my city, home, and workshop. My wife and I came close to losing everything we own, and cannot thank the hard workers enough.
As a start I should say here that this first blog is to let you know a little about me. I write novels that are historical thrillers in the timeline of the 1920's to 1940's .
Book six is out and I am 45000 words into the next Jack Novac novel. Jack is racing again, airplanes this time. His wife, Maddy, is as independent as ever but struggling to write a book about her experiences in Nazi Germany.
I am engaged in research for the next novel which will put Barry Keys to work for President Roosevelt during WWII. The President is not happy about US companies trading with the Nazi regime. Keys will have to walk a tightrope on this one.
My day job is designing and building racing cars, engines and restorations. The shop is busy and since retiring from active competition I have found writing to be a newfound passion. I write articles for Victory Lane magazine mostly how-to things and am interested in finding other people with similar interests.
As a start I should say here that this first blog is to let you know a little about me. I write novels that are historical thrillers in the timeline of the 1920's to 1940's .
Book six is out and I am 45000 words into the next Jack Novac novel. Jack is racing again, airplanes this time. His wife, Maddy, is as independent as ever but struggling to write a book about her experiences in Nazi Germany.
I am engaged in research for the next novel which will put Barry Keys to work for President Roosevelt during WWII. The President is not happy about US companies trading with the Nazi regime. Keys will have to walk a tightrope on this one.
My day job is designing and building racing cars, engines and restorations. The shop is busy and since retiring from active competition I have found writing to be a newfound passion. I write articles for Victory Lane magazine mostly how-to things and am interested in finding other people with similar interests.
