As you follow my story of four years in the U.S. Submarine Service, you will be introduced to a different way of life. My memoirs as a young sailor, spreads over time of enlistment. While serving five patrols on the Grant, I lived beneath the surface for nearly a year; and the most frequently asked question by strangers, family and friends is, "What's it like down there?" This question inspired me to write my story. Its answer reaches deep into many aspects of submarine life, and is a reflection of my vision and thoughts from fifty years ago. The book offers many interesting short chapters and vignettes which focus on human behavior, observations, and continuous adaptations that exist within confined spaces for a lengthy period. My story is drawn from real life experiences from many years ago. I hope you get a sense of submarine life, including physical surroundings, the agony of submarine demands, interactions among the crew, and their misguided exploits. Life trapped beneath the sea gives you a lot to think about; it opens an awareness you never thought existed. Know that as you read, things are about to change; and that raw drama and laughter awaits you.
About the Author: Thomas Kim, was born a 3rd generation Korean and Polish ancestry. He was raised in Sacramento and brought up by his grandmother, his father, and two sets of aunts and uncles. It was certainly an interesting and diverse upbringing. He was a high school grad and attended college for three years. Earning his Navy Submarine Dolphins completed his education. After serving 4 years in the U.S. Navy he worked many odd jobs of which included bartending. The bartending job at the Pine Cove Tavern was a popular place where he would tell submarine stories to those who would listen. Two years later he joined the Sacramento Fire Department serving his employer for 26 years as a Firefighter and Fire Investigator. Talking with his customers as a bartender, and also interviewing victims at fire scenes working as a Fire Investigator, led to an opportunity in understanding diversity in people. This included listening to their issues and learning from their insightful rhetoric. However, it paled in comparison to the submarine exploits, where he observed the best and worst in people while living in a confined environment for nearly a year with a crew of 140. Today, instead of telling stories, he is writing them down to be shared and enjoyed by those who are interested.