Frank Hood & Charles Hood - Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots - Book Blitz

Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War


Military / Biography

Date Published: April 13, 2021


Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War, now in its fifth edition since 2017, has earned a popular place in the modern submarine literature for its engaging style and pacing. Set in the throes of the Cold War during the Nixon administration, the story follows the journey of Frank Hood through training and eventual deployment as a junior officer aboard a fast-attack submarine (USS Seahorse [SSN-669]) based out of Charleston, SC.


Thousands of copies have been sold and read, and the reviews have been very positive overall. This fifth edition has been extensively updated and expanded. Based in large part on feedback from more than a hundred submarine veterans, certain technical explanations have been corrected in some areas (e.g., electrical and propulsion systems) and expanded in others (e.g., layout of Control Room, battery operation). A number of small historical corrections have been made in the discussions about prototype training and nuclear reactors, and the entire discussion of how a submarine generates nuclear power has been rewritten with improved clarity. Also, both the glossary of submarine terms and the photographic gallery have been significantly expanded by more than 25%.


The new photos include a brand-new original schematic diagram of the Control Room of the Seahorse to aid in comprehension of the expanded submarine “walk-through” in Chapter 8. Elsewhere, small errors related to years or hull numbers have been corrected, and additional small historical details have been added in many places to enhance the reading experience. A new interlude story (“Nautical Rules of the Road”) has replaced the former entry about the collision of the USS Tullibee; that story now appears in our book More Sub Tales. The final product is our best effort yet in telling Frank’s compelling coming-of-age story during the contentious 1960s. While biographical in form, Frank’s story serves as a scaffolding of sorts to allow detailed side explorations of the basics of US submarine history; fundamental submarine systems such as sonar, propulsion, diving, weapons, and periscope functions; the intense training and repetition required to gain qualification in submarines; and the colorful traditions of the US Navy. The book is replete with dozens of funny stories as well. It’s an enjoyable story that not only informs the reader of all things submarine-related but also includes a number of cultural references that made life during that turbulent period both difficult and memorable.


We have striven to write this book in a way that appeals to both the career Navy man/woman and the interested civilian. You will learn a lot about the Silent Service, and our hope is that you also come away with a great deal of respect for the men and missions that continue to this day with no fanfare and little public awareness. Better yet, Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots provides the reader with the "fundamentals" of submarining that will facilitate interest and understanding of the other five titles in the Poopie Suits series of true-life books about the US Submarine Force: Sub Tales, More Sub Tales, Sub Tales 3, and The Silent Service Remembers (Vols. 1 and 2).


We would like to point out that as coauthors of Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots, we donated the first $50,000 of profits on the sale of our books to the Charitable Fund of the US Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI). This philanthropic goal was reached in May 2021 thanks to the overwhelming positive response to our books. Thank you for your interest!

Book Blitz - November 16th

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