From 1953-1994, sixty-five U.S. Navy ocean minesweepers (MSOs) swept mines; searched the seafloor for downed aircraft, sunken ships, and lost munitions; "showed the flag" throughout the world, even sailing up the Congo and Mekong Rivers, calling at dozens Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a fitting tribute to the ocean minesweepers and Sailors who crewed them during a critical time in the U.S. Navy's modern history. While enduring all the hardships common to life at sea in small vessels, these men contributed significantly to the Navy's successful operations, from 1953 to 1994, in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, off the coast of Vietnam, and in the volatile Persian Gulf. This work is a must read. We are truly impressed with the depth of your research on an important, but often overlooked, aspect of the U.S. Navy's Cold War and post-Cold War operations. I plan to spread the word on this important work to my colleagues here at the Center, who I'm sure will find it a useful resource in their own work. As Project Director of our forthcoming Cold War Gallery [for the National Museum of the United States Navy], I can say that it will be at my elbow as I work to develop the exhibition. --Edward J. Marolda Senior Historian Naval Historical Center Washington, D.C. Cdr. Bruhn's history of the Ocean Minesweeper will delight all those who served in and worked with these fine wooden ships. It will also provide much interesting detail on their employment to anyone concerned with the U.S. Navy's mine countermeasures efforts between the Korean War and DESERT STORM. Bruhn reviews many of the ongoing issues and competing priorities that have crippled this important warfare area. Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a real walk down memory lane for a former MSO Commanding Officer and Mine Group Commander. Worth the read! Reading Dave Bruhn's important book on mine warfare, I was delighted to return to sea on an MSO without the usual seasickness caused by its endless corkscrewing and the nausea induced by stack gas blowing into the bridge on a following wind. I could actually walk a deck without leaving heel prints three feet up a bulkhead! Thank you, David, for returning me to the days of my youth and callow innocence. My son gave me a copy of your book for Christmas. Thanks so much for writing it! Upon completion of Radioman "A" School in the Spring of 1963 I served aboard Aggressive (MSO-422) for about two months before being transferred to Agile (MSO-421) for the next two plus years. I reported aboard Agile as a RMSN and departed as a RM2 and leading radioman. I subsequently changed my rate to CT and never saw sea duty again, so the memories of my time with MINDIV 83 out of Charleston are precious to me. It was great to read about the history of the "Sweeps" during my time of service, but very enlightening to read about their history both before and after as well. . . . Again, thanks for a great read! They endured the most dangerous conditions in the world, and did a job no one else could do. The 65 ocean minesweepers worked thorough most of the Cold War, searching for ordinance, rescuing the lost, and getting up close and personal with a variety of tense situations in regions of conflict. They picked up atomic weapons dropped in the Mediterranean near Spain, assisted in Apollo spacecraft recovery and stood ready during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bruhn, whose experience with minesweepers is long, explains how these ships came to be in the first place, how they were staffed and run, and why they were so adaptable. He describes operations in detail, including the aforesaid Apollo detail, the role of the reserve force, and the last days of these noble and busy ships and people in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.