Author's Log

Congressional Honors

I am greatly indebted to Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley for publicly honoring my accomplishments as an author in winning the 2006 U. S. Maritime Literature Award, and for my service as a member of the U. S. Coast Guard.Her remarks, which were duly recorded in the Congressional Record, follow: (please click this link to see her remarks)

Thanks,

Bill

Award Presentation

June 8th proved to be a memorable day. The national U. S. Maritime Literature Award for 2006 was formally presented to me by the local chapter of the U. S. Navy League, acting under the auspices of the Portland Rose Festival (the major annual event in this area). The presentation took place at the downtown Embassy Suites Hotel at a reception attended by some 175 persons--family, friends, military officers from ships visiting the port
during the Festival, and others. The League did itself proud, with food, drinks, and live music being provided.

The accompanying photo shows me holding the Award (a beautifully-embossed curved glass scroll). Making the presentation on behalf of the League were (left to right): Robert Sheveland, Board Member; Captain Patrick G. Gerrity, Commanding Officer of the local Coast Guard station; Captain Alex MacKenzie, U. S. Navy (Ret), President of the League; and Lonnie J. Roberts, County Commissioner. I was deeply honored in being selected for this special Award!

Closure for those left behind. . .

I recently received phone calls from Cheryl Lyon and Rene Hague, daughters of AB Joseph Candos, lost at sea with the SS Badger State. The sadness in their voices as they spoke about their Dad 37 years later was heart wrenching. It reminded me that no one ever described a loss at sea better or more aptly than Richard Dana in his classic Two Years Before the Mast:

“Death is at all times solemn, but never so much as at sea. . .A man dies on shore—you follow his body to the grave, and a stone marks the spot. You are often prepared for the event. There is always something which helps you to realize it when it happens, and to recall it when it has passed. . .but at sea, the man is near you—at your side—you hear his voice, and in an instant he is gone, and nothing but a vacancy shows his loss.”

And so we recognize the heroism of those merchant mariners who gave their lives on behalf of their country, but we also recognize the sacrifice of those left at home who must somehow pick up the pieces of a shattered life and carry on:

Cheryl Lyon and Rene Hague

Nancy Keys and Jennie Miller

Maureen Foster and Kate Filbin

Violet Woods, Theresa Anderson, Kristi Lincoln

And all the other next-of-kin of those brave seamen lost with their ship!

Bill Benedetto

May 30, 2006

Welcome to the Site!

Barb and I just returned from a 6,000-mile book tour south--Stockton, Bakersfield, Vegas, El Paso, San Antonio, and points east--and it proved to be a great adventure. In particular, our stopover in Beaumont, Texas, where we were able to meet and great old friends was heart warming!Homecomings always are.

The paperback version of the book is doing very well. Winning the 2006 United States Maritime Literature Award (best American maritime story of the year) is a contributing factor to that success. We plan to continue book tours, radio "phoners", and take advantage of whatever opportunities are out there to promote the book.

Meanwhile, please make yourself at home! And if you have anything to say about the book, the website, or whatever, don't hold back! Feel free to enter your comments in the place provided elsewhere on this website. I look forward to hearing from you!