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Salado Press
September 2009
On Sale: October 11, 2009
ISBN: 0966387074
EAN: 9780966387070
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Military
Preface: This book is dedicated to the hundreds of sailors and
marines who were members of various classes that I taught as
part of the Program for Afloat College Education (PACE)
during sixteen deployments on thirteen different ships of
the United States Navy.
After I wrote Nine Years in the Saddle, I
autographed the book in book stores all across the United
States. The short biography in the back of the book caught
the attention of readers who noted that I had traveled the
world teaching college courses aboard United States Navy
ships. Many began to encourage me write about those
experiences that spanned five years from 1989 to 1994 on
most of the oceans of the world as well as visits to nearly
forty countries. I had kept a journal of all those travels
for the benefit of my wife so that she could vicariously
enjoy my travels. For some time, I wrestled with the best
way to present those experiences. After advice from some of
my readers, I decided to simply keep the journalistic
writing style. This method of presentation allows the reader
to see my ongoing interaction with my students, other
shipboard personnel, the mission of the various ships and my
reaction to world events affecting those missions, and my
experiences with people in foreign countries. Most civilians have never heard of the PACE program, but in
the 1970s, the navy introduced shipboard personnel to the
opportunity to acquire undergraduate college credits from
various colleges. Sailors at sea couldn’t go to college, so
the navy took the college to them by bringing on board
qualified college instructors to teach any course requested
by the ship’s command. It’s the responsibility of
participating colleges to find the teachers wherever they
may be located in the United States. Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas, had such a contract
with U. S. Navy and I was just one of many instructors from
throughout the United States. My subject matter was English,
which I taught at the freshman and sophomore levels. I also
taught Basic English, basic math, and basic reading for
sailors who more or less fell through the cracks in high
school. A few eventually became naval officers. Others
obtained university degrees after serving their enlistments.
Some earned their G.E.D and moved on to advanced training. Few of the ships really had adequate space to hold classes,
so it was necessary to improvise. Often the spaces used for
classes were either too hot or too cold and located near
noise from the ship’s equipment. Shipboard activities such
as general quarters, flight operations, or refueling
operations frequently interrupted classes. Yet these
dedicated young men persevered under conditions that would
dismay the typical land-based scholar. They were the sole
justification for my adventure of a lifetime, and I owe them
my thanks for allowing me to be a part of their lives. They
were some of the best students I ever had. James V. Lee
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