by Bob Mayer
Khrushchev’s Speech on 25 February 1956 denouncing Stalin turned the Soviet Union on its ear. It’s reported some delegates left the 20th Party Congree and committed suicide.
No one has a complete map of the warren underneath New York City and no one knows all of it. The City Hall station is used as a turnaround for the #6 train, but has not been active station since the end of World War II.
Mary Meyer did know Timothy Leary. It’s reported she dropped acid with President Kennedy.
Jesus James Angleton was one of the most intriguing characters of the Cold War. The movie The Good Shepherd starring Matt Damon is loosely based on his life. He was the first one in Mary Meyer’s house searching for her diary after she was killed.
25 November used to wildly celebrated in New York City as Evacuation Day until Lincolin started Thanksgiving.
In 2009 Contractors accounted for 48% of the Department of Defense workforce in Iraq and 57% in Afghanistan.
The USS Beale incident only truly came to light thirty years later. Strangely, though, the 1965 movie, The Bedford Incident, mirrored these events.
A black man was arrested for Mary Meyer’s murder, but his attorney got him acquitted as there was no evidence.
Half Light, painted by Mary Meyer, is in the Smithsonian Archives.
My wife was present as a young girl in Berlin and heard Kennedy’s Ich Bin ein Berliner speech.
Kennedy’s autopsy original notes have been lost.
The removal of Kennedy’s body from Texas before an autopsy was performed violated Texas law.
Mary Meyer was Mary Meyer. She lived by her own rules until she was murdered.
Other Books by Bob Mayer
THE CELLAR SERIES
Praise for Bodyguard of Lies: “Thelma and Louise go clandestine.” Kirkus Reviews
“Heart-racing non-stop action that is difficult to put down.” Mystery News
Praise for Lost Girls: “ . . .delivers top-notch action and adventure, creating a full cast of lethal operatives armed with all the latest weaponry. Excellent writing and well-drawn, appealing characters help make this another taut, crackling read.” Publishers Weekly
THE SHADOW WARRIOR SERIES
“A pulsing technothriller. A nailbiter in the best tradition of adventure fiction.” Publishers Weekly.
“Mayer has crafted a military thriller in the tradition of John Grisham’s The Firm.” Kirkus
“Rogue politicians, a maniac scientist and the doomsday weapon—The Omega Missile comes screaming down on target. A great action reader!” Stephen Coonts.
THE GREEN BERET SERIES
An 8 book series featuring Dave Rile and Horace Chase
“Exciting and authentic. Author Mayer, a Green Beret himself, gave me a vivid look at the world of the Army’s Special Forces as they battle America’s most deadly enemy. His portrayal of Green Beret operations and techniques takes you deep into the covert world of Special Operations as a you follow an A-Team into combat. Don’t miss this one.”
WEB Griffin
“Incredibly believable and absolutely riveting. Quite possibly the best book every written about the Green Berets. Bob Mayer tells Green Beret stories like Joseph Wambaugh tells cop stories!
Macon News-Record”
“Mayer keeps story and characters firmly under control. The venal motives of the scientists and military bureaucracy are tellingly contrasted with the idealism of the soldiers. A treat for military fiction readers.” Publishers Weekly
“Sinewy writing enhances this already potent action fix. An adrenaline cocktail from start to finish.” Kirkus Reviews
“A background in Special Operations gives him credibility and understanding from having been there and done that.”
Airpower Journal
THE ATLANTIS SERIES
A 6 book Science Fiction Series
“Spell-binding! Will keep you on the edge of your seat. Call it techno-thriller, call it science fiction, call it just terrific story-telling.” Terry Brooks, #1 NY Times Bestselling author of the Shannara series and Star Wars Phantom Menace
THE AREA 51 SERIES
A 9 book Science Fiction Series
When nine atmospheric crafts of unknown origin were discovered in the Antarctic in the late 1940s, the U.S. government established Area 51 to study the abandoned technology. Dr. Hans Von Seeckt, who is the only original member of the secret research committee, has observed the marvelous craft in flight and witnessed a fantastic array of bizarre, unexplained phenomena. But Dr. Van Seeckt fears that the technology of the mothership is beyond our scope and an explosive threat to the entire planet. He must race against time to unlock the secret of the ship--and to the origins of mankind itself.
THE NIGHTSTALKERS SERIES
Bob Mayer’s Nightstalkers grabs you by the rocket launcher and doesn’t let go. Fast-moving military SF action—just the way I like it. Highly recommended. -B.V. Larson
For more information on Bob Mayer please visit http://bobmayer.org or http://coolgus.com
Anatomy of Catastrophe Series
Catastrophe: The Sultana
EXPLOSION AND SINKING
“If we arrive safe at Cairo it would be the greatest trip ever made on the western waters, as there were more people on board than were ever carried on one boat on the Mississippi River!” William J. Gambrel, first clerk & part owner of the steamship Sultana.
THE FACTS
On 27 April 1865, three of four boilers on board the Sultana exploded, killing approximately 1,800. This was a greater loss of life than the Titanic. Most of those killed were Union soldiers, who were former prisoners of war returning home.
This occurred on the Mississippi River, roughly eight miles north of Memphis in the middle of the night.
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CATASTROPHE: The Sinking of the Kursk
POOR TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE
Quote: “It's dark here to write, but I'll try by touch. It seems like there are no chances, 10%-20%. Let's hope that at least someone will read this. Hello to everyone. There is no need to despair." Captain Lieutenant Dmitri Kolesnikov, commander 7th Compartment (turbine room) Russian submarine Kursk.
THE FACTS
On 12 August 2000, the Kursk was taking part in Russian naval exercises in the Barents Sea. When it prepared to fire a dummy torpedo, there was an explosion. Two minutes and fourteen seconds later, there was a second, much larger explosion. After much confusion, lack of communication, and failed rescue attempts, it was finally determined the Kursk had gone down with all hands.
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CATASTROPHE: The Kegworth Plane Crash
TRUSTING EXPERTS
Passenger on British Midland Flight 92 reflecting on hearing the pilot announce he was shutting down the right engine: “We were thinking: ‘Why is he doing that?’ because we saw flame coming out of the left engine. But I was only a bread man. What did I know?”
THE FACTS
On 8 January 1989, a Boeing 737-400 crashed just short of the runway near Kegworth in the UK. 47 people were killed and 74 received serious injuries out of a complement of 126 on board.
Shortly after taking off and passing through 28,300 feet en route to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, a blade detached from the turboprop in the left engine. It resulted in a jolt and a bang. This was followed by a pounding noise, vibration, and smoke coming into the cabin. Several passengers near the rear of the plane noted smoke and sparks coming out of the left engine.
For reasons discussed below, the pilot shut down the plane’s right engine; the wrong engine. The vibration and smoke decreased and they descended to make an emergency landing at East Midland Airport.
Just short of the runway, the vibration and smoke returned as power was increased to the left engine for landing and that engine ceased operating. The crew attempted to restart the right engine using airflow, but because they were getting ready to land, the plane was flying too slow and too low for this to work.
The plane c
rashed a quarter mile from the edge of the runway.
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CATASTROPHE: The Last Czar
LEADERSHIP FAILURE
Quote: "I am not prepared to be a Czar. I never wanted to become one. I know nothing of the business of ruling." Nicholas II, last Czar of Russia.
THE FACTS
Nicholas II became Czar of Russia in 1896. He led his country into 2 disastrous wars, both of which were lost. He also presided at a time of great social unrest as the traditional serf system was breaking down during the technological revolution. He eventually abdicated in the face of unrelenting pressure, throwing Russia into an intense civil war between the Whites and the Reds, which led to his execution (along with that of his family) and the rise of the communist Soviet Union.
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CATASTROPHE: Little Big Horn
LEADERSHIP FAILURE
"There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry."
George Armstrong Custer
THE FACTS
On 25 June 1876, 5 of the 12 companies of the US 7th Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer’s command were annihilated by a combined force of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapahoe Native Americans under the leadership of Crazy Horse and Gall.
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CATASTROPHE: The Donner Party
SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION
“I wish I could cry, but I cannot. If I could forget the tragedy, perhaps I would know how to cry again.” Mary Graves. Survivor, the ‘Donner Party’
THE FACTS
In Spring 1846, a group of emigrants departed west for California. Rather than take the usual route, they decided to take a ‘shorter’ new route, the Hastings Cutoff. The delays from taking that route caused them to reach the last obstacle, the Sierra Nevada Mountains so late in the season that they became trapped by heavy snowfall, and were forced to spend the winter. Starving and freezing, some of the group resorted to cannibalism. Eventually, about half the party was rescued in the Spring of 1847.
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CATASTROPHE: Titanic
SYSTEMATIC FAILURE
"There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers."
Phillip Franklin, White Star Line vice-president, 1912
THE FACTS
The Titanic sank in the early morning of 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The official death toll is 1,517 making it #5 on the all time fatality list for shipwrecks. What makes this sinking notable is that the Titanic was the largest ship afloat at the time of its maiden voyage and was declared ‘unsinkable’ by its builders.
Hubris is the father of tragedy and catastrophe.
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CATASTROPHE: Pearl Harbor
GREED OVERWHELMS REALITY
“Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it would not be enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians (who speak so lightly of a Japanese-American war) have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.” Admiral Yamamoto, Commander Japanese Navy. (Note that this quote was used extensively for propaganda purposes by the United States by leaving out the last sentence)
THE FACTS
At 7:55 am, local time, the Japanese begin an aerial assault on Pearl Harbor and other military targets (airfields) on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.
After an assault of 2 hours and 20 minutes, the attack is over. Eighteen ships are sunk, 2,400 Americans are killed, and 1,200 are wounded. Over 300 aircraft are destroyed.
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CATASTROPHE: Alive! Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571
PERSEVERANCE TRIUMPHS OVER TRAGEDY
“It was repugnant. Through the eyes of our civilized society it was a disgusting decision. My dignity was on the floor having to grab a piece of my dead friend and eat it in order to survive. But then I thought of my mother and wanted to do my best to get back to see her. I swallowed a piece and it was a huge step - after which nothing happened.” Dr. Robert Canessa
THE FACTS
On 13 October 1972, Uruguayan Flight 571, carrying 45 passengers and crew, crashed in the Andes. 12 died in the crash and five the day after and another on the 8th day. An avalanche swept over the crash site on the 29th of October, killing another 8. Starving, the survivors turned to feeding on their dead. Two members made a ten-day trek across the mountains and finally made contact, bringing a rescue.
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CATASTROPHE: The Challenger
ORGANIZATIONAL FAILURE
“My God, Thiokol. When do you want me to launch? Next April?” Senior NASA official on a conference call to the manufacturer of the solid boosters, when they recommended on the morning of the launch that it be postponed.
THE FACTS
On 28 January 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke into pieces 73 seconds into flight due to a failure in the O-Ring seal on the right solid booster on liftoff. This failure allowed hot gas from the inside of the booster to impinge the booster attachment and external fuel tank. The booster separated and the external tank failed, leading to the break up of the orbiter.
All seven crewmembers died. The exact moment of their deaths is unknown, as the crew compartment remained intact after the break up until impact with the ocean two minutes and forty-five seconds later. Evidence indicates at least one of them was conscious during this long fall.
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Catastrophe: Mulholland & The St. Francis Dam
ENGINEERING FAILURE
Quote: During the Los Angeles Coroner's Inquest, William Mulholland said, "this inquest is a very painful for me to have to attend but it is the occasion of that is painful. The only ones I envy about this whole thing are the ones who are dead." In later testimony, after responding to a question, he added, "Whether it is good or bad, don't blame anyone else, you just fasten it on me. If there was an error in human judgment, I was the human, I won't try to fasten it on anyone else." William Mulholland, chief engineer, Water Department Los Angeles
THE FACTS
Two and a half minutes before midnight on 12 March 1928, the St. Francis Dam failed, sending a surge of water and debris that killed an estimated six hundred people on its journey to finally pour into the Pacific Ocean.
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About the Author
Bob Mayer is a NY Times Bestselling author, graduate of West Point, former Green Beret (including commanding an A-Team) and the feeder of two Yellow Labs, most famously Cool Gus. He’s had over 60 books published including the #1 series Area 51, Atlantis and The Green Berets. Born in the Bronx, having traveled the world (usually not tourist spots), he now lives peacefully with his wife, and said labs, at Write on the River, TN.
For more information about Bob Mayer, his books or his consulting business, Who Dares Wins, please go to http://bobmayer.org or http://coolgus.com
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 Bob Mayer
http://coolgus.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance of fictional characters to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author and publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
ISBN: 9781621251149
Table of Contents
Title Page
FACTS—The Unending Conflict
The Historical Facts
The 16th of May, 1963
The 24th of November, 1963
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Facts Kennedy
