About War in Our Wake : A Sailor’s True Story of Sweat and Tears at the Bitter End of the Vietnam War:
INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER AUTHORWar in Our Wake: The Untold Story of the Last American Military Presence of the Vietnam Warby Jonathan MalayStep aboard the USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) and discover a compelling, untold chapter of history in War in Our Wake. Through a gripping and deeply personal narrative, Jonathan Malay recounts the final days of the Vietnam War from his vantage as a young naval officer. Three days after the last Marine Corps helicopter left Saigon, Malay and his shipmates became the very last American military presence in Vietnam. This remarkable memoir weaves history, adventure, and human emotion into the story of a Navy destroyer’s mission during a pivotal moment in history. From the stark reality of Vietnam’s coastal waters to the excitement of port visits across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Malay brings to life the demands of service, the intensity of duty, and the humanity behind military operations. At the heart of this story lies a bold humanitarian mission that saved over 150 lives. Through letters to his wife, the ship’s logs, and his vivid recollections, Malay captures the pride, sacrifice, and sense of duty that defined this historic journey. This book is more than just a recounting of military events—it is a testament to resilience, courage, and the personal toll of war. With rich storytelling, Malay brings readers closer to understanding the lives of those who served and the weight of their experiences. About the AuthorJonathan Malay is a retired naval officer and accomplished writer with a passion for history and science. Over his 20-year Navy career, he specialized in oceanography, meteorology, and satellite remote sensing, serving in pivotal roles across the military and government.After retiring, Malay worked with organizations like NOAA and Lockheed Martin and led professional societies such as the American Astronautical Society. Now an author and enrichment speaker, he brings his experiences to life in War in Our Wake, offering a rare and poignant perspective on the Vietnam War. Don’t miss this extraordinary story of courage, sacrifice, and humanity.Order your copy of War in Our Wake today and uncover the untold legacy of the Vietnam War’s final chapter!
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Author Bio:
Since 2014, I have been enjoying my third career as an author and enrichment speaker on Earth and space science for some of the world’s finest cruise lines and, with Sharon, my wife of 51 years, we have sailed all over the world.
My first career began after graduating from the US Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School in 1973 an 1974, respectively. For twenty years I served as a commissioned officer in the Navy, beginning as a surface warfare officer in the Pacific Fleet and eventually specializing in oceanography and meteorology. I further sub-specialized in satellite remote sensing, serving in various space-related roles, including at the Naval Space Command and the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, with a special detail to the National Reconnaissance Office.
After retiring from active duty at the rank of Commander, I worked at Orbital Sciences Corp., NOAA’s Environmental Satellite Service, and at Ball Aerospace from 1993 to 2003, which is when I joined Lockheed Martin until my retirement in 2014. I was proud to serve as corporate representative to NASA and NOAA in Washington for science programs, helping the company to win, build, and launch multiple missions to visit Mars, Jupiter, the Sun, and an asteroid, as well as the current generation of geostationary weather satellites. Throughout my professional life, I’ve been an active member of key organizations, including serving as President and Fellow of the American Astronautical Society (AAS), Region I Director and Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), and President and Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
As an writer, I co-authored the “National Geographic Encyclopedia of Space” (2004), and edited “Partly to Mostly Funny: The Ultimate Weather Joke Book,” a fundraising book for AMS.
My latest book, “War In Our Wake: A Sailor’s True Story of Sweat and Tears at the Bitter End of the Vietnam War,” recounts my personal experience as a junior officer aboard the USS BENJAMIN STODDERT (DDG-22), the lone ship that departed Vietnam three days after the fall of Saigon, the last American military presence of the Vietnam War.