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In June 2004, Michael Walling’s first book, Bloodstained Sea: The U.S. Coast
Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic 1941-1944, was published by International Marine, a division of McGraw-Hill,
and received critical acclaim by reviewers and veterans. The Naval Order of the United States honored him with its 2005 Samuel
Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature. Past recipients of this prestigious award include David McCullough, Stephen Coonts,
Edward L. Beach (author of Run Silent, Run Deep), and former Navy Secretary John F. Lehman. It is given to an American author
“who by his published writings has made a substantial contribution to the preservation of the history and traditions
of the United States Navy.”
Michael G. Walling appeared on
the History Channel series Man, Moment, Machine episode about Andrew Higgins, the designer and builder of the vital landing
craft used in World War II, and, as a script consultant for the episode, reviewed the material for accuracy.
According to the book description of
Michael Walling’s fourth book, “Forgotten
Sacrifice: The Arctic Convoys of World
War II, “The words "Murmansk
Run" conjure visions of ice-laden
ships and thoughts of freezing to
death in seconds. For five long years,
thousands of men and women fought
ferociously in the coldest corner of
hell on earth. Some fought for
survival, some struggled to help
others survive, and some sought to
crush their enemies. The Arctic
Convoys were war without mercy. If
man-made death didn't get you, the
Arctic's weapons of ice and cold
would. These natural weapons killed
regardless of whose side you were on
or how just was your cause. No one
escaped unscathed. Author Mike Walling
captures the convoy's bitter essence
in Forgotten Sacrifice.
The story launches in October 1939,
when Germany and the Soviet Union
began diplomatic maneuvering. The
action accelerates with Winston
Churchill's decision in 1941 to
provide supplies to Soviet forces
battling the German invasion. From
this point until the closing days of
WWII in spring 1945, an unremitting
sea battle raged within the confines
of the always-lethal, ever-shifting
Arctic ice pack and the savage
Scandinavian coastline. Nearly 4.5
million tons of supplies were moved in
77 convoys over the course of 5 years
in order to help the Soviet war
effort. The Allies fought to keep the
sea lanes open to Murmansk while the
Germans were determined to slaughter
every ship which dared to make the
attempt. By the end of the convoys, 98
ships had been lost. Forgotten
Sacrifice reveals a timeless tale of
determination, heroism, sacrifice, and
the strength of the human spirit.”
On the lighter side, Michael Walling published,
in conjunction with Flat Hammock Press, a new edition of Sinbad of the Coast Guard,” the adventurous,
true story of the USCGC Campbell's mascot whose exploits during World War II became legend. Appropriately, Sinbad's
story was told by a fellow member of the Coast Guard, Chief George F. Foley, Jr., while the fine pictures were drawn by the
outstanding Coast Guard Reserve artist, George Gray. In November 2008,
his first novel Choke Points was published by Cutter Publishing. The plot centers on the real threats to US Maritime and Port
Security.
Walling is currently
a consulting historian with Underwater Admiralty Sciences, Inc., on the Clipper Discovery Project. His research involves the
Bermuda Sky Queen rescue in October 1947. He has interviewed passengers, aircraft crew, and Coast Guardsmen who participated
in the rescue. Walling has exclusive access to the pilot and the Coast Guardsman who organized and led the rescue. Michael
Walling has spent more than 45 years collecting stories from hundreds of World War II veterans. He and his wife, Mary, live
in Hudson, Massachusett s.
According to the book description of
Choke Points, “It’s a simple plan – force the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
by shutting down key US ports. No need for weapons of mass destruction, ordinary explosives easily obtained would do the job.
The complex part is for Coast Guard Lieutenant Mark Fletcher to stop it from happening. Faced with an unknown enemy from his
past and betrayal by his superior officers, Mark is caught in a labyrinth of deceit. His only allies are a retired Navy SEAL
and a beautiful African American helicopter pilot. Stretching from the treacherous shores of Iraq to inner circles of power
in Washington, DC, Choke Points leads the reader deep into the heart of the War on Terror and the real threats of attack on
the U.S.”
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According to the book description
of Sinbad of the Coast Guard: The Most Famous Sea Dog in History, “This is the adventurous,
true story of Sinbad whose exploits on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell during World War II became legend. His chunky
black and tan figure was known in a hundred ports, from Greenland --where he nearly caused an international incident--to Africa,
where he was the guest at a Sultan’s Palace and as far away as Japan.
Although famous to thousands of people in many nations, Sinbad was happiest at sea, treading
the decks of the sleek Campbell, where he was treated as just another member of the crew. Battles and hurricanes never dulled
his love of standing on the heaving deck with spray breaking over his wiry body. To Coast Guardsmen and sailors all over the
world he was a hero and a real salty dog!
Appropriately, Sinbad's story was
told by a fellow member of the Coast Guard, Chief George F. Foley, Jr., while the fine pictures were drawn by the outstanding
Coast Guard Reserve artist, George Gray. This new edition, the first in 60 years, adds photos of Sinbad, information about
the Campbell, and an Introduction by Mike Walling, author of “Bloodstained Sea, The U.S. Coast Guard in the Battle of
the Atlantic 1941-1944.”
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