The history of the US Submarine Force is filled with incredible, untold stories of bravery, endurance, and everyday life in extreme conditions. Often referred to as the "Silent Service," the experiences of these submariners during the Cold War and beyond have largely remained hidden from the general public. Veterans hold onto these remarkable memories, but without a dedicated effort to record them, there is a risk that these vital pieces of military history will be lost to time.
Brothers Frank and Charles Hood set out to change this by capturing these hidden narratives. What began as an effort to document Frank’s service on the USS Seahorse in their first book, Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots, quickly evolved into a massive historical preservation project encompassing nine books. Today, we sit down with co-author and submarine veteran Frank Hood to discuss the origins of their first book, how the submarine community responded, and what inspired them to continue publishing the true, unclassified stories of the Silent Service.
Q: Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots originally started as a way to document your personal experiences on the USS Seahorse. At what point did you and your brother Charles realize this project needed to expand into a broader history of the Submarine Force?
Frank Hood: We did not realize it until Poopie Suits was published. We thought we might sell 50 books to friends and family. We also created a Facebook page at the same time Poopie Suits was released (January 2018). (www.facebook.com/2hoodssubbook)
What followed were 2 unexpected surprises.
One – the book was an instant hit – selling more than 500 copies in the first 30 days. Promoting on the FB page helped. Second – we started to get replies like “Interesting – but wait until you hear MY story”. That started a progression of leads and stories and accompanying FB posts, which further grew the audience, and this trend expanded the reach and following even more.
We also set a goal, in the beginning, of donating all the proceeds to the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. Scholarship Fund. As the interest and sales continue to rise, we kept expanding this goal. Our final goal of $50,000 donated was reached in May of 2021.
Poopie Suits was autobiographical. A lot of the stories we were given leads to -surrounded unique events involving US submarines since 1900. The first of these stories were researched, written, and compiled into our 2nd book “Sub Tales – Stories That Seldom Surface”. This book took off right away.
These stories are amazing. From miraculous survivors of WWII skirmishes, to fantastic submarine rescues, to unique portraits of the men who demanded a high degree of performance from every man – cook to Captain. Whose skill and daring led to Victory in the Pacific, holding off the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and contributing to The War on Terror. To transiting under the ice, successful emergency surgeries performed under great duress, far from a doctor, to many more examples.
Bravery under duress, quick thinking that often saved a boat in peril, to selfless acts of valour that were expected are highlighted.
Eventually, 5 volumes were published under the Sub Tales series, each a thick book in its own right.
We also created another series of 3 books – The Silent Service Remembers series.
Each of these books Is an anthology of personal stories, written by the vets themselves.
Everyone from a new Cook on board to several Commanding Officers of nuclear submarines – and everyone in between – contributed.
Many of these explore personal relationships, wild stories of times “on the beach” (ashore), and personal accounts of the difficulty in earning the prized Dolphins – symbol that you were “Qualified in Submarines” and could be trusted by the rest of the crew.
Pranks, a specialty of submariners, were often well thought out and devious, and created unending laughter for the crew to relieve the non-stop stress.
My brother, Charles Hood, a physician by day, is an excellent wordsmith and he assisted in compiling all these stories, editing as required, and oversaw the publishing aspects.
Along the way, we got requests for audio versions, and we have 5 of the books in this format. These were narrated by Joseph Cortemanche, a sub vet himself, so the realism and nuance he brought to this work makes these very popular editions.
Q: The title Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots is incredibly unique and specific to submarine culture. How does this title capture the essence of what it was like to serve during the height of the Cold War?
Frank Hood: Poopie Suits were the Navy Blue coveralls you see in movies like Hunt for Red October. They were the standard uniform while underway because in the event of an emergency, of which there were several documented in all our books, you could jump out of your rack (bed), jump into your Poopie Suit with the front Velcro closure, and off you go. The same for cowboy boots. Those were more popular in my day. Modern day submariners wear a variety of shoes. Submarines have deck plates with an open grid in some areas and the idea is not to allow a shoelace, for example, to catch on an open part of the grid.
Capturing the essence is found in the stories themselves. All true.
For example – Poopie Suits covers details of operating a submarine – from how to fire a torpedo, how sonar and the nuclear reactor work, how fresh air was made so the boat could stay submerged for days on end, how the periscope operated, how meals were served, and more. These are written in everyday language so a technical person could understand.
The essence of the pride of these men who wore Dolphins also shines. Being ashore and hearing the oohs and aahs of other Navy men, covering for each other if someone tried to pick a fight – this pride grew from the immense difficulty of serving with more than 100 other men in a steel tube designed to sink.
No outside communications, no one knowing where you were and what you were doing, created a bond as thick as an anchor chain.
Q: Writing about the US Submarine Force involves navigating a fine line between sharing compelling, realistic stories and protecting classified information. How do you and Charles ensure historical accuracy while maintaining strict operational security?
Frank Hood: We set a very firm rule that we would not every cover any classified information. We made that clear to every vet we talked with. We had no problem.
Q: A significant portion of your book sales goes toward the USSVI Submarine Scholarship Fund, with over $50,000 donated so far. Why was it so important for you to tie this literary project to the families and future generations of submarine veterans?
Frank Hood:
Q: With nine books now published, covering everything from the origins of the Submarine Force to modern-day challenges, what is the one overarching message you hope civilian readers take away from the sacrifices of these crews?
Frank Hood: That these men, and now women, volunteered to serve in a hostile environment (the ocean is always trying to get you) under stress that was 24/7 for months at at time, that few can understand, and did this with pride, an esprit de corps that we now enjoy in our elder years, and that there is never one day where there are not boats patrolling, on the front edge of Freedom, to protect our country.
This conversation underscores the profound importance of preserving the lived experiences of military veterans. The US Submarine Force operates in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth, yet the men who volunteer for this duty rarely seek the spotlight. Through their extensive collection of stories, Frank and Charles Hood have ensured that the bravery, humor, and resilience of these sailors will not fade into obscurity.
As time distances us from the Cold War and other historic conflicts, firsthand accounts become increasingly vital to our understanding of global history. Books like Poopie Suits & Cowboy Boots and the ensuing Sub Tales series offer an unprecedented window into a highly secretive world, honoring those who served while educating the public. The Hood brothers have created more than just a series of books; they have built a lasting, accessible monument to the Silent Service.
To learn more visit https://subtales.com/