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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book could not have been written without the significant assistance of the individuals listed in no particular order in this paragraph. I would like to thank James and Louise Crain, who gave the McKenna papers to the Richard McKenna Charter High School, in Mountain Home, Idaho, to preserve the story and memory of Richard McKenna, and José Madarieta, of the Richard McKenna Charter High School, who established the Richard McKenna Collection. Mark Mollan, Navy/Maritime Reference, Archives I, Textual Services Branch, went above and beyond the call of duty to cheerfully track down information on McKenna. His attitude makes “digging” in the National Archives a pleasure. Candace Clifford, Alexandria, Virginia, spent much time in the holdings of the National Archives digitizing records for writing this book, not only producing outstanding images but also making sure they were properly cited; she always alerted me to extra material and contacted me if she had any questions. U.S. representative Derek Kilmer (D-Washington) and staff member Nicholas Jay Carr paved the way for me to obtain McKenna’s personnel record. Dr. Niels J. Zussblatt, management analyst, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, Missouri, personally photocopied Richard McKenna’s service record.

At Mountain Home Principal Larry Slade and the teachers, staff, and students of the Richard McKenna Charter High School made my research enjoyable. I would especially like to thank James Alexander; John Hiler, Mountain Home historian; Mir Seyedbagheri, Elmore County extension agent; and Louise House, library director.

I would also like to thank Paul A. Cogan, Archives II, Reference Section, National Archives and Records Administration.

At the U.S. Coast Guard, in no particular order, I would like to thank Capt. Michael F. White; Capt. John Koster; Cdr. Thomas Griffitts; Michiko Iwata; Capt. Casey J. White; CMC Michael Ellis; MCPOCG Michael Leavitt and YNCM Bobbie Sisto of MCPOCG Leavitt’s office; CMC Jason Vanderhaden; Dr. Robert Browning; Dr. William Thiesen; and MCPOCG Vincent Patton III, USCG (Ret.).

At the U.S. Navy, in no particular order, I would like to thank James Allen Knechtmann, senior reference librarian; Nellie S. Moffitt of the Navy General Library Program; Stephanie Pezzella; Lt. Callie Ferrari, USN; Lt. Cdr. Heidi Lenzini, USN; and Michael G. Rhode.

Loren Alice Noble read drafts of the manuscript, accompanied me on research trips to Mountain Home, and had to listen to my continual stories of McKenna. Dr. Thomas McCurdy and Gregg Shield offered outstanding suggestions that greatly improved the work.

Tracy Ellen Smith produced the great map for this book.

Others who helped include Bill Wells, Truman Strobridge, Karen S. Kilgore, and Wendy Oak, interlibrary loan librarians at the North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, Washington. Gary and Jan Holmquist of Port Angeles introduced me to David Tamaki, who helped with translation of Japanese material. Yoichi Hiokata of Peninsula College also provided me with excellent translations of Japanese material. I would like to thank the John McCulloch Tuesday Lunch Group at Port Angeles, Washington—John McCulloch, Dr. Thomas McCurdy, Carl Gay, Jim McEntire, and Ray Gruver—for putting up with sea stories and tales of McKenna.

Series editor Gene Allen Smith first recognized the importance of this biography, as did his coeditor James C. Bradford. At the Naval Institute Press, acquisitions editor Adam Nettina went above and beyond the call of duty to help me. Others at the press contributed to the publication of this book, including Rick Russell, Susan Corrado, Nick Lyle, Claire Noble, and Judy Heise. Also, copy editor Julie Kimmel did outstanding work.

All of these people—and those not listed, who I hope will forgive me for my oversight—made this biography a pleasure to write. Any omissions or factual errors are mine.