NO SALVATION

A Black naval commander is brought aboard a ship to quell racial tensions in this historical novel set during the Vietnam War.

Cmdr. Robert Porter is a “rising star” in the Navy—one of only a very few Black fighter pilots. He’s been assigned to the USS Salvation as its new executive officer, the first black XO on an aircraft carrier in the Navy’s history. His new appointment is not simply an honor for his remarkable service, however. Capt. Holt has specifically chosen him to help de-escalate volatile racial tensions that threaten to undermine the mission—air operations against the North Vietnamese. Initially, Porter accepts his position as a “shit-shield” between the captain and the crew and optimistically believes he can make a difference: “It’s not that big a problem, gentleman. All our bones are the same color. There’s nothing more to it than that. We’ll all be one big, happy family before Old Sal sails back to San Diego.” But he quickly discovers that the situation is far worse than he imagined. The ship is infested with widespread drug use, and the Black soldiers are enraged by their unjust treatment, particularly the harsh punishments meted out by Capt. Holt, who shows little desire or competence for compromise—a predicament sensitively depicted by Hess. The ship’s chaplain, Ken Phillips, mysteriously disappears, and important equipment is being dangerously sabotaged. The author meticulously establishes an atmosphere of foreboding instability—the ship is a tinderbox of animosity. Moreover, Hess’ depiction of the racial tensions in the military at the time is impressively thoughtful and nuanced. The book’s dramatic denouement hits a false note—a sermonizing speech by Porter to his crew falls flat. However, this doesn’t fully undermine the book’s emotional power.

A fascinating novel—immersive and provocative.