Welcome to SixthFleet.Com, the Cyberspace Home of author David E. Meadows. "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there. David Meadows is the real thing," --Stephen Coonts author of numerous bestsellers, including Flight of the Intruder, Saucer, America, and Liberty. "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future place in the world. It's visionary, and scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" -Joe Buff, bestselling author of Straits of Power, Tidal Rip, and Crush Depth. "David E. Meadows is simply the best writer of naval thriller/adventure fiction out there today." --Tom Wilson, acclaimed author of Black Canyon, Desert Fury, Tango Uniform and other best selling military thrillers.

IOWA RISING

We are still negotiating for a new book tentatively titled IOWA RISING. A little background - there are four battleships of the IOWA class. What happens to Navy warships when their active duty days are over? Most become part of the U.S. Naval Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) administered by the Maritime Administration under the Department of Transportation. There are NDRF anchorage sites are at Fort Eustis (James River), Virginia; Beaumont, Texas; and Benicia (Suisun Bay), California. At its peak in 1950, the NDRF had 2,277 ships in lay-up. Today, the NDRF has around 258 ships mothballed, waiting for call to return to an active duty status that would nearly double today's Navy.

The four Iowa Class battleships built for World War II have been 'in and out' of the National Defense Reserve Fleet several times since the end of that world war. Operation Desert Storm was the last conflict in which battleship fought. I have the pleasure of maintaining contact and the honor of working for the last Admiral to fight a battleship in combat – Rear Admiral-retired David S. Bill III, who commanded the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) during Desert Storm. Today, Admiral Bill is the Executive Director of the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization through which private donations can be made available to the Naval Postgraduate School. (You can find out more about the Foundation at http://www.npsfoundation.org/001_about.htm.

Today, the USS New Jersey (BB-62) sits pier side in New Jersey as a floating museum; the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) bobs to the ebb and flow of tides at Waterside in Norfolk, VA; the USS Missouri (BB-63) —the battleship on which the Japanese signed the documents of surrender for World War II—is tied up near the sunken USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor; and, the USS Iowa (BB-61), flagship of the IOWA class battleships, lies hidden from public view as a National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) asset at Suisun Bay, California. You can find out more about the battleships and other Navy related stuff at http://www.chinfo.navy.mil and http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/battleships/iowa/bb61-ia.html for information on the IOWA class battleships. The veterans of the USS Iowa have a web site at http://www.ussiowa.org/ where you can find some additional information from Sailors who have been there and sailed her.

IOWA RISING deals with a catastrophe near San Francisco that only a ship capable of massive firepower and survivability can deal with. For more, you’ll have to wait until we finish our discussions.

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA is Meadows' newest novel scheduled for release in March 2005.

Read More About JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA A Navy EP-3E is hit by a missile and before the pilot can recover control of the aircraft four aircrew bail out over West Africa, landing in the middle of an African civil war. It is a fast-pace story as Admiral Holman races to rescue the Sailors before they are killed or captured. "Meadows will keep you turning pages and thinking new thoughts." --Newt Gingrich "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there." --Stephen Coonts "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Fast-paced, roller-coaster ride with this exhilarating military thriller. Dynamic writer with a fresh voice in this technical-ridden, yet intriguing genre." --Midwest Book Review "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future. Visionary, scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" --Joe Buff, author Tidal Rip.

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David E. Meadows / SixthFleet.Com David E. Meadows Washington D.C. E-Mail readermail@SixthFleet.Com