Why Pug Henry’s Ghost?
I am a retired U.S. Navy Foreign Area Officer and a maritime and Africa specialist. Pug Henry’s Ghost is where I write, read, and share about things I find interesting and relevant to our time.
Why Pug Henry1? The lead character in one of my favorite series of novels: Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance, Pug is an imperfect hero. His flaws are evident, but he is an honorable man faced with difficult times and attempting to do his best. Committed to his service and committed to doing what is expected of him by The Navy, he finds himself on the margins. In reality, it’s those things he’s doing in the margins, the things the Navy devalues, that actually make the most impact on the course of the war.
I’ve recommended Wouk’s duology countless times. In my opinion, Wouk is one of the most underrated American novelists. I write Pug Henry’s Ghost to honor that idea: that sometimes it’s in places that are overlooked or devalued where there is opportunity to make a difference.
The opinions expressed in this Substack and its posts are my own. They do not reflect the positions or opinions of any current or former employers.
The photo is a still from the 1980s TV Mini-series adaptation of The Winds of War, with Robert Mitchum as our hero, Pug Henry.
Now I'm prompted to revisit this miniseries. I've seen it before, but I was in the 8th grade when it aired. I'm going to have to view it as a binge date with my husband, on an upcoming weekend. By the way, I'm sending a, "Hi, from Haze!" on his behalf.
I loved "The Winds of War." I can still hear Mitchum's voice in my head.