Book Review: Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy: From American Slave to Arctic Hero
Guest book review by CDR Mike White. Note: Anyone wishing to submit a book/article review of professional relevance can send an e-mail to ccgcomms@uscg.mil
Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy
From American Slave to Arctic Hero
Dennis Noble and Truman Strobridge, University Press of Florida, 2009
A book that moves beyond the legend of Captain Healy and manages to illustrate the challenges of the times, for the Revenue Cutter Service, Captain Healy, the Native Alaskans, and African Americans in a society not ready to accept them in leadership positions. It is highly instructive for Guardians of today and particularly relevant for those who ply Alaskan waters or protect the states vast coastline.
In a thoroughly researched effort, the authors delve into the remarkable story of Captain Michael A. Healy of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. While covering his much-heralded exploits in the Arctic in fine detail, the authors also reveal the steadfastly professional officer's image that Healy cultivated through his service. While serving as a loyal and ambitious officer, Healy took seriously his role as the preeminent Arctic mariner; frequently writing Washington with recommendations or opinions on the Services future in the region...ironically, included in this correspondence was an opinion that BEAR was not well suited for the region.
He also provided advice to his peers and Headquarters regarding relations with the Natives, and the impact of increased commercial activity on the indigenous populations. His insights and sensitivity to their culture are every bit as relevant today as they were over 100 years ago...and he is memorialized in the oral traditions of the villages along the Bering and Chuckchi coasts.
The book speeds through the early years of the remarkable family Healy; largely due to a lack of documentation prior to the arrival of the Healy children in New England in mid 1800's. From there the authors are able to piece together the paths taken by Capt Healy, and his brothers Patrick and James. The stressors of living as mixed race children in the mid 19th century are explored and assumed, as little historical record survives due to the societal necessity for the children, grand children, and great-grand children to keep the family secret. The reality of the impact of emancipation merely shifting the threat to the Healy family from imprisonment and return to the South as escaped slaves to the loss of property, position, and the lives they had established if discovered is clearly articulated?as late as the 1950's a family member destroyed Healy's personal papers to ensure his racial heritage remained obscured. For those of us who came to age in the post-civil rights era, the thought that a family would destroy the records of their ancestors to hide a 130-year old interracial marriage seems absurd. But an earlier author's efforts to tell the Healy story created enough of a stir in Healy's ancestors that 4 large volumes of his diaries were burned rather than reveal the family secret. A treasure trove of information was lost forever.
Absent Healy's personal correspondence and written record, the authors postulate the constant strain of continually obscuring his racial heritage directly contributed to his drinking problems and potential mental health issues. Healy's attempts to take his own life towards the end of his career are clearly the acts of a desperate and disturbed man...and yet detract little from the overall accomplishments of his remarkable life, as the authors likely intended. The authors end their work with a plea that Healy, despite his shortcomings, be remembered as a hero of remarkable accomplishments, made all the more so because he overcame and rose above what are euphemistically described as "complex social and psychological forces." It is high time for today's modern guardians, the Healy family, and the nation to embrace Captain Healy as the complex, heroic, and enduring figure that he is.
Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy
From American Slave to Arctic Hero
Dennis Noble and Truman Strobridge, University Press of Florida, 2009
A book that moves beyond the legend of Captain Healy and manages to illustrate the challenges of the times, for the Revenue Cutter Service, Captain Healy, the Native Alaskans, and African Americans in a society not ready to accept them in leadership positions. It is highly instructive for Guardians of today and particularly relevant for those who ply Alaskan waters or protect the states vast coastline.
In a thoroughly researched effort, the authors delve into the remarkable story of Captain Michael A. Healy of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. While covering his much-heralded exploits in the Arctic in fine detail, the authors also reveal the steadfastly professional officer's image that Healy cultivated through his service. While serving as a loyal and ambitious officer, Healy took seriously his role as the preeminent Arctic mariner; frequently writing Washington with recommendations or opinions on the Services future in the region...ironically, included in this correspondence was an opinion that BEAR was not well suited for the region.
He also provided advice to his peers and Headquarters regarding relations with the Natives, and the impact of increased commercial activity on the indigenous populations. His insights and sensitivity to their culture are every bit as relevant today as they were over 100 years ago...and he is memorialized in the oral traditions of the villages along the Bering and Chuckchi coasts.
The book speeds through the early years of the remarkable family Healy; largely due to a lack of documentation prior to the arrival of the Healy children in New England in mid 1800's. From there the authors are able to piece together the paths taken by Capt Healy, and his brothers Patrick and James. The stressors of living as mixed race children in the mid 19th century are explored and assumed, as little historical record survives due to the societal necessity for the children, grand children, and great-grand children to keep the family secret. The reality of the impact of emancipation merely shifting the threat to the Healy family from imprisonment and return to the South as escaped slaves to the loss of property, position, and the lives they had established if discovered is clearly articulated?as late as the 1950's a family member destroyed Healy's personal papers to ensure his racial heritage remained obscured. For those of us who came to age in the post-civil rights era, the thought that a family would destroy the records of their ancestors to hide a 130-year old interracial marriage seems absurd. But an earlier author's efforts to tell the Healy story created enough of a stir in Healy's ancestors that 4 large volumes of his diaries were burned rather than reveal the family secret. A treasure trove of information was lost forever.
Absent Healy's personal correspondence and written record, the authors postulate the constant strain of continually obscuring his racial heritage directly contributed to his drinking problems and potential mental health issues. Healy's attempts to take his own life towards the end of his career are clearly the acts of a desperate and disturbed man...and yet detract little from the overall accomplishments of his remarkable life, as the authors likely intended. The authors end their work with a plea that Healy, despite his shortcomings, be remembered as a hero of remarkable accomplishments, made all the more so because he overcame and rose above what are euphemistically described as "complex social and psychological forces." It is high time for today's modern guardians, the Healy family, and the nation to embrace Captain Healy as the complex, heroic, and enduring figure that he is.
Posted at
9:15 AM
1 Comments:
An good review of a book that tries to capture the complexity of Healy's character, which was shaped by much more than his mixed race and conflicted past. I can see why the service briefly considered changing the name of the vessel they launched with his name on it. As a relative I am glad that they did not. He stands out as a character presaging the political greening of twenty first century America, where a President can represent all the interstices suggested by Healy more than a century and a half ago.
As a family member I am conflicted myself,and can see the strengths and weaknesses of this towering personality of the north in some depth, and much of this generation of family in him.
Thanks for the review, Cdr. White. I enjoyed the book and agree with your insights.
Tom Riley
family member
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home