Starkey's Boys

About the Book

Deep diving operations, rescues at sea and tearing up every port pulled into, this was the life of the young and ready navy divers stationed on the USS Reclaimer in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during the early 1990’s.  The Reclaimer was the navy’s go anywhere and do anything vessel in the Pacific.  In charge of directing and supervising the roughshod deep sea divers on board was master diver Ed Starkey.

Starkey was a leather-skinned and gruff voiced hard hat diver from the Vietnam era who pushed his men to get the job done regardless of danger and uncertainty.   Master diver Starkey led the Reclaimer into salvage operations and open ocean rescues for many years.

Starkey’s Boys is a sailor’s true story of the navy’s toughest training, deep sea dive school, and most arduous duty, two years on the salvage/rescue ship USS Reclaimer.  From the dangerous streets of Panama to the bomb covered landscape of Kahoolawe, the divers of the Reclaimer followed master diver Ed Starkey across the oceans and back.

Starkey’s Boys is the true story of navy diving in the Hawaiian Islands.

About the Author

Christopher P. LaVoie grew up a military brat and lived on various bases around the United States during his life until his high school graduation in Philadelphia, PA.  Christopher joined the United States Navy and volunteered for the Deep Sea Diver program in 1988.  Christopher’s navy career included two years on the USS Reclaimer ARS 42 as well as Helium/Oxygen dive school, supervisor training and underwater demolition training in Panama City, FL.

Christopher LaVoie still lives in Honolulu, Hawaii where he dives recreationally.  He is married with three children and still serves his country in law enforcement as well as in the war on terrorism worldwide.

This book was possible due to the contributions of several divers who served on board the USS Reclaimer ARS 42 with Christopher LaVoie and he would like to express his appreciation for their input and support in it’s writing and publication.

Thank you to all of those deep sea divers who have served with pride and honor in the salvage navy.