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The son of German immigrants, the author was born in Oklahoma just before the Great Depression and the devastation of the Dust Bowl. Poor but resourceful, young Kelln took every opportunity to work, earn, and survive. He was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy and assigned to a destroyer during the Korean War. His service on a submarine undertaking spy missions spotlighted his technical and leadership skills, leading him to the Arctic on an early nuclear-powered submarine, the SKATE. Kelln became the first person to fly over, go under and stand upon the North Pole. Further distinction entailed working directly with the esteemed Admiral Rickover. Kelln attained the rank of commander, then rear admiral, and aided in constructing Trident submarines. After retiring, he supported the Navy in private endeavors. He met Cecily Watson at a local square dance club. They married and now work together in Christian-based initiatives.
Kelln's memoir is remarkable for its depiction of the excitement and constant peril of work as a submariner in wartime. Through his assignments, the reader will see the progression of technological advancement that the U.S. Navy has devised for worldwide protection and preparation, if ever needed, for warfare. His book is centered more on his professional than personal life. However, it is clear that he regards his wife Cecily as an ideal life partner whose shared Christian convictions have allowed him the chance to expand his talent for ministry. Kelln's devotion to military duty afforded him the fulfillment of his earliest purpose: to give back in significant ways to the nation that willingly offers shelter to so many. His accurate, modest, detailed account will fascinate anyone who has ever wondered what it is like to spend days underwater, with a sense of readiness for danger matched by confidence in the machinery's power.