Sailors in the Holy Land

The Lynch Expedition was the first and last US Navy expedition into the storied waters of the Dead Sea. The explorers were all volunteers who had taken an oath of abstinence from alcohol and they travelled in boats made of copper and zinc to make them durable enough for the rapids of the Jordan River and be able to withstand the corrosive effects of the Dead Sea. This is an account with interesting aspects involving science vs. religion, the turmoil in revolutionary Europe, the transition from sail to steam, the legends and truths about Sodom and Gomorrah, and a cholera epidemic. Lynch himself was a fascinating character — naval officer, devout Christian, cuckolded husband, opponent of slavery, and, ultimately, a Confederate admiral. All in all, an absorbing tale that will appeal to a variety of audiences.

ANDREW JAMPOLER is a retired naval aviator and former commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 19 and of Naval Air Station Moffett Field. Since retirement from the US Navy, he has worked in the aerospace industry and has written for Proceedings magazine and for Naval Institute Press.