Hollywood Book Reviews recently spotlighted My Final Re-Spot: A Young Sailor’s Misfortune on the Flight Deck of the USS Forrestal CV-59, and honestly, this one hit different. You’re not just reading a military memoir, you’re stepping onto the deck of a Naval aircraft, feeling the roar of jet engines, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with two young sailors just trying to survive a tragedy most of the world has never heard about.
They said it best:
“All things considered, it’s a gripping read that at no point strays off the subject and gives readers a good glimpse into the unfortunate day of the US Navy. If you are someone interested in the operations of the armed forces and how they navigate tough times, this is a perfect read for you.”
– Hollywood Book Review
Behind the Uniforms: What the Book is Really About
On January 15, 1978, something went terribly wrong on the flight deck of the USS Forrestal. This wasn’t some headline-making event with media coverage and press conferences. It was quieter, messier—and just as devastating. My Final Re-Spot tells the real story of what happened that night through the eyes of two men who lived it.
John Pugioti and Wesley Etheridge Sr. were just teenagers at the time—barely 20 years old—but that one night shaped their lives forever. The book doesn’t just recount an accident. It walks through trauma, anger, addiction, recovery, brotherhood, and healing. There’s no glamor here. Just truth.
More Than Military
What Hollywood Book Reviews loved—and I agree—is how the book doesn’t stop at the flight deck. It goes deeper. It talks about what it’s like being young and Black in the military during the post-Vietnam era. It tackles PTSD, moral injury, and the silence that follows military cover-ups. It even opens up about the slow work of forgiveness—not just for others, but for yourself.
And here’s what’s really impressive: they manage to do all this in just over one hundred pages. No fluff. No filler. Just raw experience and real talk.
Here’s a standout excerpt from the Hollywood Book Reviews feature:
“This book provides a moving and insightful read. My Final Re-Spot is excellent for readers interested in military memoirs that emphasize personal experience… a solid quick read backed with facts, and tells something important.”
That line stuck with me. Because that’s exactly what this book is: something important. Something overdue.
About the Authors
John Pugioti and Wesley E. Etheridge Sr. aren’t professional writers by trade, they’re veterans. Survivors. Storytellers with a mission. Wesley, now known as the “Leading Authority on Military Veterans and Anger Management,” brought his teaching background and mentorship skills to this project. John, whose final re-spot ended with injuries that changed the course of his life, brings the heart.
Together, they wrote a book that doesn’t just inform—it speaks. Loudly.
Final Thoughts
My Final Re-Spot isn’t just for history buffs or Navy fans. It’s for anyone who’s ever lived through something hard and wondered, “What now?”
Hollywood Book Reviews didn’t just recommend this book, they honored it. And after reading it, you’ll understand why.
Pick up your copy today at Kravitz and Sons Bookstore. Trust me, you’ll want to sit with this one for a while.