In 1989 I interned with Oceanus, the magazine of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I signed up to work on the summer issue with the theme of Ports & Harbors. OK, nice topic, great place to spend the summer. Then the Institution’s most renowned scientist, Robert Ballard, and its most renowned robot, Jason, discovered the famed sunken Battleship Bismarck. Quickly the summer program switched gears to cover both Ports & Harbors and the Bismarck. The problem Oceanus confronted was that its own institution’s scientist had given (with the Institution, of course) rights of coverage to National Geographic. So they would get all the images and the exclusive interviews. How could a small magazine like ours compete with a giant like Nat Geo who had the added benefit of exclusivity to the story?

We covered the history and context of the sinking. That’s how. So we researched the background, naval architects, former participants, US involvement, the story of the hunt of the Bismarck, and we published before National Geographic, with not a little pride, I might add. I was co-author (along with Paul and another assistant editor) of a 26-page package of articles.

Later on, William Graves, Senior Assistant Editor, wrote Paul Ryan, the editor, and said, “Dear Paul, What a superb job you guys always do — and always faster than we can do it. I treasure my personal copy of Oceanus and thank you immensely. All the best. — Bill.”