The late John S. Blank III, author of Modern Towing, went to sea immediately out of high school and was a licensed third mate at twenty. At the end of several years of active duty during World War II, he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander and been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. In addition to his many years as a tug captain, he was a port captain, marine superintendent, and shipbuilding inspector, and frequently appeared as an expert witness in legal cases involving towing and piloting.