Antarctic Navigator Turns Fast-Food Tech Pioneer with New Memoir
Event summary
- Palmetto Publishing releases 'Dead Reckoning: To the Antarctic and Beyond' memoir by Ben Koether, detailing his journey from Antarctic navigator to fast-food tech pioneer.
- Koether founded KitchenBrains 54 years ago, developing electronic point-of-sale systems for McDonald's and other fast-food chains.
- Memoir covers Koether's Antarctic expedition aboard USS Glacier during Operation Deep Freeze and his later business innovations.
- Book available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of February 12, 2026.
The big picture
The release of Koether's memoir highlights the intersection of military experience and business innovation, particularly in the fast-food technology sector. His story connects Cold War-era naval operations with the digital transformation of the food service industry, offering a unique perspective on leadership and problem-solving across different domains. The memoir's publication comes at a time when both military history and business innovation narratives are seeing renewed interest from younger audiences.
What we're watching
- Legacy Impact
- How Koether's memoir will influence business education and military-to-civilian transition narratives.
- Industry Influence
- Whether the book will spark renewed interest in fast-food technology innovation and its historical development.
- Youth Engagement
- The pace at which the Glacier Society can leverage the memoir to expand its youth education programs in seamanship.