D-Days in the Pacific With the U.S. Coast Guard : The Story of Lucky Thirteen

An award-winning, personal account of US amphibious operations in WWII by a veteran Coast Guardsman—illustrated with photographs and drawings. During World War II, Ken Wiley was a Coast Guardsman on an attack transport in the Pacific. In this work of historical memoir, Wiley relates the complex and often nerve-wracking story of how the United States projected its power across six thousand miles of ocean. Each invasion was a swirl of moving parts, from frogmen to fire support, transport mother ships to attack transports. In this vivid account, Wiley "brings the reader close to the experiences of another band of brothers," from the camaraderie of young men facing unimaginable circumstances to the last terrifying stage when courageous soldiers stormed the beaches ( Military Illustrated ). Wiley participated in the campaigns for the Marshall Islands, the Marianas, the Philippines, and Okinawa. He recounts each with a precise eye for detail, relating numerous aspects of landing craft operations, such as ferrying wounded, that are often overlooked. Winner of the 2008 Foundation for Coast Guard History Book Award. Winner of the Foundation for 2008 Coast Guard History Book Award The images of soldiers and marines coming ashore on hostile shores are embedded in our collective memory of World War II. But what of the sailors who manned the landing craft, going back and forth under fire with nowhere to take cover, their craft the special targets of enemy gunners?

In this book, Ken Wiley, a Coast Guardsman on an Attack Transport in the Pacific, relates the intricate, often nerve wracking story of how the United States projected its power across 6,000 miles in the teeth of fanatical Japanese resistance. Each invasion was a swirl of moving parts, from frogmen to fire support, transport mother ships to Attack Transports, the smaller Higgins boats (LCVPs), and during the last terrifying stage the courageous men who would storm the beaches.

The author participated in the campaigns for the Marshall Islands, the Marianas the Philippines and Okinawa, and with a precise eye for detail relates numerous aspects of landing craft operations, such as ferrying wounded, that are often discounted. He conveys the terror and horrors of war, as well as, on occasion, the thrill, while not neglecting the humor and cameraderie of wartime life.

An exciting book, full of harrowing combat action, D Days in the Pacific also provides a valuable service in expanding our knowledge of exactly how World War II's massive amphibious operations were undertaken.

"This story is about the U.S. Coast Guard's role in World War II, as told from the perspective of a teenage boy who played a part in that great global struggle. It is also about an unheralded boat that played an insignificant and yet very important role in America's response to restoring freedom to a part of the world enslaved by an evil tyranny. The Lucky 13-- my boat-- was a weapon specifically designed and mass produced in the United States to bridge the 6,000-mile ocean gap and carry the war to the shores of the enemy. The "Higgins" boats were lowered from troop ships with one mission : to carry the infantry and equipment the last seven miles of the long and perilous journey onto the beaches of enemy-held islands"--Preface "This story is about the U.S. Coast Guard's role in World War II, as told from the perspective of a teenage boy ... It is also about an unheralded boat that played an insignificant and yet important role in America's response to restoring freedom ... The 'Higgens' boats were lowered from troop ships ... to carry the infantry and equipment the last seven miles of the long and perilous journey onto the beaches of enemy-held islands ... [The author] was one of five brothers who served in the military during World War II. {They] all volunteered. One of [them] did not come back"--Preface Ken Wiley, a coast guardsman on an attack-transport ship in the Pacific, relates the extraordinary story of how amphibious operations were undertaken in the Pacific War, during the crucial campaigns of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa