D-Days in the Pacific: The Us Coast Guard in World War II

Winner of the Foundation for 2008 Coast Guard History Book AwardThe 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. REVIEWS: "The author knows whereof he speaks. As a coastguard LCVP coxswain, he served in amphibious assaults from the Marshalls and Marinas, to the Philippines and Okinawa. His tale cogently imparts both fear and certain dark humor of war." - Proceedings, June 2007 "For unknown reasons, there are virtually no first person books by or about US Coast Guard coxswains in World War II. Ken Wiley corrects that oversight with LUCKY THIRTEEN, a book to be treasured." - WWII History Magazine, September 2007 "…provides a valuable service in expanding our knowledge of exactly how World War II's massive amphibious operations were undertaken." - The U.S. Coast Guard Reservist, 05/07 "…This very-well written and organized account of D-Days in the Pacific with the US Coast Guard should appeal to both scholars and the general public and should be in every library of every World War II and Coast Guard historian." - Journal of Military History, 11/2007 SELLING POINTS . The memoir of a coast guardsman on an attack-transport ship . Details the crucial campaigns of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa . Explains how amphibious operations were undertaken in the Pacific War . Published to coincide with new HBO Spielberg/Hanks series “The Pacific” ILLUSTRATIONS 16 pages b/w photographs

About the Author :
Ken Wiley was the sixth of seven children born to Troy and Dora Thompson Riley. After service in the US Coast Guard during WWII, he graduated from Hillsboro Junior College and Oklahoma A&M. In 1952 he took a job with Bell Helicopter as as hydraulics design engineer, and worked in a variety of skilled and managerial positions until his retirement in the 1990s. He has four grown daughters and is the founder of Veterans Video Museums prgram. He lives in Mountain City TN with his wife Deane.

Review :
The author describes the dangers and fears, as well as the determination, fun and humour which saw him and his like through the conflicts in the Pacific. …well written and illustrated with photographs and excellent drawings of life aboard ship by one of the shipmates. Ken Wiley had a extraordinary war, playing a role I had never even considered, we're lucky that he remembers and has the ability and talent to describe those experiences in such an easy to read and entertaining manner. I really do want to read more. What this book does better than most is personalize how the war is fought by teenagers with enormous responsibilities far beyond their years. Ken never glamorizes war or self aggrandizes despite a number of heroic actions in which he is personally involved…a great book… ..novelistic in its form, which brings the reader close to the experiences of another band of brothers... and the powerful nature of the eyewitness story is added to by some extremely skilful pencil-sketch renditions of the events which the author covers. The book is delightfully written, with an engaging mix of humour, modesty, information and character sketches. This is a well illustrated and detailed first-hand account of the amphibious war waged against fanatical Japanese opposition. ... an engrossing account of the island-hopping Pacific War....there is plenty of humour along the way …