D-Days in the Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard

The Story of Lucky Thirteen

By: Ken Wiley

Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright

Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2008 Foundation for 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.

©2010 Ken Wiley (P)2018 Tantor

Exceptional story depicting the US Coast Guard

Great portrayal of USCG significant part in WWII. Should be made into a blockbuster movie

Beautiful story

It’s hard to describe a book about WW2 as beautiful but that is the best word I could come up with.
A 17 year boy transition to a man as the book unfolds. Plenty of adventure without blood and guts. Truthfulness as he describes his feelings about girls, buddies and the war he is fighting.
Great book easy read.

Kept me well engaged

I think it started slow with early chapters about the authors childhood, but very glad I continued listening.

Amazing Story from a different perspective of WWII

I highly recommend to this book for anyone looking for a just as dangerous, but different perspective of someone who served during WWII!

Very well written and performed

Incredible content. It was easy to get lost in this book. You almost felt like you were there in lucky 13.

Coast Guard History

I listened to this in my rack, in the middle of the pacific, while on a Coast Guard cutter. A great story from a great man.

Exceptionally interesting story from an original American hero from the greatest generation.

Wonderful story telling of valor from a coming of age Coastie during WW II. Hard to put down.

amazing

really good book i recommend it to any one who loves to read about wwII

Who knew the Coast Guard was so involved in WWII !

Coast Guard Cutter lucky 13 played so many roles in the war in the Pacific. From mine section, to picking up downed aviators both at sea and from land.
They also did lot’s of reconnaissance to find Japanese mine layers, artillery, One reason I like this book so much it every chapters presents a new and different challenge for this ship and men.. It’s a book I’ll probably listen to again.
**And the narration is wonderful.

Coast guard D-Day

I served 20 years in the Coast guard and did not realize what an incredible mission that some people in the Coast guard had served in world war II I know douglasman road did receive the medal of Honor for his distinguish service in world war II and has a boat named after him. this is a great story