AN ESSENTIAL READ ON MILITARY LOGISTICS! Pacific Express is recognized as required reading on the subject of military logistics, appearing on both the Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List and the 1st Marine Logistics Group Reading List. In the Author’s Words "I’ve dedicated Pacific Express to the men and women—military and civilian—who served in logistical support roles during WWII. Their efforts were proof that warfare is not just about frontline combat but also about the vital logistics that sustain those at the front." – William L. McGee PACIFIC EXPRESS is Volume III in the Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII series. Under one cover, award-winning WWII historian William L. McGee presents a compelling, edited collection of works by leading military historians, shedding light on the critical role of logistics in the Pacific theater. Consider this: Victory may be won or lost in battle, but all military history shows that adequate logistics support is essential to the winning of the battle. During World War II, 16.1 million men and women served in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, for every individual combatant, there were ten supportive personnel both overseas and on the home front. (Source: Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Record Administrator) In the Author's Words "I felt compelled to honor all the men and women – military and civilian – who served during World War II in logistical support roles for the front line combatants: ship builders, advance bases and floating service squadrons, Naval Transportation Service, Navy Seabees, Marine Corps Engineers, Merchant Marine, Naval Armed Guard, Army Transportation Corps, and Coast Guard. I believed these non-combatant service personnel were (and are) often overshadowed by those who served in combat." - William L. McGee Key components of the "Pacific Express" included: U.S. Navy Seabees & Marine Corps Engineers – Built the advanced bases that made Pacific operations possible. - U.S. Navy Crews – Operated amphibious forces and mobile service squadrons across the Pacific. - U.S. Merchant Marine & Naval Armed Guard – Manned and defended thousands of cargo ships, transports, and tankers to "Deliver the goods!" - U.S. Army & Civilian Transportation Corps – Played a crucial but often overlooked role in operating the Army’s fleet. - U.S. Coast Guard – Crewed hundreds of long-haul vessels and countless amphibious landing craft. Book Details Foreword by Dennis R. Blocker II, Pacific War Historian, USS LCI National Assn. - 560 pages - 111 B&W photographs, 7 maps, 21 figures/tables/charts - Appendix, notes, bibliography, & index Other Titles in the Series Vol. I, The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft Vol. II, The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ... "A very polished and professional volume covering a major and relatively unheralded part of World War II ... I'm sure the author will receive widespread acclaim for providing the quality and quantity of naval history in PACIFIC EXPRESS." - David H. Grover, CDR USNR (Ret), and author of "U.S. Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II" "Bill McGee's account of amphibious operations in the Pacific and of the supply effort needed to support all operations there is meticulously researched and told with the skill of a born storyteller. PACIFIC EXPRESS and the other volumes in the series will make a proud addition to anyone's library." - Gordon Smith, Chairman, Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum "Besides providing statistics, Bill McGee provides a personal touch with interviews and references to persons who were actually there." - Jim Higman, Merchant Marine Engineer (Ret) and editor of "California Central Coast U.S. Navy Armed Guard & Merchant Marine Vets WWII" "Bill McGee hits another home run with PACIFIC EXPRESS. My time served in the South Pacific in WWII springs to life as I hear the bow doors open and the ramp fall on Pacific soil ... Reading this book brings back memories and tears to this eighty-plus year old LSM sailor." - Royce N. McNeill, USS LSM-LSMR Association "With PACIFIC EXPRESS, Bill McGee secures his title of 'Godfather of amphibious operations history.' This Volume III in his amphibious operations series anchors Volumes I and II as essential reading and reference for military history." - Joe Flynn, California Director and Member National Board, USS LCI (Landing Craft, Infantry) NationalAssociation "Although about WWII, much of what is written in PACIFIC EXPRESS applied when I served on the USS HELENA (CA-75) during the Korean War and afterward. Bill McGee does a thorough job of explaining military logistics in ways we can understand." - Dave Brouchoud, USS Helena (CA-75), Jan 1952-May 1955 "Just finished reading Bill McGee's third volume in his Amphibious Operations series and it certainly passe