Pacific Express: The Critical Role of Military Logistics in World War II

PACIFIC EXPRESS: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF MILITARY LOGISTICS IN WORLD WAR II is Volume 3 in William L. McGee’s acclaimed Pacific war trilogy, AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN WWII.

Now under one cover, an edited collection of the best works by other historians on the importance of military logistics in WWII.

PRAISE
PACIFIC EXPRESS was selected for the Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List and is required annual reading for all officer and enlisted Marines whether active duty or reserve.

FROM THE AUTHOR
"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 felt these non-combatant service personnel were (and are) often overshadowed by those who served in combat."
—William L. McGee

FROM THE FOREWORD
“As the grandson of three World War II veterans, read this book and you will understand what it took to win this war and why the men and women who made it happen are called the ‘Greatest Generation’.”
--Dennis R. Blocker II, National LCI Association, Pacific War Historian

FROM THE BACK COVER
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 one combatant, there were ten supportive personnel both overseas and on the home front. (Source: Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Record Administrator)

The editors profile many of the major components of the “Pacific express” including:

* U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Marine Corps Engineers who built the Advance Bases.

* U.S. Navy crews who manned the amphibious force and Fleets floating mobile Service Squadrons throughout the vast reaches of the Pacific.

* U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. Naval Armed Guard who manned and defended the thousands of WSA cargo ships, transports, and tankers to “deliver the goods.”

* U.S. Coast Guardsmen who manned hundreds of U.S. Army and Navy long-haul vessels and thousands of battle-loaded amphibious landing ships and craft.

“The editors have woven historical facts with firsthand accounts to create a behind-the-scenes look at military logistics in WWII.”
--C.A. Lloyd, Chairman, USN Armed Guard Veterans Association

111 b/w photos, 7 maps, 21 figures, tables and charts, plus appendix, notes, bibliography, index.

OTHER VOLUMES 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