Vol. III in the Pacific war series Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII by William L. McGee.

PACIFIC EXPRESS was selected by the Marine Corps Commandant for the Professional Reading List (also known as the Marine Corps Reading List) on the subject of logistics.   

Under one cover, award-winning World War II Pacific war historian William L. McGee presents an edited collection of the best works by other military historians on the importance of military logistics in World War II in the Pacific theater.

Consider this: In World War II, 16.1 million men and women served in the U.S. Armed Forces. For every individual who served in combat, ten individuals served in a support role.

Profiles of the major components of the “Pacific express” include:

 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 Fleet’s 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 War Shipping Administration cargo ships, transports, and tankers to “Deliver the goods!”

U.S. Army and civilian (civil service) Transportation Corps personnel – who operated most of the Army’s large and small vessels, but were seldom covered by the consumer-oriented media during WWII.

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.

In the author’s words:

“I’ve dedicated PACIFIC EXPRESS to the men and women – military and civilian – who served in logistical support roles for the front line combat personnel in WWII. The story of the vital logistics services supporting the U.S. Armed Forces operating in the Pacific is told—proof positive that warfare is not all blazing combat.” – William L. McGee

111 B&W photographs, 7 maps, 21 figures/tables/charts, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. Paperback 6” x 9”

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