Customer Reviews

The Amphibians Are Coming! Emergence of the 'Gator Navy and its Revolutionary Landing Craft, Vol. 1 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII series)

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If your children or grandchildren have ever asked, "What did you do in the war?" then point them to this book.

Bill McGee, a prolific author and veteran of naval service in the South Pacific, has written a book that will do any "Amphibian" proud. He has managed by dint of exceptional research and extensive interviews to perfectly blend the historical development of naval amphibious forces with humorous anecdotal references. You will find yourself chuckling and nodding in the affirmative as you recall your own moments of terror, mind-numbing boredom and outrageous pranks.

McGee tells his story by following the formations of the Flotilla 5 LCTs, LSTs and LCIs from the formation of their crews in the states through their training--or lack thereof--crossing the Pacific, and their arrival and operations in the Solomon Islands group. It is a compelling story of "green" crews, "green" officers, "green" dragons and "green" camouflage.

Throughout this book, you will find yourself saying, "Yup, that was us." Read this book and I will guarantee that you will have a renewed respect for the guy you see in the mirror every morning.

William McGee's The Amphibians Are Coming! is a deeply engaging biographical history of World War II ship-to-shore landing craft and their crews. A brief history of amphibious warfare from the American Revolution to the 1942 Gudalcanal and North African campaigns is provided. Specifically designed and built to speed assault troops ashore under enemy fire, these landing crafts were used extensively in both the European and Pacific theaters. The Amphibians Are Coming! also profiles the famed "Green Dragons", the high-speed destroyer transports that filled a pressing Marine Corps need for ship-to-shore delivery prior to the availability of the new and more effective landing craft. Here is also the story of the "Earlybird" Flotilla Five LCTs, LSTs, and LCIs and their crews. McGree ranges from landing craft design and construction to amphibious training and flotilla formations, then concludes with the on-the-job warfare training in the southern Solomons. The Amphibians Are Coming! is a welcome and informative addition to personal, academic, and community library World War II history and reference collections.

Gave this book to my Dad for his 86th birthday. He served in WW II in amphibian LCT 5 in Pacifics. he really was thrilled with this book. Arrived in great shape and in timely manner.

"Amphibians Are Coming! describe miracles -- bringing LSTs and other landing vessels into high production in a short time; bringing together untrained officers and men to perform tasks which should have taken months of training; making all this work under unbelievable combat conditions.
--Mel Barger, author, "Large Slow Target"

"If your children or grandchildren have ever asked, `What did you do in the war?' point them to McGee's books. Throughout you will find yourself saying, `Yup, that was us,' and I guarantee you'll have renewed respect for the guy you see in the mirror every morning."
--Howard Clarkson, USS LCI National Association

"Your books brought tears to my eyes. A `must read' for all sea services veterans and their descendants."
--Charles C. Espy, Lt (jg), USNR, SS Thomas Nelson, Armed Guard C.O.

"To say Bill McGee is a serious naval historian is an understatement. As they say in the Navy, well done!"
--W. C. Hilderbrand, Capt, CEC, USN (Ret), CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation

"Amphibians Are Coming! is a `must read' for all Armed Guard and merchant mariners and their families. --C.A. Lloyd, Chairman, USN Armed Guard Veterans of WWII

"Having experienced a full measure of life at sea during WWII, I find your military histories detailed, vivid, accurate. They capture the essence of that war."
--Anthony P. Tesori, USNR, Gunnery Officer, LST-340

"One of the best books I've ever read on WWII. I was impressed with the scholarly effort the author put forth. I'm a former Marine and didn't know the kind of detail that occurred in that sector of the campaign, but I sure do now."
--Jim Comiskey, author, "Academic Innovations"

"I heard about this book from my cousin, John A. McNeill Sr, skipper of the LCT-159 of the Solomons campaign. I was a sailor on USS LSM-342 which evolved out of the LCT in 1943 and first hit the beaches in the Philippines in 1944. Thank you for this great history of the `Gator Navy."
--Royce McNeill, LSM-342

"Having done my own research for the famed `Green Dragons'--the history of the Four Stack APD (Destroyer Transports) in WWII--I consider your Amphib's book a must read for anyone interested in the history of our great amphibious navy that was so instrumental in winning WWII."
--Curt Clark, Secretary, The Four Stack APD Veterans

"A masterful job in dealing with the wide range of Amphibians. You included just the right amount of detail to make the book very readable."
--Alfred J. Ormston, Skipper, LCI-334

"My father, a Flotilla Five veteran, pulled rank and read the book first. It's filled with many personal accounts of the pioneering men of Flotilla Five and gave me an idea of what life was like in those days of the war in the South Pacific. For my father, it brought back many memories."
--Richard Fox, Webmaster, LCT Flotillas of WWII

"Excellent reading."
--"Frenchy" Maurais, Duty Yeoman, USS McCawley (aka "Wackymac")

"Truly comprehensive."
--Robert M. Carr, Skipper, LCT-364

"I went into the Amphib fleet after I saw the Missouri go out of commission in 1955. I'm fascinated with small craft of the Navy and thank you for the wonderful contribution you are making to keep this history alive."
--Herbert Fahr Jr, President, 1998-2000, USS Missouri (BB-63) Association

"Every `amphib' needs to have all three volumes of William McGee's series, Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII so the next generation can read and learn what their loved ones went through."
--Royce N. McNeill, USS LSM-LSMR Association

"I was on LCT-146 that was transported to Noumea, New Caledonia on LST-399 as narrated in your book. I am still in close contact with a navy buddy who was on LST-398 that transported his LCT-145 as narrated on page 162 in your book. I would like a copy of your book sent to him as a gift."
--Howard Breckenfeld, USN

"Amphibians Are Coming! is a long-awaited dream since it deals with my kind of war. You've brought great pride and joy to thousands who were there and to future generations who will learn how America fought in World War II."
--John A. McNeill Sr., USNR, Officer-in-Charge, LCT-159

"Your book reminded me of how easy it was to lose one's life then. Your story of the ship's gun crew firing at planet Venus gave me a chuckle. Some gun crews were really trigger-happy and dangerous."
--Paul Clodfelter, First Special Naval Construction Battalion

"Being an `old amphib', I never really knew how much I didn't know about the new landing crafts' humble beginnings. I look forward to Volume II and highly recommend not only amphib sailors read it, but all those interested in the Navy and WWII. Great stuff!"
--Bill Bartz, Capt., USNR-R, President, ACU Veterans Group