Customer Reviews

LUCKY THIRTEEN: D-Days in the Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II

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Since September 11, the US Coast Guard, the nation's fifth armed service -- almost always overlooked or ignored as even *being* an armed force -- has finally begun receiving the public acknowledgment and respect due the US's oldest, continuously existing branch of service. Most Americans don't know much if anything about the Coast Guard, especially its participation in every American war except Korea, where it had no purpose, or that it is in Iraq and the Persian Gulf today, where it has taken its first killed in action since Vietnam.

When there was an amphibious landing in WW2, a large percentage of the landing craft coxswains were Coast Guard enlisted men. It was the service that had the most coxswain experience with ocean-going small boats, after all. More, Coast Guard, and sometimes Navy, beachparties went ashore with the first wave of Marines in the Pacific theater's island battles, fighting alongside them until a beachhead had been established, when they'd begin organizing the first medical stations, evacuation of the wounded, and orderly supply depots on the beach.

Finally, this book -- Ken Wiley's *Lucky Thirteen* -- has appeared to document this virtually unknown aspect of WW2. A personal memoir told in the first person, the book reads like what it is: a CG coxswain's account of his service in the Pacific. It's apparent that the writer is an amateur recording personal experience from memory, but the book is nevertheless an important contribution -- the only book of its kind, to my knowledge -- documenting a little known part of the war by an often ignored armed force.

And a rollicking good tale.

You want this one in the WW2 section of your library.

Gary Sisco,
former ET3,
USCG,
Vietnam Era

I particularly enjoyed this book because it is an important story about our nation's history and is told from the inside by a man who was there and lived it, instead of by some scholarly historian or journalist with an axe to grind. The pace is even and fast and the story is told compassionately without the slightest hint of bitterness toward the military, the enemy, the author's superiors, or his mates - even the ones who lost their courage under fire. This is the story of young men coming of age in the most extreme and trying circumstances. In any age of our history this will be an important book, but especially now with so many over-stuffed politicians on both sides of the aisle vying for attention while our young men and women, such as the ones in this story, are doing the brave and dirty work. This book gives us reason to stand proud of who we really are as a nation, and reminds us of the sacrifices that were paid for our standing as the world's freest nation.

Author Ken Wiley tells of his service in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II in Lucky Thirteen: D-Days in the Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II, a military memoir in first-person perspective. Wiley was only 17 when he enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1943; in the Pacific Theater, he was given responsibility of commanding "Lucky Thirteen", his own Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel. His task was to shuttle troops and supplies form the transport to the beaches, often while under fire and during inclement weather conditions. He served in campaigns for the Marshall Islands, the Marianas, the Philippines, and Okinawa. Lucky Thirteen recounts beach combat, kamikazes and suicide boats, sniper fire, and dangerous jungle river expeditions as well as sad tales of lost loves, friends made and lost, and humorous accounts of shipboard life. A personable and engaging tale of World War II from an oft-overlooked point of view.

I'm a retired Coastie who was three years old when Wiley and his mates were driving their LCVP around the Pacific islands. I am extremely interested in this story because of our reputation as 'shallow-water sailors.' Yes, the Coasties sailed the shallow waters of Kwajalein while the Navy boys sat 8 miles offshore! I'm indebted to Wiley for telling this story.
Wiley's book starts with irrelevant stuff about his life before enlisting. This should have been shorter. Speed read this part. His 'love life' (such as it is) while in uniform, however, is worth reading because of the insight it gives into the mores of the day.
The illustrations by artist Ken Riley (not Ken Wiley) are great, and one wonders how they were drawn under combat conditions. Wiley mentions that a Riley mural is on a wall at the USCG Academy; there are plenty of murals on the walls at that institution, well worth seeing if you're interested.
Later in the book the steady stream of "Well dones" gets a bit old. Did the boat crew always shine so brightly? No medals?
There are flaws in the manuscript, however, that are annoying to a reader. The editing is terrible throughout. Examples: On page 237, Hoyle is both a LT and a LCDR. On page 178 he is both a LT and a CDR. On page 52, Wiley writes about Julie Reynolds; on page 54, he writes that he never learned her last name. He calls a 'skeg' a 'skag.' The girl Lori is a 'Navel' nurse. These seem minor, but throughout the book it is clear that no editor ever read it (did Wiley?)
The verbatim retelling of conversations after a 60-year lapse of time stretch credibility. Perhaps Wiley kept a meticulous log of conversations during these events, but I doubt it.
Flaws aside, I'm glad I bought and read this book, and will pass it on to a friend who was a SPAR in WWII. Wiley writes well and the invented conversations add to the readability of the book.

This is one of the most engaging and interesting books I have ever read about World War 2. I learned much about the war, the operations and the people who served that I never before knew. The author was 17 at the time and was 20 by the time the war ended, and his narrative makes two things clear - (1) that he and nearly all of his fellow combatants and support personnel were boys, teenagers, kids - with thoughts, dreams and aspirations no different than teens today; and (2) that these boys grew up quickly to do what the had to do to serve our country. It brought a real humanity to stories that otherwise are about battles, fleets, armies and such. This was four young men on a small boat, and the many responsibilities these young men had. There are many untold (or unpublicized) stories from World War 2 in this book that keep the reader hooked. It's not boring. I read the entire book in just under 48 hours, which for me is quite rare.

My only criticism is with form rather than content. The editors did a poor job with many basic typos, misspellings and such, and even explaining military time. I don't blame the author and I don't think it's significant enough to change my rating. It's still a great book. If I were to rate the editor's job, however, it would be a three!

For those desiring to learn more about the war in the Pacific - especially in light of the HBO miniseries - I would highly, highly, highly recommend this book. Read Sledge's "With the Old Breed" then read this (I'd pass on Leckie's "Helmet for my Pillow") and you'll know as much as you can about these battles and these men as you can without having been there.

This book shows that WW2 was a major team effort - not just the riflemen in the Marines or the Army. It was a team effort that beat the Japanese and bought us all the freedom we so enjoy - and take for granted - today. God bless them all!

I happened to meet the author who signed my book in North Carolina while on vacation. By chance I had read a synopsis of his book online at one point in time and luckily I was able to meet up with this man. I saw many people walking in and out of the bookstore while I was there not paying him any heed, but the few minutes I was able to spend talking to him was perhaps one of the highlights of my vacation. We had talked about the premise for his book as well as exchanging tales of my grandfather who was in the Army Air Corp. I had lost my grandfather about a decade previously which was a definite blow as I remember listening to all of his stories as well as those of his buddies when we would go to his reunion meetings with his squadron.
Reading this book took me back to those times. Its hard to imagine what the author, his friends, my grandfather, and any soldier must endure in order to survive when it seems like the whole world is crashing down around them. This book is a definite read for anyone looking to see into the back story behind any Hollywood movie of the era. The screen cannot due justice as this book has. This gives a 3-D look into the trials and tribulations that the young men faced during the war. The stories seem implausible until you realize that this isn't a work of fiction, but rather non-fiction. The ingenuity of both sides is exemplarily captured. I also recommend it to anyone wishing to have their children learn more about our countries history and the men who fought to keep it free.
My thanks go to Ken Wiley for writing his story and allowing me to share in the past. I only apologize for not completing this book sooner and posting the review.

I bought this book as a gift for my son who is in the U.S. Coast Guard.
He typically is not a big reader but has read this entire book. He said the author is great at telling the stories and many of the stories have inspired him.

As a WW II history buff, I am always looking for an angle on the war that I have not seen before. This book delivers that and then some. Not only was Ken Wiley in the action on numerous Pacific landings - his prowess led to his crew being selected for a number of "special missions" that provide insight into the Japanese suicide boats and to "special forces" type actions to stop them. A great read all around.

His recount of events from his childhood and through the War are well crafted to give you the sense of being there at the moment sharing the sights, sounds, smells. Very good read, and helps one "understand the greatest generation".

"Lucky Thirteen" is a 1st person narrative of author Ken Wiley's 2-years (1943-1945) in the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) as a Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) coxswain aboard the USS AUTHUR MIDDLETON (APA-25)in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. "Lucky Thirteen" provides an overview of the strategy and tactics utilized in retaking islands from Kwajalein to Okinawa. It also presents an accurate description of the attack transport system that revolutionized amphibious warfare. In the process of providing the macro-background Wiley captures the smaller, unique happenings that swirl around any event some humorous, some sad, and some specific to his experiences. Finally, Wiley presents a glimpse of life during the war and of coming of age on the battlefield. I found the book to be an excellant read and would recommend it to persons interested in USCG's involvement in, and the amphibious operations of WWII in the Pacific.