Mark Douglas served in the US Navy for 20 years, in Silicon Valley as a troubleshooter and writer for 20 years, and an independent technical writer for an addition 15 years. He and his wife Nora-Gaye, owned an RV park in Apopka. Florida (OBRV), for nine years before retiring to Gardnerville, Nevada where they live today.
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Overview
This is a fictional story of USS LST-666 during the Korean War. (The original 666 was broken up after WW2.) Because of her hull number, she is named Sea Devil that mysteriously appears on the scene at Koashiung, Taiwan, at our story beginning. With a crew of upset non-active duty reservists (USNR-R), she sailed across the Pacific from Astoria, Oregon, to Yokosuka, Japan. After dry docking to clean her hull, she sailed to this Taiwanese port and anchored. A pissed off sailor from Philadelphia, Abner Luxor, appears who is believed to be an expert on Landing Craft operations. He proves that he is, to the mortification of two Chief Petty Officers.
Description
Abner Luxor, owner of Luxor Studebaker New and Used Cars in Philadelphia, is abruptly recalled to active duty as a Boatswain's Mate (BM2) with expertise in amphibious landing operations. Abney finds himself transferred to an LST in the Western Pacific just after the North Koreans invaded South Korea. The US Navy is rebuilding its Pacific Fleet to fight against the North Korean Army that is pushing the ROK's and US Army back to Pusan, South Korea. Abner's expertise in business administration and his past wartime experience in landing craft make him the man to train the LST crew on LCVP operations. This is very frustrating to a couple of Chief Petty Officers who are enraged that a pissy-assed Boatswain's Mate Second Class is going to build this ship's amphibious crew into a fighting force. Adventures follow as the Sea Devil (LST-666) participates in the Inchon invasion, Wonsan landing, Iwon landing, Songjin landing, Chongjin landing, and Hungnam landing. During the Chongjin landing, the LST suffers damage from an unexpected reef requiring the ship to back all the way to Sasebo for repairs. Abney meets a wonderful Navy Nurse and things explode. The Sea Devil also participates in the Hungnam withdrawal, where Abner is wounded.
Book details
- Genre:fiction
- Sub-genre:War & Military
- Language:English
- Pages:295
- eBook ISBN:9781483558585