Author Description

This book represents a collection of four original unedited typewriter manuscripts by Frank Coughtry, describing his experiences as a U.S. Navy Seabee during World War II (1942-1945). Two parts are in daily-type diary format. The highlight portion, Part 3, represents his experiences on the island of Saipan during the Pacific war. Included there are Frank's tales of mundane Seabee living experiences, but also of murder, rape, suicide, desecration and animal consumption of dead Japanese soldiers, inadequate nutrition, poor medical care, inadequate officers, and other hardships. A near-ship mutiny occurrence is described in Part 4. Included sections added by editor Henry Rauch are an introduction, explanatory footnotes, and a Frank Coughtry biography.