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GEORGE H. LANEY : 1944 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY AN EXUBERANT, EXCEPTIONAL KANSAS CITY HUSBAND AND FATHER OF TWO WITH THE GRIT TO SAY HE HAS THE MOST HELLISH TIME OF HIS LIFE WHO WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED A MOMENT GETTING THE WORST OF IT IN THE PACIFIC THEATER

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a super, original manuscript diary and utterly fascinating eyewitness account of the island invasions of the U.S. military in the Pacific Theatre in WWII. There are 2 volumes in this collection. The first book measures 8 inches by 5 inches and contains 152 pages. This volume is only 5% complete - the completed pages do not contain text, only pasted in photographs. In addition, there are 9 loose photographs inside. The book is in good condition. The second volume measures 7.5 inches by 4 inches. It is bound at the top and in the military, is known generally as a Field Message Pad or FMP. It contains 152 pages. It is 90% complete and has numerous photographs in addition to extensive entries covering the period May 1944 to Dec 1945. The back cover has separated but otherwise, it is in good condition. The handwriting is clear and legible. George H. Laney was a 33 year old living in Kansas City, MO. He was married and had 2 young children when he was drafted in Nov 1943. Assigned to the U.S. Navy, he underwent a series of training programs over the next 6 months. On May 12th, he reported on board LST 613, bound for the Pacific Theatre of war. LST stood for Landing Ship Tank. Built to transport tanks, wheeled and tracked vehicles, artillery and construction equipment, LST's were designed to be beached to off-load their cargo. As described in his record, LST's could also serve as troop carriers, casualty evacuation vessels and prisoner of war transport ships. They had a range of 24,000 miles. Unusually for a naval vessel, they used high octane gasoline instead of diesel as fuel. Direct hits in combat were generally catastrophic. While slow and often challenging to maneuver, they were a vital part of any sea-borne invasion. LST 613 served in the thick of the invasion of the Philippine Islands, earning 5 battle stars or commendations. Laney records LST 613's journey from Seneca IL where she was laid down and launched to New Orleans via the Mississippi River. "Commissioning Day at Algiers [Algiers Naval Base, New Orleans LA]. Mother and Dad came down from Huston to see me, had a very nice visit. Called Louise long distance Liberty was good only I didn't have enough money Mother gave me $5 to get something to eat."[May 19, 1944]. Over the next several pages he describes their passage through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean. Eventually, they docked at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. "At Manus ... I saw Bob Hope Show. It was excellent. Participating were Hope, Jerry Colongna [Jerry Colonna, actor and Bob Hope's famous sidekick], Francis Langford, Lanny Ross and Patricia Thompson, a dancer. The show was wonderful, better than anything else they could send us out here ..."[Aug 23 - Sept 4, 1944]. "Getting ready for the invasion of the Philippines" [Oct 6, 1944]. "Leyte Invasion. Today is my 34th birthday and what a day I had, was almost a nervous wreck. Jap suicide planes came over about all day. Couple LST's got hit by mortar fire. Large navy guns opened up all day and night on the island. I was glad to get the hell out of there. In returning to N.G*[New Guinea], LST 695 was torpedoed between Leyte and Palou ..." [Oct 20, 1944]. "Cruiser Nashville hit by suicide bombers in the straits between Mindanao and Negros."[Dec 13, 1944]. "Mindanao Invasion (D-Day) 4 down and 2 assists We were hove to with a lot of other LSTs off shore when [ ] 20 or more Jap suicide bombers came over and attacked us. We were in the middle of the whole works and our boys shot down four of the bastards. Two LSTs (734-472) were hit by these suicide plains and set off high octane gasoline. The ships were abandoned about five minutes after the hit. Another LST was hit while we were on the beach. It was the most hellish day I have ever spent in my life but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. ..." [Dec 15, 1944]. In addition to his detailed descriptions of ship operations and combat, Laney included a number of photographs in his book. The pictures are for the most part glued into place but some have come free enough to read the notations on the reverse. They include pictures of himself, his shipmates (annotated), family members and what appear to be pictures of his wife Louise and his children. There are a number of other pictures of downed and wrecked Japanese fighters and bombers. Other pictures show the landscape and local native people. One appears to be a Japanese prisoner of war. On Nov 1st, 1945, he disembarked LST 613 and began his journey home. His journal ends with this: "I was discharged and became a civilian. So this is the end of my career in the navy. Boarded the train for home. Arrived in KC at midnight. Louise and the gang was there to meet me." [Dec 7, 1945]. For a military or naval historian, this is a fabulous record. It is an eyewitness account of the critical invasions of the Philippines recounted by a person who was there in the thick of it. It is a detailed, well-written account. Historians and researchers can use this primary material for direct evidence and to cross-reference other sources. For a writer, it is an inspirational story of a young man who left family and home to serve his country with not a word of complaint. The photographs, especially of fellow crew mates, destroyed warplanes and local inhabitants give an air of immediacy that brings his words to life. This is an excellent war record.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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