The Hawaiians

Island Heritage Ltd, 1970. Hardcover. Very Good. 8x7x0. [Interesting provenance, gift inscription of Charles Gillet on front end page.] Bound in publisher's cloth. Hardcover. Good binding and cover. Shelf wear. Some foxing. <br> "Charles Berkeley Coons Gillet, Jr was born September 15th, 1923 and raised at Montmorenci in Baltimore County. Charles attended college at Yale where he excelled academically as well as athletically on the varsity swim team. Charles missed trying out for the Olympics in 1940 and 1944 as they were cancelled because of the War, but it was his exceptional swimming capabilities that enabled him to join the fledgling Underwater Demolition Teams for the Navy. Their missions consisted of swimming undetected to map out enemy-controlled shorelines and harbors the Navy needed to take, blow up Japanese infrastructure, and to attack enemy-held islands with shells before the landing-crafts brought US troops into shore. His team helped the Allies take island after island as they brought the War to Japan's door. As an Active Reservist, Charles then volunteered to serve in the Korean Conflict, serving 18 years his Nation. He was the oldest surviving Frogman in the world. Charles' love of the South Pacific relocated to him to Hawaii for portions of the year for decades. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of the Hawaiian names for the flora and fish of the Islands, and he relished in sharing his paradise with family." - Obit. <br> This is an oversized or heavy book, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.