World War II in Fort Pierce

Images of America: Florida

by Robert A. Taylor

Few Florida communities felt the impact of World War II as much as the Atlantic-coast town of Fort Pierce. With a population that soared along with its economy, the small city made an important contribution to Allied victory by hosting a major military training base. Prior to that, the war had come only as close as the German submarines stalking targets off the southern coast of the peninsula. In 1943, however, the U.S. Navy commissioned its newest amphibious training base in Fort Pierce, and tens of thousands of young men would eventually prepare for combat on the town’s sunny shores. The intensive physical and mental training was hardly “a day at the beach,” and within a few months, Fort Pierce had become a major military post with a national reputation. It also became the training site of some of the most elite units of the armed forces, including the Scouts and Raiders, U.S. Army Rangers, and the legendary “frogmen.”

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

Reviews

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book particularly interesting having lived in the adjacent town now for 30 years. I could not imagine the part South Florida and Fort Pierce specifically would play in preparing our sailors for the War. It has many photographs, and those interested in the training our troops had would love it!