Invitation to August 14, 2014 Meeting

Time - Noon to 2:00 pm.

Where – Amenities Room,
Embassy of Australia,
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20036
Charge - $15.00, including buffet lunch and sodas.
Alcoholic beverages -  $2.00 each.
Attire: Business casual
RSVP by noon on Wednesday August 13, to David Ward at 202-352-8550 or via  e-mail to dmward1973 at gmail dot com.
NOTE: Valid photo ID required.
Parking: While there is no parking at the Embassy, paid off street parking is available behind and under the Airline Pilots Association- 17th and Massachusetts, and at 15th and Mass (1240 15th street).
On street two hour metered parking is also available.

Guest speaker:  Alan Rems, author of South Pacific Cauldron 

Born in Jersey City on April 30, 1937, Alan Rems grew up during World War II, developing a strong life-long interest through study in all aspects of the war. Twelve years into retirement from his work as a CPA, Alan put his knowledge and passion to use when he learned about the mysterious death of a leading Marine general in the South Pacific in 1943. Solving that mystery through research in the Marine Corps archives, Alan, in his first writing effort, presented his discoveries in Naval History magazine. Selected 2008 Author of the Year by the U.S. Naval Institute for that article, he has since then contributed seven articles and two book reviews to Naval History.

From the research for his first article, Alan developed special interest in the war in the South Pacific. He became aware of the short shrift given in nearly all American histories to the critical contribution by Australian forces and to the heavy fighting that continued in that war zone after the front moved westward toward Japan. Often, he came upon complaints by those who served there that so little was known about their wartime contributions.

Alan saw the basic problem as stemming from the tendency of historians to concentrate on specific segments of the South Pacific war rather than dealing with the theater as a whole. As the need for a comprehensive, one-volume narrative history of World War II in the South Pacific became apparent, he welcomed the opportunity to take on that challenge. His objective was to write a definitive narrative history that could be equally appreciated by military specialists and buffs, veterans and their families, and serious general readers.

The resultant work, titled South Pacific Cauldron, published May 2014 by the Naval Institute Press, has been called authoritative, yet written in a highly readable narrative style. In endorsing the book, leading historian Stephen R. Taaffe, author of Marshall and his Generals, called it “a first rate account” and recommended it for “military history buffs.” Also, noted naval historian Paul Stillwell has called the book a “well-researched history of a major theater of World War II.”

With publication of his first book at age 77, Alan’s late in life writing success is inspiring, a reminder that in life it’s not over till it’s over. Alan lives in Centreville, Virginia with his wife Janet, a retired newspaper managing editor and freelance journalist.

South Pacific Cauldron can be ordered through The United States Naval Institute Press
  http://www.usni.org/store/books/history/south-pacific-cauldron