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."

Professor Robert A. Taylor of the Florida Institute of Technology has combined fascinating images with detailed historical captions that attest to the valuable role Fort Pierce played in WW II. Using photographs from the U.S. Navy, the Saint Lucie County Historical Museum, and other private collections, this visual compilation tells the story of ATB-Fort Pierce and its influence on local residents. This retrospective work is a proud tribute to those who trained in Fort Pierce and to the community that opened its arms and its beaches to the young men who were sent to fight for their country.