Slow Moving Target, the Lst of World War II

A SLOW MOVING TARGET, The LSTs Of World War II, is a historical novel that contains many authentic stories about the turmoil and hardships that the Amphibious Fleet endured during beach invasions in World War II. To enhance the military adversities, the story revolves around the personal lives of five young fictitious sailors who, in 1942, enlisted in the U.S. Navy to defend their country against the Axis. They come from different parts of America and meet in the same boot-camp at Bainbridge, Maryland. As a result of the difficulties they encounter in boot-camp and in the war they become life-long buddies. After boot-camp was completed they were transferred to the dreaded and perilous Amphibious fleet of LSTs (Landing Ship Tank), because the LST is truly a A Slow Moving Target having the reputation of a brief life during an invasion. In this historical novel each principle character in the book presents his own unique and unusual experiences. The main character of the novel is John Maroni, who attempts to keep the group together and to preserve their friendship throughout the war. They call themselves The Five Phibies. The Five Phibies are later split-up and are transferred to different LSTs which compelled them to fight in separate campaigns in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. They continued to communicate with one another via one central location in the States. They send their mail to John Maroni's kid sister, Angela, in Queens, New York, who rewrites the letters by relating their war experiences, their health, and anything new about their personal lives, but deliberately leaving out any unpleasant ordeals, then sending the letters on to the Phibies. Phibie No. 1 is John Maroni who was born in Queens, New York. Phibie No. 2 is Dan Bletcher born in Dover, New Jersey. Phibie No. 3 is Andre Robbier born in Chicago, Illinois. Phibie No. 4 is Rich Hienman born in Dallas, Texas. Phibie No. 5 is Bob Olsen born i

Joseph Francis Panicello was born in Queens, New York, on October 31, 1927. He was married for thirty years to his late wife, Rose, and is now married to his lovely wife Barbara who has eight children, three adult boys and five girls. Joe has three daughters, Jo Ann, Marie, Teresa and eight grandchildren. Joe Panicello is a World War II veteran serving in the Navy on LST 533 for two of his three years of his enlistment. He has a brother, Carl, who was in the Army during the war and is now living in Long Island. Another brother, Thomas, was also in the Army and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Both Tommy and Joe's stepsister, Marie, passed away in the nineties. Prior to pursuing his writing career, the author maintained a successful forty-year career as an Electronic Engineer for Lockheed Aerospace in Burbank, California and Bell Telephone Laboratories in Whippany, New Jersey. He received his college education under the GI bill at Newark College of Engineering in New Jersey in 1959 and at RCA Institute of Advance Technology in New York in 1952.Mr. Panicello is a member of The American Legion, The American Fiction Society, the National Writers Association, and the United States L.S.T. Association. He has published five books thus far, two historical novels; A Slow Moving Target-The LST of World War II and The Great Sicilian Norseman, and three novels; Vindicated, Brian's Comet, and The Wheeler Dealer. Three of the books; A Slow Moving Target, Brian's Comet and The Wheeler Dealer may be purchased through the Internet via, www.1stBooks.com, through Amazon.com, and at Barnes & Noble or other bookstores. His other books Vindicated and The Great Sicilian Norseman mayonly be purchased from North Hills Publishers by calling (818) 894-6729.Mr. Panicello has two more books in process; a historical novel about Giuseppe Garibaldi, A Man of Destiny, and How to become a Successful Engineering Manager.