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JAKE

In JAKE, the third caper in Johnny Spicer's World War II trilogy, nineteen months have passed since the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States is finally showing its might. On the home front, Spicer's job with Army Intelligence sends him to an exotic island in the Pacific—Santa Catalina Island, 20-some miles off the California coast.

Since Catalina, is the closest point to Japan within the United States, it is a great place to train troops for for combat in the Pacific theater of operations. It is also the ideal location for a super secret long-range radar system that can darn near see in Tojo's bedroom window.

So with a Coast Guard training station at one end of Catalina, the Army providing support and protection for the long-range radar at the other end, a US Merchant Marine training facility at the Saint Catherine Hotel, and FDR's new OSS training spys at Toyon Bay, there is a lot going on to interest the Japanese.

The Army's Military Intelligence Division figures the way to catch Jap spys, is go where the bait is. That's why Colonel Johnny Spicer is there. Colonel? Yeah, Johnny gets a field promotion of two ranks so he can hobnob at the O-Club with the brass hats who got cush jobs on Catalina.

If all that wasn't enough, Johnny uncovers a "railroad" bringing Jap espionage agents into the U.S. by way of Catalina. His discovery gets him another job: SHUT DOWN THE SPY RAILROAD—a task that takes him from Los Angeles to Seattle.

On hand for for Johnny's JAKE caper are his "Angel," Susan; Susan's brother Jack; the MID's own fearless aviator, Captain Stu Irvin, and of course, Johnny's boss, Major General Chester Davis. Oh, there is also a herd of about 20 Bison on Catalin to lend a hand . . . ah . . . hoof.

PLEASE NOTE

This novel occasionally refers to individuals and groups with terms that are considered disrespectful and inappropriate in today's society.  These terms, however, were in common usage during the historical period in which this story is set and are included here solely for the purpose of accurately depicting the attitudes and customs of the day.