Here is What Other's have to say...

In our continuous search for historical titles penned by authors who were eyewitnesses to history, we recently received a copy of a book entitled "Under Wraps". It actually is a diary kept by foot soldier Jay Coffman who served in the South Pacific throughout WWII. Even though it was a court martial offense to keep personal records in a combat zone, Coffman left behind a volume that will give historians and readers an intimate look of those horrific events in the Pacific conflict. It’s not only a record of combat, but gives one the inner feelings of men at the front. We are not only confronted with Coffman in a war zone but we are introduced to Coffman’s home life, the girl next door, and the doubt of seeing her and his family again.

Being an eyewitness to history is leaving behind a legacy. In this case, Coffman has accomplished just that with his diary that is worth reading. RECOMMENDED.

—History Media Reviews

Under Wraps is a compilation of a clandestine diary Army sergeant Jay Coffman kept during his involvement in World War II’s Pacific Theater. It was against regulations to keep a diary during that campaign due to operational security reasons, so the author had to keep it hidden away from his superiors’ eyes. This book provides an intimate window into one American family’s support of the war and the family members involved in it at home and on the front lines. Military historians will find this a good firsthand source of details of what life was like on the Pacific islands, what their day-to-day concerns were, and the enormous logistical challenges faced by our troops. During this summer’s celebration of WWII vets, this book will be a good source of information to those of us wishing to pay tribute to the men and women who helped defeat worldwide tyranny. We rated it three hearts.

—Heartland Reviews

Under Wraps is the diary maintained by Jay Coffman, a soldier of US Armed Forces in World War II. The diary is certainly a good portrayal of the mind of an average American in the war time. It brings out nicely Jay’s ties to the family, which kept him going in the war. The diary also brings out the abiding love of Jay and Dot to each other. Editor’s notes regarding the war are certainly welcome and add value to the book. All in all, this diary is a good addition to the war literature. We rate it 8/10

—Blether Book Review

Author James Michener won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for Tales of the South Pacific, but infantryman Jay Coffman lived that life for three years during World War II. His almost daily reports are a "must read" for historians interested in a soldier’s life in the South Pacific. Tom Fulks, Coffman’s nephew, adds detailed historical notes, which explain the key events between 1941 and 1945.

—W. Merle Hill, PhD,
World War II Infantryman

Wow, I really admire all the work it must have taken to get this book together. I enjoyed the notes and footnotes; they are a real asset to the diary. And the diary itself is so fascinating—I really enjoyed it. Under Wraps gives readers a unique insight into the life experiences of a "normal American guy" in the most abnormal of circumstances. The bottom line is that I think you’re to be congratulated for such a fine work. I’m truly impressed.

—Al Hodge, Historian and Educator

Jay Coffman has provided a unique first person look at the essence of wartime military service: long periods of boredom and homesickness, punctuated by brief (though seemingly eternal) periods of sheer terror. Performing one’s duty under such conditions is a daunting prospect at best, yet Jay, like so many others, earned our everlasting gratitude. I was filled with considerable pride reading my great-uncle Jay’s diary of his fascinating experiences in the South Pacific. His diary provides that important perspective that takes combat and service out of the armchair and into the foxhole.

—Colonel Thomas A. Lee
United States Air Force, Retired

It’s an exceptional artifact from World War II. It offers a remarkable look at the life of a foot soldier. With uncanny style, the diary reflects the conflicting conditions that impacted Jay: a sense of alienation mixed with comradeship, a sense of adventure mixed with homesickness, and a sense of aggression mixed with his natural serenity. I was especially fond of Jay’s innocent observations about what would turn out to be critical events in the war before the outcome of each was clear. This story deserves to be told.

—Literary Agent and Reviewer

Under Wraps: One Soldier’s Hidden Diary of WW II is collected diary of Jay Coffman, recorded during his service in the US Army Infantry in the South Pacific throughout World War II. Since keeping a diary in combat zones was a court-martial offense, Coffmen hid his diary among his personal effects until the war ended. Though he survived the war, his untimely death at age 48 was partly due to the malaria he had contracted on Guadalcanal. Editor Tom Fulks has added notes to Coffman’s diary, clarifying passages or mentioning appropriate historic references. Fulks also contributes a seventy-page overview of World War II, to refresh the reader’s familiarity of the war and the politics surrounding it. Under Wraps is not only a hands-on first-person account of the war, but also a love story, and a fond remembrance of home and family. A welcome addition to firsthand testimonies of the Pacific conflict, and an absorbing true story that will appeal to readers of all persuasions.

—Midwest Book Reviews