He then served in World War II as an officer of the United States Coast Guard, commanding a naval trawler for the Greenland Patrol and an army supply ship in the Pacific Ocean.
Wilson published 15 books, including the bestsellers The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1955) and A Summer Place (1958), both of which were adapted into feature films.
[2] The novel The Ice Brothers is loosely based on Wilson's experiences in Greenland while serving with the United States Coast Guard.
[4] In addition to novels and magazine articles, he funded himself during his later years by writing commissioned works such as biographies and yacht histories.
Wilson's service as an officer in World War II is noted at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
In the 1970s Wilson and his wife and daughter lived at Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove, Florida on a 54 ft (16 m) cruiser, the Pretty Betty.