Steve B. (fog) -
Imagine sitting in a bar with a bunch of 1st Marine veterans of WWII and reliving their experiences in the pacific battles. This is what this book brings to you. Short narratives from the Marines who survived. This is a must read for anyone interested in the battles of Okinawa, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, New Britain, Guadalcanal and Pavuvu told by the Marines who survived these battles.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
As a former Marine who is well read in Marine Corps history, especially that of World War II, I think the best book on the Marines in that war is "Strong Men Armed" by Robert Leckie. I actually read this book in my late pre-teens.
Leckie also wrote a wonderful narrative of his service in the Pacific called "Helmet for My Pillow." This book also served as one of the sources for the HBO miniseries "The Pacific."
"Voices of the Pacific" is also an exceptional book, in that the editors didn't write it. The text is straight from the lips of the Marines who stormed the beaches on the Pacific and saw their buddies pay the ultimate price. And many of the men quoted in this book were also badly wounded.
In "Strong Men Armed," Leckie relates how on Cape Gloucester the Marines had to assault a ridge hidden in a jungle so thick you lost sight of men a few feet away. To take out Japanese bunkers, Lieutenant Colonel Lew Walt, a Marine legend, and his men man-handled a 37 mm cannon up the ridge. It is a story I've always remembered. In this book, some of those men who did that with Lew Walt relate their experiences. I couldn't believe I was actually reading their words. This action, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross, is also mentioned on Lew Walt's Wikipedia page.
After my release from active duty, I also served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve. One of the units I served with was in Florida. It turned out retired four-star General Lew Walt lived nearby and sometimes visited the unit. How do you approach a living legend? I couldn't do so and always admired him from a discreet distance.
This would be a keeper for me, but it's WLed by 12 members. So I decided to share it with them rather than storing it on one of my book shelves.
So if the book was so good, why did I give it just 4.5 stars? Well, the men quoted in this book were all in their 80s and 90s. And, as you probably know, service people, even Marines, like to garnish their "war stores" a bit. And like many others, these men earned the right to do so.
Leckie also wrote a wonderful narrative of his service in the Pacific called "Helmet for My Pillow." This book also served as one of the sources for the HBO miniseries "The Pacific."
"Voices of the Pacific" is also an exceptional book, in that the editors didn't write it. The text is straight from the lips of the Marines who stormed the beaches on the Pacific and saw their buddies pay the ultimate price. And many of the men quoted in this book were also badly wounded.
In "Strong Men Armed," Leckie relates how on Cape Gloucester the Marines had to assault a ridge hidden in a jungle so thick you lost sight of men a few feet away. To take out Japanese bunkers, Lieutenant Colonel Lew Walt, a Marine legend, and his men man-handled a 37 mm cannon up the ridge. It is a story I've always remembered. In this book, some of those men who did that with Lew Walt relate their experiences. I couldn't believe I was actually reading their words. This action, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross, is also mentioned on Lew Walt's Wikipedia page.
After my release from active duty, I also served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve. One of the units I served with was in Florida. It turned out retired four-star General Lew Walt lived nearby and sometimes visited the unit. How do you approach a living legend? I couldn't do so and always admired him from a discreet distance.
This would be a keeper for me, but it's WLed by 12 members. So I decided to share it with them rather than storing it on one of my book shelves.
So if the book was so good, why did I give it just 4.5 stars? Well, the men quoted in this book were all in their 80s and 90s. And, as you probably know, service people, even Marines, like to garnish their "war stores" a bit. And like many others, these men earned the right to do so.
