Alexander, Col. Joseph H. Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa. Naval Institute Pr. 1995 [One of the best books on the war in the Pacific. It discusses Tarawa in its full context, and it makes extensive use of Japanese resources. I think it is a fantastic book, and every review that I have read is in complete accord. Ivy Books released a mass market paperback edition in 1997.]
Allen, Louis. Burma: The Longest War 1941-1945. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This massive 686-page book covers the longest campaign of World War II. It was a campaign that saw the longest retreat in British history, the greatest land defeat of the Japanese army, warfare in the desert and jungles, and eccentric officers. It was originally published in 1984. "If one had to select one book about the Burma War, this fine work is the best candidate so far." -- Dekho, magazine of the Burma Star Association. "[I was] gripped, fascinated and appalled by its every twist . . . it is clearly a most important book." -- Stephen Hawes.]
Allen, Thomas B. & Norman Polmar. A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684804069/kradegbookreview">Code-Name Downfall: The Secret Plan to Invade Japan -- and Why Truman Dropped the Bomb. Simon & Schuster 1995 [A solid work heavy on the military dimensions of the proposed invasions (Operations Olympic and Coronet).]
Anderson, Christopher J. The Marines in World War II: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay. [G.I. Series: The Illustrated History of the American Soldier, His Uniform and His Equipment, no. 21] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000
Astor, Gerald. Crisis in the Pacific: The Battles for the Philippine Islands by the Men Who Fought Them -- An Oral History. Donald I. Fine Books 1996
Bell, Walter F. The Philippines in World War II, 1941-1945: A Chronology and Select Annotated Bibliography of Books and Articles in English. [Bibliographies and Indexes in Military Studies, no. 12] Greenwood Pr. 1999
Bergerud, Eric M. Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific. Westview Pr. 2001 ["Eric M. Bergerud, author of the excellent work, Touched With Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, now turns his attention to the air campaign in [thisbook]. Rather than write another narrative history, Bergerud explains why the air war unfolded as it did in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, what he calls examining and explaining 'the war's texture and tempo.' He focuses on the period beginning in early 1942 when both sides began undertaking serious military operations in that region and he concludes his work in early 1944 by which point the Allies had destroyed Japan's land-based airpower at Rabaul. During this time the combatants were rather evenly matched so it makes comparison of their unique approaches more interesting than when the Allies had quantitative and qualitative superiority. Bergerud also makes the case that, 'In no theater was airpower more central to operations than in the South Pacific.' To accomplish his task, Bergerud begins with a survey of the battlefield and the air-base networks that shaped the strategic parameters of the campaign. He then examines the machines and the aviators who flew them. The third portion of his work analyzes air combat (both missions and tactics) and the role of the bomber. This massive work is a notable achievement in the fields of WW II and aviation history." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. Originally published by Westview in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Browne, Courtney. Tojo: The Last Banzai. Da Capo Pr. 1998 [orig. 1967. "A revealing picture of unrestrained militarism and the man who came to be its symbol." -- Library Journal. "An excellent biography. . . [Tojo's] story interwoven with the history of Japan before and during World War II is eminently worth telling and Mr. Browne tells it very well. . . . [Tojo] has found in Mr. Browne a fair and understanding interpreter." -- Wall Street Journal.]
Caraccilo, Dominic J., ed. Surviving Bataan and Beyond: Colonel Irvin Alexander's Odyssey as a Japanese Prisoner of War. Stackpole Books 1999 ["A sad, yet fascinating firsthand account of the horrors and bestial brutalities of being a prisoner of war of the Japanese. If I were asked to recommend only one book on that subject, it would be this one." -- Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, USA (Ret.), co-author of We Were Soldiers Once -- and Young. "This is one of the most significant chronicles of World War II." -- Ken Hechler.]
Caruso, Patrick F. Nightmare on Iwo. Naval Institute Pr. 2001 [Caruso's book is an account of his experience, plus the stories of fellow Marines, on the island that claimed a horrific toll -- Iwo Jima. He hit the beach as a second lieutenant of K Company, Third Battalion, Ninth Regiment, Third Division. He survived fifteen days of combat before he was wounded. While recovering he wrote down notes on every form of scrap paper. His notes lay dormant until 1970 when they were the basis of an article for the Associated Press news service. And now, more than half a century after the battle, they are the basis for this book.
This is not a standard memoir. It is much more impressionistic than that. Caruso does not discuss every little combat he was in, rather he tells you what combat was like. You get a sense of the hopes and fears of the young warriors, the physical and emotional toll that combat inflicted, and yet the constant, relentless push forward until the enemy is utterly vanquished. And rather than focus on himself, the author strives to include the stories of many of his fellow Marines. Caruso was compelled to tell this story, "No one wants to recall the vicious desecration of the sanctity of human life, but to allow myself to forget the deeds of our fallen brothers would be, I felt, an injustice and a breach to their memory. . . . it is our duty to augment the official records of the battle with the personal and human aspects of combat." [Due to the length of this review, please click here to read the rest of it.]
Center of Military History, United States Army. The War Against Japan. [An AUSA Institute of Land Warfare Book] Batsford Brassey 1998 ["One way to understand the scope of the war in Asia and the Pacific is through pictures. In 1951, the Center of Military History, the U.S. Army's official history office, published a book with almost 450 pages of photographs plus a few maps and several pages of text introducing each of the book's five sections. This work is again available in this oversized trade paperback where one finds vivid images of land, sea, and air operations ranging from India and China to Australia, Alaska, Hawaii, and all the contested islands in between." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times. "This compelling collection of excellent photographs accurately depicts the life of the soldier, sailor, airman, and marine as they fought the Japanese across the vast Pacific. It is a must for anyone interested in life at the front during World War II." -- Donald M. Goldstein.]
Chappell, John D. Before the Bomb: How America Aproached the End of the Pacific War. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1997
Coox, Alvin D. Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939. Stanford Univ. Pr. 1985
Denfeld, D. Colt. Hold the Marianas: The Japanese Defense of the Islands. White Mane Pub. 1997
Evans, David C. & Mark R. Peattie. Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. Naval Institute Pr. 1997 [This is an exceptional book and now becomes the standard work on the subject.]
Faltum, Andrew. The Independence Light Aircraft Carriers. Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co. 2002 [This book chronicles the history of the nine-ship Independence-class light cruisers. The Navy converted light cruiser hulls already under construction into these fast carriers which complemented the Essex-class fast carriers. They served with distinction during World War II, each ship receiving between five and twelve battle stars, and three earned the Presidential Unit Citation. Five ships were damaged and one sunk during the war. One served throughout the Korean War in three deployments, and several made it into the French and Spanish navies, the last one (Dedalo) being decommissioned in 1989. Numerous photos, plans, drawings, maps, and four appendices round out this book.]
Feuer, A.B. Commando!: The M/Z Unit's Secret War Against Japan. Praeger 1996 [For a review of this book, click here.]
Feuer, A.B. FDR's Prisoner Spy: The POW Diary of Cdr. Thomas Hayes, USN. Pacifica Pr. 1999 ["This is an interesting work edited by military historian A.B. Feuer. It took Feuer five years of effort to piece together the intriguing story of Commander Hayes, a senior naval medical officer. As a prisoner of the Japanese in the Bilibid Prison in Manila, Hayes secretly kept a diary on scraps of paper. Working with the diary, and supplemented by interviews with former POWs, Feuer helps one understand the turbulent world of Bilibid Prison. The diary details the administration of the prison, relations between the Japanese and American officials, and the physical and mental strain of imprisonment. A man of rigid principle, Hayes stressed his efforts to preserve strict discipline, and brutally critiques the disintegration of integrity exhibited by some POWs. Since most books by prisoners of the Japanese primarily discuss the brutal conditions in which they were kept, Hayes focus on the prisoners and the attempts to maintain a strong community in the face of the erosion of discipline, and interservice rivalry between the navy and army POWs, makes this book a valuable read. Also interesting is how this doctor could organize espionage activities in the Manila area to which the title makes reference. Sadly, Hayes did not survive transport aboard a hellish Japanese cargo ship in January 1945. This book originally appeared in hardcover in 1987 with the title, Bilibid Diary." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Flanagan, E.M., Lt. Gen. USA (Ret.) Angels at Dawn: The Los Baños Raid. Presidio Pr. 1999 ["Offers an excellent description of the most successful airborne raid of World War II. . . . finely written, well-researched and entertaining." -- Military Review. "This book tells the complete story of one of the most successful and least known American military actions in history: the rescue of more than 2,000 American [and other allied] civilians from a Japanese interment (read 'concentration') camp in the Philippine Islands. . . . Well written and detailed, this book tells the story of an actual event which, for daring and success, easily surpasses any 'Rambo' type film. A glorious page in this country's history." -- The Tulsa World. This book was originally published in 1986 with the title, The Los Baños Raid: The 11th Airborne Jumps at Dawn.]
Flanagan, Jr., Lt. Gen. E.M. Corregidor: The Rock Force Assault. Presidio Pr. 1998 [orig. 1988. A history of the 1945 American airborne and amphibious assault on 6,000 Japanese soldiers and marines firmly entrenched on a forified island. ". . . a dramatic and well-told story." -- Publishers Weekly
"Flanagan's direct account adds considerably to the literature on one of the hardest-fought yet more obscure operations of the Pacific War. Highly recommended." -- Booklist.]
Forty, George. Japanese Army Handbook1939-1945. Sutton Publ. 1999 [A veteran of 32 years in the British Army and now a leading WW II historian, Forty turns his attention to the Imperial Japanese Army. He examines the organization of the army from high command through division and below. Forty also covers mobilization and conscription, training, the combat arms, service and support, weapons, uniforms and insignia, vehicles, miscellaneous equipment, tactics, personalities, and the Kempeitai.]
Foster, Simon. Okinawa 1945: Final Assault on the Empire. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1996 [orig. 1994.]
Frank, Richard B. Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. Penguin 2001 [In general this is a good account of the end of the war and can be recommended. Unfortunately the work is marred by the author having too much faith in the flawed articles written by Barton Bernstein and underestimating the more substantive work done by D.M. Giangreco on casualty estimates and its impact on US planning for the invasion of Japan. ". . . those who seek a well-informed, thoughtful and judicious account have good reason to applaud this book." -- J. Samuel Walker, The New York Times Book Review. "This is a brilliant, strongly argued, but scrupulously fair examination of these brutal, horrifying, but critical months." -- Jay Freeman, Booklist, September 15, 1999. "Frank insists that events of the time be understood as they were perceived then, by both sides, not as they are now interpreted and judged. Using this method, Frank arrives at three conclusions: the US considered the use of atomic weapons not as extraordinary events but as part of a larger strategy of blockade and bombardment; not until after the use of atomic weapons did the Japanese indicate they were willing to surrender; and the use of atomic weapons was justified." -- Kirkus Reviews. "Anyone concerned with the moral, military, and political issues surrounding the end of the Pacific war must read this book." -- William L. O'Neill. Originally published by Random House in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Fuchida, Mitsuo & Masatake Okumiya. Midway: The Battle That Doomed Japan, the Japanese Navy's Story. [Blue Jacket Books Series] Naval Institute Pr. 2001 [This is one of the key WW II histories to come out of Japan. The authors were participants in the operations that resulted in disaster for the Imperial Japanese Navy's struggle with the US Navy for supremecy in the Pacific (Fuchida commanded the Akagi carrier air group). This book was released in Japan in 1951 with the title, Middoue The Naval Institute Press brought it out in English in 1955 with useful editing by Clarke H. Kawakami and Roger Pineau. Noted Midway historian, Thomas B. Buell, has since added an insightful seventeen-page introduction. "A valuable account of the background and course of one of the decisive battles of the Pacific war by two Japanese naval officers who participated in the operation." -- Foreign Affairs. "This is a book that will undoubtedly take its place as essential reading in any study of modern naval warfare." -- The Navy. "It is only by knowing what went on aboard the Japanese warships that some of the mysteries of the battle can be explained. And Captain Fuchida and Commander Okumiya write with an amazingly clear style that should satisfy both the casual reader and the naval strategist." -- Baltimore Sun. "Midway gives an enlightening account of the Japanese naval leaders of the time, placing a new perspective on their abilities, shortcomings, and their ways of thinking and acting." -- Military Review.]
Gailey, Harry. The Liberation of Guam, 21 July-10 August, 1944. Presidio Press 1997 [orig. 1988. An account of the brutal, 20-day battle that resulted in over 7,700 American casualties and over 10,000 Japanese dead.]
Gailey, Harry. MacArthur Strikes Back: Decision at Buna: New Guinea 1942-1943. Presidio Pr. 2001 [Gailey recounts the Allied effort to grab Buna (on the northeastern coast of New Guinea) from the Japanese. It involved fierce fighting in very inhospitable terrain.]
Gailey, Harry A. The War in the Pacific: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay. Presidio Pr. 1997 [orig. 1995.]
Gamble, Bruce. The Black Sheep: The Definitive Account of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II. Presidio Pr. 2000 [This is a critical history, but it is fair and balanced. "Breathes new facts and new life into the Black Sheep, with not only a comprehensive account of the Marines' most famous squadron, but a detailed evaluation of legendary subject." -- Barrett Tillman. ". . . Exuberantly unreliable, [Boyington's] memoirs covered only one of the squadron's three incarnations. In the first, the squadron, cobbled together in the war's desperate early days, was known as the Swashbucklers and saw combat at Guadalcanal. In the second phase, the group of respectable replacements was assigned the squadron number and made a mighty name as the Black Sheep under Boyington, despite his drinking and brawling. Version three was a late-war collection of marine pilots that was knocked out of action on its first day in combat by the damage to its carrier, the USS Franklin. A model, warts-and-all unit history, Gamble's retires all previous books on squadron 214. . . ." -- Roland Green, Booklist, August 19, 1998. "Any scrupulously fair squadron history would take some of the gloss off the Boyington myth. . . . But enough of the myth remains -- enough to serve as a reminder of the swashbuckling Black Sheep, their screwball commander, and the planes they flew with such a consummate skill." -- Proceedings. "An accurate history of legendary unit that pulls no punches regarding its most famous commander, 'Pappy' Boyington." -- Stars and Stripes. "Cuts through the brag of 'Pappy' Boyington to the unvarnished realities of the remarkable Black Sheep." -- Stanley Weintraub. "The new pilots, Gamble shows, were neither youngsters nor misfits as portrayed in Boyington's memoirs and the TV scripts. Gamble, a retired naval officer, describes the equipment, doctrine, operational conditions and personal relationships that shaped the squadron from its creation in 1942 through its Solomons experiences, to its recommissioning and assignment to the carrier Franklin. . . . A sensitive revision of a controversial legend, this book stands out as one of the best extant squadron histories and as a significant contribution to the literature on air power." -- Publishers Weekly, July 1998. Originally published in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Gause, Damon "Rocky." The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause. [Damon L. Gause, intro.] Hyperion 2000 ["A dive-bomber pilot who escaped the Japanese on Bataan and fled to Corregidor, only to flee back to Bataan, Damon "Rocky" Gause ultimately viewed the best course of action to be a voyage to Australia. And it is some adventure he describes. . . . He and one other American officer endured a grueling 3,200 mile voyage on a leaky twenty-foot fishing boat that encountered typhoons, hostile natives, and Japanese aircraft and ships, including a surfacing submarine. This is a quick read, and Gause's account is filled with ironic humor and quick-witted actions. Sadly, Gause perished in Europe in 1944, but his son's worthy efforts to get this work published have kept his memory alive. For the next edition of this book, adding a good map would help." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "Utterly amazing." -- Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post Book World. "A truly remarkable account of the guts and the patriotism of a genuine World War II hero." -- H. Norman Schwarzkopf. "I recommend this book without stint of hesitation. . . . This magnificent book fills one with pride just for being a human being." -- from the Foreword by Stephen E. Ambrose. Originally published by Hyperion in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Gilbert, Oscar E. Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific. Combined Publ. 2001 [One of the most overlooked dimensions of the Pacific War is the use of tanks. This book helps provide a correction by providing a broad overview of of the operational history of Marine Corps tanks in the war against Japan. Gilbert draws heavily on interviews to make sure the human dimension of the war is not overlooked.]
Gilmore, Allison B. You Can't Fight Tanks With Bayonets: Psychological Warfare Against the Japanese Army in the Southwest Pacific. Univ. of Nebraska Pr. 2000 [This book fills an important gap in the literature of the war in the Pacific. Gilmore shows that psychological warfare played a significant role which runs counter to notions of Japanese soldiers immune to demoralization. Originally published by Nebraska in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition. "Ironically, while Hollywood films and popular American stereotypes that persist to the present portray the Japanese soldiers as fanatics who would never surrender, the U.S. military . . . took a more realistic view and engaged in a sustained campaign to undermine the morale of the Japanese army. . . . The book helps fill a historiographic gap by studying how propaganda and psychological warfare were planned, implemented, and evaluated." -- Choice. "Gilmore unravels the complex structure and missions of the Allied entities involved in psywar operations. . . . Convincing." -- Journal of Military History.]
Goldstein, Donald M., Katherine V. Dillon & J. Michael Wenger. Rain of Ruin: A Photographic History of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Brassey's 1995 [A graphic look at the ruin that terminated WW II.]
Grace, James W. The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: Night Action, 13 November 1942. Naval Institute Pr. 1999
Graham, Michael B. Mantle of Heroism: Tarawa and the Struggle for the Gilberts, November 1943. [Ken Hechler, foreword] Presidio Pr. 1997 [This is the trade paper edition of a solid study of Operation Galvanic originally published in 1993. Over twenty-six days of bloody battle, US forces suffered 5,100 casualties. Japanese and Korean losses (the latter were used as laborers) during Galvanic numbered between 6,000 and 7,000. The grim determination of the Japanese resistance can be seen in the 4,900 casualties at Tarawa Atoll -- all were killed except for 17 Japanese and 129 Koreans. "A gripping account of one of the most important phases of World War II in the Pacific." -- Marine Corps Gazette
Mantle of Heroism is battle history the way it should be written. . . . likely to remain the definitive account of the first clash in the long, bloody push to drive the Japanese back upon their home islands." -- Peter Cozzens.]
Hallas, James H. Killing Ground on Okinawa: The Battle for Sugar Loaf Hill. Praeger 1996
Hammel, Eric & John E. Lane. Bloody Tarawa. Pacifica Pr. 1999 ["Back in 1985, Eric Hammel and John E. Lane released a useful history titled, 76 Hours: The Invasion of Tarawa. They have now taken the text of that book and added over 250 photographs and five appendices and given it the new name, Bloody Tarawa. By using an oversized hardcover format, the authors are able to use larger images and more detailed captions. Many of the images, recently found in archives and private collections, are appearing for the first time. And these are not the sanitized pictures seen in so many military histories. Some are quite graphic with blasted bodies and horribly burned victims of flamethrowers. This book captures the hell that was Tarawa." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Hammel, Eric. Carrier Clash: The Invasion of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942. Pacifica Pr. 1997 [An account of the third aircraft carrier clash between the US and Japan, this one in the aftermath of the US landings at Guadalcanal. "The book is loaded with great charts (maps), order of battle, and other hard to find details." -- Military Review. ". . . a landmark history of the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. . . . Drawing on newly declassified information from U.S. and Japanese sources, and on numerous other archival sources, Hammel brings a fresh perspective to the outcome of the war as a whole." -- Sea Power. ". . . an important contribution to the military history of World War II's battle for control of the Pacific." -- The Bookwatch. ]
Hammel, Eric. Carrier Strike: The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942. Pacifica Pr. 2000 [This book was originally published in 1987 as one half of the book, Guadalcanal: The Carrier Battles. The other half of that book is now Carrier Clash: The Invasion of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942 (see above).]
Hammel, Eric. Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, November 13-15, 1942. Pacifica Press 1999 [ "Hammel's description of surface tactics, naval gunnery, and what happens when the order to abandon ship is given is vivid and memorable." -- Publishers Weekly. "[Hammel's] detailed and fast-paced chronicle includes a number of incidents and anecdotes not found in the more prosaic official histories." -- Sea Power. "Meticulously well-researched and scholarly, but still readable. Author Hammel presents an interesting account of the three-phase battle with frequently gripping ship-by-ship, plane-by-plane, blow-by-blow narratives laden with many human-interest vignettes from both sides." -- The Hook. "[Hammel] mixes action with his history, the result being a highly readable story difficult to put down." -- Riverside Press-Enterprise. "Hammel's painstaking reconstruction affords not only a wealth of strategic and tactical detail but also a full measure of critical judgements. . . . a kaleidoscopic but invariably intelligible account of key actions . . ." -- Kirkus Review. "Hammel does not write dry history. His battle sequences are masterfully portrayed." -- Library Journal. This book was originally published in 1987.]
Hammel, Eric. Guadalcanal: Starvation Island. Pacifica Press 1992 ["A comprehensive history of the Guadalcanal Campaign. . . . [and] a well-balanced account. Well written and fast moving." -- Marine Corps Gazette. "Hammel has written the most comprehensive popular account to date. . . . and exposes controversial aspects often passed over." -- Publishers Weekly. "Hammel takes the reader behind the scenes and details how decisions were made . . . and how they impacted on the troops carrying them out. He tells the story in a very human way." -- Leatherneck Magazine. "A splendid record of this decisive campaign. Hammel offers a wealth of fresh material drawn from archival records and the recollections of 100-odd surviving participants. . . . A praiseworthy contribution to Guadalcanal lore." -- Kirkus Reviews. "Hammel's ability to reveal both the immediacy and the humanity of war without judgment or bias makes all his books both readable and scholarly." -- San Francisco Chronicle. "Hammel does not write dry history. His battle sequences are masterfully portrayed." -- Library Journal. This book was originally published in 1988.]
Hammel, Eric. Marines at War: 20 True Heroic Tales of U.S. Marines in Combat, 1942-1983. Pacifica Pr. 1999 [Hammel provides 10 dramatic accounts of the Marines in action in WW II in the Pacific, three stories from Korea, six from Vietnam, and one from Beirut, Lebanon.]
Hammel, Eric. Munda Trail: The New Georgia Campaign, June-August 1943. Pacifica Press 1999 [Originally published in 1989.]
Hart, Peter. At the Sharp End: From Le Paradis to Kohima: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Norfolk Regiment. [Second World War Regimental Actions Series] Pen & Sword Books/Leo Cooper (UK) 1998/Combined Books (US) 1999 [A better than average oral history assembled by Peter Hart, the Oral Historian at the Imperial War Museum Sound Archive. The 2nd Battalion saw action in several theatres -- they were crushed in France by the Germans in 1940, but the battalion was reconstituted and saw notable service against the Japanese in India and Burma. The selection of photos for this book is excellent, there are loads of new pictures that I have seen nowhere else.]
Hersey, John. Into the Valley: Marines at Guadalcanal. Univ. of Nebraska Pr. 2002 [This book recounts a battle that was witnessed by the noted war correspondent for Time and Life magazines while covering US operations on Guadalcanal. Portions of this work were originally published in Life magazine, and Knopf published a different version of this book in 1943. The present version of this book first appeared in 1989 with the new foreword by Hersey that explains how he came to be at Guadalcanal, and what happened to him while he was there. Hersey also critically discusses what in his book was not quite true when he wrote it and why he selected not to revise this work in 1989. "Brings home, as do few war stories, one of the hundreds of thousands of little episodes which make up this war. . . . It might be held up alongside Stephen Crane's Red Badge of Courage." -- New York Times. "Hersey is skillful in communicating what he saw and felt, and his skill gains strength from the fact that he describes not a brilliant action, but an obscure one which was successful in a qualified and unspectacular way, gaining its ends only after some things had first gone wrong. His story is successfully, in fact, what it claims to be: a reality of war, seen at the closest quarters." -- Manchester Guardian. "Terse, faithful, moving." -- The New Yorker. "Will be part of the abiding literature of the war." -- The New Republic.]
Hoagland, Lt. Cdr. Edgar D., USNR (Ret.). The Sea Hawks: With the PT Boats at War: A Memoir. Presidio Pr. 1999 [Hoagland saw service in the Pacific on board the wooden boats. He won Bronze Star and a Silver Star and was given command of a PT boat squadron.]
Hoyt, Edwin P. Guadalcanal. Scarborough House 1999 [This book, originally published in 1981, has a new preface by the author.]
Hoyt, Edwin P. The Kamikazes: Suicide Squadrons of World War II. [Classics of War Series] Burford Books 1999 [This book is a history of the men that destroyed or damaged 300 allied ships killing or injuring 15,000 in the process. It was originally published in 1983.]
Hunt, Ray C. & Bernard Norling. Behind Japanese Lines: An American Guerrilla in the Philippines. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 2000 ["Originally published in 1986, this book chronicles Hunt's transformation from a staff sergeant with the Army Air Corps into the leader of a guerrilla band in Central Luzon. The fate of Hunt and his force proved more fortunate than Praeger's [see below Bernard Norling's The Intrepid Guerrillas of North Luzon on Preager] for they survived three years of war until American forces returned in January of 1945. Again, this is a book which I gladly recommend." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "Makes war novels look pale. The book is engaging because it is as candid as law allows." -- Washington Times. "A thrilling, informative book. Adds considerable insights into the significance of guerrilla warfare as it relates to modern warfare in general." -- Ex-POW Bulletin. "Stands out for the vividness of its detail, its effort to sort fact from legend, and its tribute to the heroism of the resistance movement, which was almost entirely Filipino." -- Choice. "Has a great deal to say about the relations with the Filipinos and about problems of dealing with and fighting the Hukbalahaps, the communist guerrillas or, indeed, in opposing the Japanese." -- Army. This book was originally published in 1986.]
Jernigan, E.J. Tin Can Man. Vandamere Pr. 1993 [An enlisted sailor's account of World War II, primarily aboard the destroyer with the second-most battle stars in the Pacific -- the USS Saufley. Unlike some of the WW II memoirs which are boring or make grandiose claims, Jernigan's work suffers from neither flaw. He tells a story that too few now appreciate or understand -- life on small ship, yet a small ship that was one integral element in the defeat of Japan. He makes no claims to fame. He did his job, and he usually did it well. Yet, there are plenty of colorful stories as the ship did see plenty of action and Jernigan did have his fair share of troubles, such as on liberty or when stealing the captain's gig. And EJ does call 'em as he saw 'em on life aboard the Saufley and on the character of its officers and the enlisted. One hopes that readers of the book will appreciate his story all the more for his honesty.]
Johnston, James W. The Long Road of War: A Marine's Story of Pacific Combat. [Peter Maslowski, forword] Univ. of Nebraska Pr. 2000 [Johnston was with the first Marine Division and this book recounts their actions on New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. "Johnston's account is deeply personal. . . . [He] recounts his extensive combat service from the perspective of what he terms a 'flat-trajectory Marine,' that is, one who is constantly exposed to the direct fire of enemy weapons. . . . He brings forth a vivid picture of the ordeal he lived--the brutality and terror of close combat, the anger and frustration of watching buddies die in extraordinarily ghastly fashion, the filth and mind-numbing weariness of an infantryman's existence." -- Marine Corps Gazette. Originally published by Nebraska in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Jones, Jr., Wilbur D. & Carroll Robbins Jones. Hawaii Goes to War: The Aftermath of Pearl Harbor. [Capt. Edward L. Beach, USN (Ret.), foreword] White Mane Books 2001 ["This work . . . is impressive for a number of reasons. It provides the reader with a detailed description of the Japanese attack . . . and the navy's monumental salvage operation. . . . Just as important is their description of life on Oahu before, during, and after the attack and how the American residents . . . rallied to the flag in a time of real crisis. The work, well illustrated with original photographs, presents a new, positive account of one of the most dramatic events in American history." -- Edward Marolda, Senior Historian, Naval Historical Center. "[This book] poignantly tells a remarkable story through the innocent childhood memories of a naval officer's daughter and the professional photographs of her mother . . . placed within the historical context of how Hawaiians reacted to the Japanese attack, how the navy regrouped and took the war to the Japanese, and the influx of tens of thousands of military personnel changed the social fabric of the Islands forever. Charts and figures make this an ideal reference book for personal libraries. With the forthcoming 60th Anniversary, this book is a most timely contribution." -- David F. Winkler, Naval Historical Foundation; Commander, USNR. "Riveting insights on conditions in Hawaii during and after the December 1941 attack. . . . Vivid remembrances and photographs by a navy wife and her children living [there]." -- Dean C. Allard, Former Director of Naval History. "If you, in researching or studying Pearl Harbor and its aftermath, were to come across a well-kept diary accompanied by an album of remarkable pictures, together they might be something like [this book]." -- BGen. Edwin H. Simmons, USMC (Ret.). "The turmoil and disruption caused by the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, lasted another half year until the decisive U.S. naval victory at Midway. Carrol and Wilbur Jones have provided an evocative and lively personal account of those desperate days when Hawaii lay dangerously exposed to a second, deadlier Japanese strike. A fresh and fascinating memoir!" -- Col. Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret.). "Every American should read this book . . . the story of how a navy family living in Honolulu on 7 December 1941 faced the chaos of martial law, blackouts, curfew, rationing, food shortages, and the constant realization that they could at any moment learn that the naval officer husband and father had been killed. It tells of the navy's heroic comeback . . . [and] two wonderful kids, who despite the deprivations of war and widespread fears of a Japanese invasion, remained courageous and upbeat." -- Capt. Charles R. Calhoun, USN (Ret.), WW II destroyer commander.]
Keeney, L. Douglas & William S. Butler, text. This Is Guadalcanal: The Original Combat Photography. Quill/Morrow 1998 [Several hundred B&W combat photographs along with quotations from participants in the battle, plus captions and sidebars by Keeney and Butler, give vivid insight into the brutal battle for the Pacific island.]
Klinkowitz, Jerome. With the Tigers over China, 1941-1942. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1999 [A look at the Flying Tigers who wreaked havoc on Japanese aircraft. "Contains the best description and estimate of Gen. Claire Chennault I have ever read." -- Bernard Norling.]
Kriloff, Herbert. Officer of the Deck: A Memoir of the Pacific War and the Sea. [Capt. Edward L. Beach, foreword] Pacifica Pr. 2000 [This book is a coming-of-age tale by a 1939 Naval Academy graduate. It recounts Ensign Kriloff's service aboard the newly reconditioned USS William B. Preston, a four-stack destroyer that was a remnant of World War One shipbuilding. Kriloff and the "Willy B." see plenty of action in the Pacific, including a treacherous journey counterclockwise around Australia while low on fuel.]
Lamont-Brown, Raymond. Kamikaze: Japan's Suicide Samurai. Arms and Armour (UK) 1997/Sterling (US) 1998 [This is a look at the myth and reality of Kamikaze strategy, training, and execution.]
Lapham, Robert & Bernard Norling. Lapham's Raiders: Guerrillas in the Philippines, 1942-1945. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1996
Leckie, Robert. Strong Men Armed: The United States Marines Against Japan. Da Capo 1997 [This book was originally published in 1962.]
Lewin, Ronald. Slim: The Standardbearer. [Wordsworth Military Library Series] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1999/Casemate Publ. (US) 2000 [Noted military historian Ronald Lewin chronicles the life of one of the great generals of the Second World War, Field Marshal the Viscount Slim (1891-1970). Coming from humble origins, William Slim served in World War I followed by inter-war service in India, then to leadership of the 14th Army in Burma. From 1943 to 1945 he commanded the "Forgotten Army" in a remarkable series of campaigns that retook Burma from the Japanese. This book was originally published in 1976.]
Linn, Brian McAllister. Guardians of Empire: The U.S. Army and the Pacific, 1902-1940. Univ. of North Carolina Pr. 1999 [This book has received a number of top history awards. "Rather than focus on the last few weeks prior to the disaster at Pearl Harbor, Linn goes back over the previous four decades to examine the Army's defense of Hawaii and the Philippines, and why it initially was unable to stop the Japanese advance. After establishing the historical background, he uses a five-fold approach that begins with a look at the evolution of the Army's strategic thinking on defense of the Pacific. The other four main aspects include tactical defense considerations, the garrisons' role in not only protecting the populaces but also in controlling them, how the Army planned to utilize the native populations, and finally the overarching consideration -- the discrepancy between the defense policies and the means necessary to execute them. Students of the Pacific war must not overlook this fine piece of scholarship." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "A brilliant example of the new military history. . . . Guardians of Empire is one of the most sophisticated and accessible accounts of the role of the U.S. military in peacetime. . . .It clearly establishes Linn as one of the leading military historians in the country." -- Military History of the West. "Guardians of Empire is the definitive work on the U.S. Army in the Pacific from the Philippine wars to World War II and will be the standard for years to come." --History: Reviews of New Books. Originally published in 1997, this book is still available in a hardcover edition from Amazon.com.]
Lord, Walter. Day of Infamy. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1998/Combined Books (US) 1999 [Originally published in 1957, this is still one of the most readable accounts, and the most popular history of the Pearl Harbor tragedy. "The most detailed account of one of the most sinister and caustic dramas of the century" -- The Observer. "An almost minute by minute account of what happened. . . it is a magnificent theme." -- The Times Literary Supplement.]
Lord, Walter. Incredible Victory: The Battle of Midway. [Classics of War Series] Burford Books 1998 [orig. 1967. "A remarkable account of what has been called 'the most significant and decisive naval battle since Trafalgar.'" -- Los Angeles Times.]
Maddox, Robert James. Weapons for Victory: The Hiroshima Decision Fifty Years Later. Univ. of Missouri Pr. 1995 [A short but well-argued defense of Truman's decision and a sharp critique of the revisionists. For an online review of this book, click here.]
Miller, Edward S. War Plan Orange: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan, 1897-1945. Naval Institute Pr. 1991
Mitsuru, Yoshida. Requiem for Battleship Yamato. [Richard H. Minear, trans. & intro.; Blue Jacket Books Series] Naval Institute Pr. 1999 [This is an account of the final, fatal voyage of the Japanese battleship by a junior officer who who was on the bridge when American aircraft attacked the ship. This book was originally published in 1985.]
Monahan, Evelyn M. & Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee. All This Hell: U.S. Nurses Imprisoned by the Japanese. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 2000 [This is the account of nearly one hundred and U.S. Army and Navy nurses stationed on Guam and in the Philippines who were captured by the Japanese and spent more than three years in prison camps. "Like their male counterparts, these nurses faced the reality of combat, anguish of surrender, and the brutality of captivity. Their story is one chapter in the annals of World War II that must be told, if American men and women are to appreciate the depth of sacrifice made by their countrymen and women in the cause of freedom." -- Rear Adm. Frances Shea Buckley, Nurse Corps, USN (Ret.). "Goes far toward telling their story in a way most readers can grasp, sensing the heroism as well as the horrors of some of most desperate years our Republic has ever faced." -- Frank F. Mathias. "All This Hell is a testament of human endurance, raw courage, and professionalism. Already physically and psychologically exhausted by the horrors and rigors of combat nursing and working against all odds to save the thousands of sick and wounded casualties these women bravely withstood the unspeakable conditions and starvation of the prison camp and continued to practice their profession until liberation. Their sacrifice and service were soon forgotten in the annals of history but these nurses blazed the path for military women to follow." -- BGen. Connie Slewitzke, former director, Army Nurse Corps.]
Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II 15-Volume Set. Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Rising Sun in the Pacific, 1931-April 1942. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 3] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Coral Sea, Midway and Submarine Actions, May 1942-August 1942. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 4] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Struggle for Guadalcanal, August 1942-February 1943. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 5] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, 22 July 1942-1 May 1944. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 6] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 7] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944-August 1944. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 8] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Leyte, June 1944-January 1945. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 12] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Liberation of the Philippines: Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas, 1944-1945. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 13] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Victory in the Pacific, 1945. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 14] Book Sales 2001
Morison, Samuel Eliot. Supplement and General Index. [History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 15] Book Sales 2001
Morriss, Mack. South Pacific Diary, 1942-1943. [Ronnie Day, ed.] Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1996
Nalty, Bernard C., ed. The Pacific War: The Story of the Bitter Struggle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. [Classic Conflicts Series] Salamander Books (UK)/Combined Books (US) 1999 [First published in 1991, this is only the text of the book, War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, featured immediately below. This edition is only a couple of dollars cheaper than that well-illustrated edition, so I recommend obtaining the book below.]
Nalty, Bernard C., ed. War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1999 [The hardcover edition of this book has just been added to the Amazon.com inventory and is available for order. This work is a reprint of the oversized edition first published by Salamander Books in 1991. Publisher supplied info: This book represents a collective effort of ten military historians, who describe each step of the conflict with clarity and exhaustive detail. All ground, sea, and air operations are integrated into the discussion of each campaign or battle. Included in the ground campaigns are the Japanese invasion of China, jungle warfare in New Guinea, the retaking of the Philippines, and the island campaigns of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Chapters on naval and air engagements at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Leyte Gulf complement discussions of air supply routes over the Himalayas and the bombing of Japan. Color maps clearly detail each campaign, showing the movement of forces throughout the entire engagement. Photos selected from the archives of six countries, along with more than one hundred color illustrations of weaponry, uniforms, and memorabilia, highlight the narrative. ". . . a wonderful work that brings together chapters by some of the best-known military historians including Thomas C. Hone, Edward J. Drea, Edward J. Marolda, Wayne Thompson, William T. Y'Blood, and Jeffrey G. Barlow. The [hardcover and softcover] editions are marvelously illustrated with 116 color images and 214 historical photographs. The color materials (including clear maps and photographs) are great, the b&w photos are in many cases a bit too dark but still helpful. I highly recommend the illustrated editions, especially for Pacific War neophytes. The hardcover is published in the UK by Salamander Books and distributed in the US by Combined Books. The same book but with a paper cover is distributed in the US by the University of Oklahoma Press. The text only edition is in the Classic Conflicts Series published in the UK by Salamander Books and also distributed in the US by Combined Books. Although the latter edition is the cheapest in cost, spend just a few extra dollars more to get the illustrated trade paper, or if your budget is in decent shape, buy the hardcover." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "This richly illustrated and well-written account by ten knowledgeable historians offers a clear, fast-moving, and colorful image of the Pacific War. It successfully describes and analyzes the myriad operations and underlying strategy of the great struggle to defeat Japan." -- Dr. Stanley Falk, former Chief Historian, U.S. Air Force.]
Norling, Bernard. The Intrepid Guerrillas of North Luzon. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1999 ["When the Japanese occupied the Philippines, they did not count on the ferocious resistance of the Filipino-American guerrilla bands. One of the most heroic outfits was the Cagayan-Apayao Forces (CAF) led by Maj. Ralph Praeger. In [this book], Norling pieces together the story of the CAF, Praeger's Troop C, 26th Cavalry, and the actions of other irregular forces in the rugged northern provinces. It is a history of courage and sacrifice, but ultimately of utter obliteration. Praeger's forces lasted the longest, even helping keep some semblance of the prewar Philippine government alive in their territory, but in the end (August-September 1943) the Japanese crushed the guerrillas. Praeger's executive officer was the only American in his unit to survive the war. This is a model military history -- well-written and breaking new ground -- and I highly recommend it." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "Rich with historical detail, this is an impressive volume on irregular warfare during World War II in the Philippine Islands. Norling's insightful and smoothly written accounts of American military and civilian guerrilla leaders reveal a crucible of courageous determination, costly mistakes, and often desperation." -- Ralph E. Weber, Marquette University. "A detailed view of the confused and chaotic background from which emerged later Luzon guerrillas. It was a most horrible, hopeless time for these boys, and this book provides a lesson in the real meaning of patriotism." -- Frank Mathias, University of Dayton.]
Norman, Elizabeth M. We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese. Pocket Books 2000 [Publisher supplied info: This is the story of ninety-nine Army and Navy nurses -- the first unit of American women ever sent into the middle of a battle. The "Angels of Bataan and Corregidor"-- as the newspapers called them -- became the only group of American women captured and imprisoned by an enemy. And the story of their trials on a bloody battlefield, their desperate flight to avoid capture and their ultimate surrender, imprisonment, liberation and homecoming is a story of endurance, professionalism and raw pluck. Along the way, they helped build and staff hospitals in the middle of a malaria-infested jungle on the peninsula of Bataan. Then, short of supplies and medicine, they worked around the clock in the operating rooms and open-air wards, dealing with gaping wounds and gangrenous limbs, ministering to the wounded, the sick, the dying. Finally, on the tiny island of Corregidor in Manila Bay, the Japanese took them prisoner. For three long years in an internment camp -- years marked by loneliness and starvation -- they kept to their mission and stuck together. In the end, it was this loyalty, this sense of purpose, womanhood and honor, that both challenged and saved them. "This is a gripping book. Elizabeth Norman presents a war story in which the main characters never kill one of the enemy, or even shoot at him, but are nevertheless heroes. . . . They were the bravest of the brave, who endured unspeakable pain and torture. Americans today should thank God we had such women." -- Stephen E. Ambrose. "Nursing is noble, of course, but it is clear that these women were something special. . . .We Band of Angels deserves a space on the bookshelves of anyone interested in World War II." -- C.B. Delaney, Amazon.com. ". . . a vital but missing chapter in the history of World War II. . . . It is as inspiring as it is horrific." -- Linda Bird Francke. "Norman brings a powerful new voice to the nonfiction literature of war, combining first-rate reportage with a lyrical narrative style to present an unforgettable story of courage and character. We Band of Angels is at once a terrific read and a classic study of human behavior under extreme duress." -- David Maraniss. "A gripping history of the . . . nurses who provided selfless care under conditions of extreme hardship on one of WWII's grimmest fronts. Before the Japanese attack on December 8, 1941, the US military base in Manila was regarded by those assigned there as a lush, exotic tropical paradise. Norman captures a country-club atmosphere of pristine beaches, officer's clubs, sports facilities, and dances, all facilitated by Filipino servants, that vanished in the space of five hours assault. US forces retreated to Bataan, a wild, unsettled, untamed, disease-ridden jungle/mountain preserve, a land of monkeys, snakes, wild pigs, exotic birds, and huge rats. . . . Normans touching and stirring narrative makes a fitting tribute to these remarkable womens courage and dedication." -- Kirkus. Originally published by Random House in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
O'Brien, Francis A. Battling for Saipan. Presidio/Ballantine 2003 [This book rehabilitates the 27th Infantry Division and explains its crucial role in the battle for Saipan. The unit has been overlooked and disparaged, with the credit for the defeat of the Japanese resting solely on the shoulders of the Marines. The 27th had the unfortunate experience of being under the command of Lt. Gen. Holland M. "Howlin' Mad" Smith, a cantankerous officer known to loath the Army. (This was the only time in the Pacific war that Marine officers commanded army troops in battle.) Combined with the harsh reporting about the 27th by noted Time-Life correspondant, Robert Sherrod (which he apologized for 46-years later), the 27th did not receive the credit it deserved. The reality was that casualties were distributed evenly between the three divisions in the V Amphibious Corps (i.e., the 2nd and 4th Marines and the 27th Infantry). The 27th's casualties on Saipan were 1,053 dead and 2,617 wounded, and several of its members received the Medal of Honor.]
Owens, William J. Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal. Hellgate Pr. 1999 [This is a history of the battle for Guadalcanal covering action on the land and sea, and in the air. If you are not familiar with the course of the campaign you will need to have maps handy while reading this, it has not a one. And keeping track of chapters is a problem, all the headings on the even-numbered pages are the book's title, on all the odd-numbered pages it is the title of the first chapter -- "The Prelude to World War II."]
Perret, Geoffrey. Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur. Random House 1996 [Much of America's role in the Pacific this century was determined by this man of iron will, and Perret does an admirable job of chronicling his life. The author, well known for a number of WW II histories, deserves credit for his able research, and for keeping an open mind about his subject. Neither hagiography nor condemnation (traps lesser writers have fallen into), Perret makes clear that MacArthur was a great, but very flawed general. "The strong contradictions in MacArthur's character make it inevitable that he will be both reviled and revered (p. 587)." Less hefty than D'Este's new Patton biography, Perret's 663 pages are also quite readable. I only wished for a more detailed discussion of MacArthur after WW II (especially on the Inchon landing), and a more thorough summation and assessment at the end of the work. (One statement at the end of the book deserving more support from Perret is this, "At his best he was probably the second-greatest soldier in American history, second only, that is, to Ulysses S. Grant (p. 589)". I wouldn't quibble with his ranking of Grant, but I have yet to be convinced on MacArthur.) However, there is no doubt that I would now make this biography the first one to read on MacArthur.]
Porter, Col. Bruce R. with Eric Hammel. Ace!: A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II. ["Pappy" Boyington, intro.] Pacifica Pr. 1998 [Originally published in 1985, Porter recounts his career beginning as a naval aviation cadet in 1940 to his service in the South Pacific and concluding with a rare double night kill and earning the desgnation of "ace" over Okinawa. Here are the enthusiastic recommendations of five Marine Medal of Honor winners: ". . . reflects the keen analytical mind of a fighter pilot's technical skills projected into combat. This book is a 'must' for anyone interested in combat aviation history." -- Col. Jeff De Blanc. ". . . relives the challenges, frustrations, and triumphs of training, on his victories in the Corsair in the Solomons, and then on to attain ace staus witha flourish at Okinawa. Read and enjoy a fabulous Marine aviation combat story." -- BGen. Joe Foss. "Bruce Porter's book is great! It shows the many details and answers many questions about operating from an aircraft carrier." -- BGen. Bob Galer. "You have to read this excellent book. It will keep you glued to the pages as you sit in the cockpit with Bruce. . . . It is very well written and personal." -- Col. Jim Swett. "I highly recommend it." -- LtCol. Ken Walsh.]
Prados, John. Combined Fleet Decoded: The Secret History of American Intelligence and the Japanese Navy in World War II. Naval Institute Pr. 2001 [A must read for all interested in the war in the Pacific and/or intelligence. Prados has carefully pieced together the Allied and Japanese conduct of the war with full regard for all aspects of intelligence, from its impact on strategy and operations to individual battles, and derived from whatever source, whether cryptographic, photo recon, interrogations, spies, etc. One clearly sees just how crucial the U.S. strengths and Japanese weaknesses in naval intelligence were to the outcome of the war. "This is not just an important book but an immensely readable one." -- Robert Crowley. "A classic . . . should be considered as to intelligence work what Thucydides' The Pelopponnesian War is to national naval strategy--quite simply, the epitome of its kind." -- American Bar Association's National Security Law Report. "A fascinating new look at the Pacific War--with fresh information and perceptive interpretation based on solid research." -- Stanley Falk. ". . . a major contribution to our knowledge about the Japanese navy and the Pcific war that is mandatory reading for all students of that conflict. By revealing fresh perspectives heavily based on long-neglected files, postwar interviews, and oral histories, this book enables the reader to penetrate the minds and motivations of Japan's naval leaders." -- Clark Reynolds. "Prados has vividly woven the golden thread of intelligence through the complicated tapestry of war in the Pacific. . . . A remarkable contribution, cleverly disguised as a good read." -- David Kahn. This book was originally published in hardcover in 1995 by Random House. The hardcover is now out of print, please click on the Alibris banner below to track one down.]
Ramsey, Edwin Price & Stephen J. Rivele. Lieutenant Ramsey's War: From Horse Soldier to Guerrilla Commander. Brassey's 1996
Rasor, Eugene. The Solomon Islands Campaign, Guadlacanal to Rabaul: History and Annotated Bibliography. [Bibliographies of Battles and Leaders, no. 20] Greenwood Pr. 1997
Rasor, Eugene L. The Southwest Pacific Campaign, 1941-1945: Historiography and Annotated Bibliography. [Bibliographies of Battles and Leaders, no. 19] Greenwood Pr. 1996
Raymer, Cdr. Edward C. Descent into Darkness: Pearl Harbor, 1941: A Navy Diver's Memoir. Presidio Pr.1996
Rooney, David. Burma Victory: Imphal and Kohima, March 1944 to May 1945. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [Rooney works to set the record clear on the complex, at times confusing, battles of the FourteenthArmy in Burma. The two great battles of Imphal and Kohima saw the Japanese attacks crushed with stunning results for the Allies, i.e., it set in motion the final victorious drive to Rangoon. Argues Rooney, "Japanese forces suffered the greatest defeat in their history." This book was originally published in 1992 by Arms & Armour Press.]
Sides, Hampton. Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission. Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publ. 2001 [James Naughton, reader; 6 hours, 4 cassettes]
Skates, John Ray. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Univ. of South Carolina Pr. 2000 [Skates presents a rather more optimistic scenario for the invasion of Japan, which causes him to doubt the necessity of using atomic bombs to end the war. This book was originally published in 1994. "The Invasion of Japan deserves a wide readership. Skates's judicious accountant sets to rest many misconceptions regarding the end of the war in the Pacific; it also offers much that is new. Highly recommended." -- American Neptune. "This is an extremely interesting and well-researched overview of the U.S. plans for ending World War II." -- The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. "This is a fascinating book that will be trailblazing and stimulating reading even for the most avid of World War II historians because it's a fresh report." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch. "A thorough and penetrating analysis, based on original American and Japanese documents, of the invasion of Japanese home islands that was planned, but never implemented, to end World War II." -- Salem Press.]
Smith, Carl. Pearl Harbor. [Adam Hook & Jim Laurier, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book is a great introduction to the Japanese assault on the US Pacific Fleet. It is loaded with b&w photos and very helpful full-color maps of the naval base, Japanese aircraft approach paths, the two air waves, and more. It concludes with a short guide to wargaming the battle, and visitor information, plus good appendices that lay out the US and Japanese organization of command, complete fleet orders of battle, descriptions of Japanese and US aircraft in and around Pearl, and detailed Japanese first and second wave formation tables. This book was originally published in 1999 as #62 in the Osprey Campaign Series with the title, Pearl Harbor 1941.]
Spector, Ronald H. Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan. Vintage 1985 [Still considered by most historians to be the best overall history of the US effort to defeat Japan in WW II.]
Stanton, Doug. In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors. St. Martin's Paperbacks 2002 [Originally published by Henry Holt in 2001, this book is still available in a hardcover edition. It is one of the most widely reviewed -- and praised -- WW II histories. The first seven pages of the book contain 55 endorsements and/or excerpts from reviews. The Indianapolis was the cruiser sunk by a Japanese sub on 30 July, 1945. Its crew suffered five days of hell in the open Pacific, including the shark attacks made famous in the soliloquy by Quint in the movie Jaws. Of the 1,200 men on board, about 300 died in the torpedo attack, leaving 900 struggling to survive the brutal ocean. Only 317 succeeded. The book also discusses the tortured aftermath of the ship's sinking as the Navy court martialed Captain Charles Butler McVay, III, commander of the Indianapolis. The Navy, rather than look at its own culpability in the tragic event, went after McVay. In turn, the surviving crew, and other interested parties, worked to clear McVay's name. This edition of the book carries a new afterword which brings this latter part of the story up-to-date. ". . . writes carefully and judiciously, with . . . timing and an eye for the right detail . . . the most frightening book I've ever read." -- Stephen E. Ambrose. ". . . powerfully-written account of a nightmare at sea, one of the most poignant tragedies and injustices of World War II . . ." -- Mark Bowden. "A haunting story of valor, iniquity, and young men in peril on the sea . . . infuriating, mesmerizing, and heartbreaking . . ." -- Rick Atkinson."Superbly crafted, it benefits from sympathetic research on the Indianapolis survivors, the horror of their experiences, and their courage in surviving. . . . That horrible ordeal Stanton renders vividly, thanks to the recollections of several living survivors and his evocative narrative style." -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist. This book is also available from Harper Audio in an abridged audio cassette edition and abridged CD edition. "Audiophiles who like shark and starvation stories will devour this salty tale. . . . Boyd Gaines, a well-chosen narrator, has one of those rare radio-announcer voices with a deep, sandpapery touch so pleasant it melts into the vivid images he portrays. His increased tempo during the ship's sinking captures the chaos, while the four days of deaths in the sea are interpreted with somber respect." -- J.A.H., AudioFile. "A fascinating, horrible tale, and Stanton brings it off well, supported skillfully by American-voiced Boyd Gaines." -- Don Wismer, Library Journal.]
Tamayama, Kazuo & John Nunneley. Tales by Japanese Soldiers of the Burma Campaign, 1942-1945. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2001/Sterling (US) 2002 [This book collects 62 tales of war by Japanese soldiers from the Burma battles. They are assembled in chronological order. Between 1942 and 1945 over 305,000 Japanese troops served in Burma, 180,000 died. For the non-Japanese reader this book sheds new light into what it was like for the common Japanese soldier in this brutal theater. ". . . drawn from the deep well of memory . . . a harrowing but often humorous and touching account from 'the other side of the hill' in the Burma campaign." -- Sunday Times. "Very few memoirs of Japanese soldiers who fought in WWII have come to light, so the Japanese combatant of that era has become something of a mythic figure, viewed chiefly through the recollections of former enemies. This volume . . . offers a rare series of first-person accounts from at least one group of men who served with the Imperial Japanese Army." -- Publishers Weekly. "This volume is nonetheless full of imagery and information on the Burma Theater and is recommended, especially for the military historian." -- Mel D. Lane, Library Journal. Originally published 2000, this book is still available in a hardcover edition]
Tsouras, Peter G., ed. Rising Sun Victorius: The Alternative History of How the Japanese Won the Pacific War. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 2001 [Ten contributors, including D.M. Giangreco, Wade G. Dudley, David C. Isby, James R. Arnold, and Frank R. Shirer, look at different possibilities and choices that could have changed the course of the WW II in the Pacific.]
Tsuji, Colonel Masanobu. Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat. [H.V. Howe, ed.; Margaret E. Lake, trans.] Sarpedon 1997 [An account by the Japanese staff officer who brilliantly planned -- and also participated in the execution of -- the 100 day campaign in which the Japanese drove down the Malaya Peninsula and captured the British fortress at Singapore, "the Gibralter of the East." It was originally published in Japan in 1952 as Shonan: The Hinge of Fate.]
Twining, Gen. Merrill B. No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal: The Memoir of Gen. Merrill B. Twining, USMC. (Ret.) [Neil Carey, ed.] Presidio Pr. 1997 [orig. 1994. An exciting account of the battle for Guadalcanal by the operations for the 1st Marine Division. One gets a view to seldom offered -- that of the professional staff officer who takes the paper plan and decisions of the commanding officer and turns them into flesh and blood reality.]
Urwin, Gregory J.W. Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island. Univ. of Nebraska Pr. 2002 ["One of the better historians of America's military, Urwin has written an impressive account of the valiant defense of a key island in the Pacific. Coming on the heels of the Pearl Harbor fiasco, the siege of Wake Island shows just how much fighting spirit America still possessed. Against overwhelming odds, 1,742 men held out for 16 days, from Dec. 8-23, 1941, until ordered to surrender. Marines were the majority of the garrison, but they were ably aided by several hundred American construction workers, and a fe sailors and Army radiomen. Using the standard archival resources, Urwin also includes material from over 70 interviews with Wake defenders, plus a few from the victors in Japan. Urwin then completes the story by relating the fate of the captured Americans during their 44 months of torment. The result is compelling military history. A big book at 727 pages, Facing Fearful Odds is a quicker read than many books half its size." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times. Originally published by Nebraska in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Vedder, James S. Combat Surgeon: On Iwo Jima With the 27th Marines. Presidio Pr. 1998 ["Originally published in 1984 as Surgeon on Iwo, Vedder's gripping memoir is now available in trade paperback. The chief medical officer for the 27th's 3d Battalion, Vedder and his men were up front and working under fire on Iwo Jima. They moved forward with the Marines as they cut across the island, rescuing and treating the physical (and mental) victims of shot and shell. Often the wounded were operated on at the bottom of huge shell craters, with those awaiting surgery lying along the craters' sides and rim.
The troops suffered from enormous stress and not a few lost their nerve; terrible blunders cost many their lives. Vedder found the chaplains to be a remarkable help to those suffering from exhaustion and called on their assistance. The sum total of this book shows Nimitz to be justified in saying, 'Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.' Vedder received a Silver Star for his courage. If you missed this book when it came out 14 years ago, read it now." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times.]
Walton, Frank E. Once They Were Eagles: The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1996 [orig. 1986.]
Weiland, Charles Patrick. Above and Beyond. Pacifica Pr. 1997 [These are the memoirs of a young man who joined the Marines in 1940 and became an aviator. He saw plenty of action in the Pacific and rose up the ladder of command evetually leading VMF-452, a Corsair squadron that eventually was assigned to the ill-fated USS Franklin.]
Wells, Anne Sharp. Historical Dictionary of World War II: The War Against Japan. [Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest, No. 13] Scarecrow Pr. 1999 [This is a superb dictionary for anyone studying WW II in the Pacific. Starting with Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and running up through the early postwar years, the 586 concise cover all manner of military and political personages, places and institutions, battles and camapaigns, weapons, etc. The book features twenty-eight maps, a seventeen-page chronology, a nineteen-page introductory essay on the war, an appendix with code names, an appendix with selected statistics, a bibliographical essay, and an extensive (113-page!) bibliography. "From well-known facts to the obscure, this book provides a wealth of compact information, making it a useful resource for research and reference work." -- William D. Bushnell, USMC (ret.), Library Journal.]
Westheimer, David. Death is Lighter than a Feather. Univ. of North Texas Pr. 1995 [A novel originally published as Lighter than a Feather in 1971. Westheimer's story is a fascinating depiction of individuals on land, sea, and in the air caught up in Operation Olympic. Westheimer shifts to and from American and Japanese combatants and civilians in masterfully detailed situations which accurately convey the scope and nature of combat in the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. The author's extensive research is also apparent in the largely nonfiction prologue. And in contrast to Allan and Polmar and Maddox, Westheimer concludes the campaign would have been much less costly in lives, a point reinforced by John Ray Skates' afterword.]
Wheeler, Richard. The Bloody Battle for Suribachi. Naval Institute Press Audiobooks 1999 [This audiobook is excerpted from Wheeler's much heralded memoir of the brutal struggle to sieze Mount Suribachi from the Japanese lodged on Iwo Jima. Wheeler was there as a member of the 3rd platoon of Company E, 2d Battalion, 28th Marines and his platoon planted the first flag on the volcano's summit (Wheeler was severely wounded before reaching the top though). The book comes on two cassettes that run four hours, and it is read by John Hitchcock. Hitchcock does a capable job of reading the book, he is quite articulate. We listened to the tapes while driving cross-country and had no trouble following Wheeler's edited account and Hitchcock's speaking. Two things I must note. First, I was quite surprised to find out that a professor whose art history courses I took as an undergraduate was one of those involved in the original flag raising on Iwo. He was prof I very much admired, now my admiration has grown even larger. I only wish I had known of his combat experiences at the time I was taking his courses. Second, I must note that the tape made quite an impact on my young daughter, who is a military history buff. After it finished she said, "Dad, now I understand why you say war is so horrible. I would like to write the author and tell him that I appreciate his book." An audiobook that can convey the idea that military history is not all fanfare and pomp and that it involves tragedy, hardship and sacrifice has done its job. "A wise commentary on wars and why men fight them." -- United Press International. "An intimate, inch-by-inch, minute-by-minute story of the action, by a participant." -- San Diego Union. "Grips the reader from the beginning and the result is an outstanding piece of war literature." -- New Orleons Times-Picayune. "An imperishable bit of literature." -- Detroit News. The two cassettes are read by John Hitchcock and run four hours.]
Wright, Derrick. Tarawa 1943: The Turning of the Tide. [Campaign Series, no. 77] Osprey Publ. 2000
Yahara, Col. Hiromichi. The Battle for Okinawa. [intro. & commentary by Frank B. Gibney] Wiley 1997 [Yahara was the senior staff officer of the 32nd Japanese Army at Okinawa. The hardcover edition may still be available.]
Y'Blood, William T. The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan. [Bluejacket Books Series] Naval Institute Pr. 1999 [This book is a comprehensive history of the CVEs (aircraft carrier, escort), the eighty-six small carriers known as "jeeps," "baby flattops," and "two-torpedo ships." These versatile carriers served in numerous battles such as Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and Okinawa. The ships proved useful in any number of missions including hunting submarines, providing air support, escorting convoys, and ultimately returning GIs to the U.S. This book was originally published in 1987. "Little Giants is well worth reading, for it brings to light a little-known, almost forgotten part of the U.S. Navy's operations in the Pacific. The author is to be congratulated for capturing the essence of the activities of the escort carriers." -- Naval War College Review. "In this thoroughly researched and eminently readable book, the author spins an exciting, fast-paced yarn in telling of their accomplishments and losses, triumphs and tragedies." -- Sea Frontiers.]
Young, Donald J. First 24 Hours of War in the Pacific. Burd Street Pr./White Mane Publ. Co. 1998 [This is a look at the amazing 24 hours in which Japan simultaneously attacked Pearl Harbor, Malaya, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Wake, Guam, and Midway. These attacks occurred over an area covering nearly one-fourth of the earth's surface.]
Also worth checking out is Abebooks.
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At over 1,300 periodicals, Magazania offers a good number of publications for the history and current affairs reader, e.g., MILITARY HERITAGE, AMERICA'S CIVIL WAR, OLD WEST, THE ECONOMIST, AMERICAN HERITAGE, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, CIVILIZATION, SMITHSONIAN, and much more.
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