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The Pacific / SalesRank : 93

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The Pacific
Author : Hugh Ambrose

Amazon Price : $15.75 42%($11.20) OFF
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Hardcover [ NAL Hardcover ] [ Release : 2010 / 03 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9780451230232 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 045123023X
[ ListPrice : $26.95 ] [ Used Price:$12.25 ]

Average Customer Review :

2.5stars [ See more reviews ]

I loved the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers", and am eagerly awaiting the release of "The Pacific" on DVD. That was my Dad's war, he served in combat in that theater of operations, and the Pacific theater never seems to have received the same treatment in literature and movies as was heaped on the European war.

When I saw this book, I thought it would be another entertaining adjunct to the HBO miniseries... and boy was I wrong!

As the author states right in the Intro, he made a concerted effort to have as little overlap as possible with the HBO production. Unfortunately, that effort covers some of the most significant actions in that theater, which doesn't leave a whole lot for Ambrose, I guess.

He focuses, evidently, on different men and different aspects of the battles. Now, this could have worked if he'd gone into perhaps more depth than the miniseries can possibly do in such a format, but instead he elects to give short shrift to the battles, and instead focus on the minutiae, leaving the feeling that these were more along the lines of skirmishes than major battles. The early part of the book spends time on the Guadalcanal invasion, and I had absolutely zero... ZERO ... impression that the battle was as intense and desperate as it was in real life.

Further, he seems to go out of his way to avoid the actual battles when possible, spending a LOT of time on what these guys were doing on their leaves and furloughs; camp life in the rear; their escapades in New Zealand, Australia, and back stateside; etc.

For example, one of the major figures in the book is Medal of Honor recipient "Manila John" Basilone... and if I ever read one more word about his War Bond tour and stateside duty, my eyes will completely glaze over and I'll fall into a coma.

No, no, no... if you're looking for a book on the actual WAR that took place in the Pacific, avoid this thing.

1stars - "The best word to describe this book is "tedious"" (Brian Baker)

I was a founding member of the D-Day Museum (now National WWII Museum) in New Orleans when it opened, but I've had little to do with the museum since it opened because of how bloody horrible I saw Stephen Ambrose deal with WWII veterans. The folks that run the museum don't know anything about military history, they're just worried about running a pretty museum, but this isn't about the museum, it's about the book.

Just as his father Stephen did with Band of Brothers and The Wild Blue, Hugh has taken several well-known veterans' biographies, spliced them together into a new book, and is being touted as a great authority on WWII by pinheads like Tom Hanks, who doesn't even understand why WWII was fought.

"The Pacific" is nothing more than two classic autobiographies mashed together, with a lot of clumsy splicing work I might add. What you have here is "With the Old Breed" and "Helmet for my Pillow" mixed together and mashed up, with Hugh acting like he's the first person to ever discover these two iconic memoirs of combat in the Pacific during WWII. This book is a waste of time. Buy the original memoirs, they're much better written and stand quite well on their own without Ambrose's "scholarly" self-righteous commentary.

1stars - "Another great piece of plagiarism from the Ambrose clan." (Nachtjager)

I just bought this book the other day. I've read a LOT of history on WW2, perhaps 200+ books.

As the author explains in the Introduction, this book is meant not as a detailed military analysis of the battles that are covered within it, nor is it meant to be a biography, per se. The author claims to be striving for an "in the moment" veteran's-eye view, with all misconceptions, errors of fact, and rampant war rumors (which accompany any combat operation) left in tact, for affect. Direct quotes from the players...and related players...are intentionally lacking.

So, if you can imagine a book that has minimal dialogue or quotes, erroneous historical facts sited often, and strives on purpose to have all the depth and breadth of a casual conversation, you end up with what seems to me like a book that HAD a lot of potential, but any time it got near any topic of interest, it did its best to get off the subject and move on to the next topic, as fast as possible. I want to know exactly what these guys were thinking, feeling and saying in these moments, in as much detail as the author could have rested from his subjects via extensive interviews and research. This book reads more like a field report, all to often just too brief and bound by short sentences, consisting of the barest-of-bones facts.

In the end, it's VERY hard to read. Stilted, encumbered by its self-inflicted "style", it is a lost chance to really contribute to our history in the war...and it was done on purpose, all for the sake of conducting what I would call, a failed experiment in writing.

I hope the mini-series is better. I'd skip this book, I don't think that you'll find it a page-turner. :-/

2stars - "I hope the series is better than the book" (D. May)

One of the biggest detractors I've encountered (twice in the first few pages) is that "Marine" is not capitalized. The word "Marine", when referencing a current or former member, or unit of the US Marine Corps is considered a proper noun and should be capitalized. Examples: "He's a Marine." or "A company of Marines."

For those of us who have earned the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor of the USMC and the title "Marine", it's a major error.

The terms "Soldier", "Sailor", "Airman", and "Marine" are all proper nouns.

Other than that.. so far, so good.

4stars - "Just started the book..." (T. A. Rudnicki)

As a huge fan of Band of Brothers I couldn't wait for the series to start so I picked up Ambrose's The Pacific in order to fill the time and give me a back story for when the series starts. The Pacific certainly did that and more as I now want to read a lot more on the war against the "Japs". With The Pacific I think the subject being covered was what triggered this, as Ambrose's style of writing is both a hit and a miss.

The pros are that I oftentimes wonder as I am reading other memoirs/bios of WWII veterans as to where and how they fit in with one another. With The Pacific the mini bios of the marines and naval pilots are all woven together in a linear timeline so you always know where they are and what they are doing in relation to one another. This is fascinating to me because it adds many levels of detail that help to create an overall richer account of The Pacific War. Add to this the different elements of who they are, i.e. officer, dive bomber and so on, and we are treated to a more in depth look at the structure of the US forces battlling the Japanese in the Pacific ocean.

The cons, and I really only have one worth mentioning, is that Ambrose's style of writing can be rather dry and stiff at times, feeling as though we are getting a recitation of facts instead of a narrative that is weaving the facts together. Although this style can work I oftentimes found that the writing style was having troubles catching my interest and I had to draw myself back in order to continue my own narrative of what Ambrose was telling us.

Overall the book is workable as a companion volume to the upcoming HBO series for not only illustrating the lives of some of the men being represented but in also layering more detail with the inclusion of other equally fascinating men, notably Shofner and Micheel, who were perhaps more fascinating to read about because of their experiences as a POW in a Japanese POW camp and as a dive bomber, respectively. I would certainly recommend to read the other more immensely readable WWII memoirs of the Pacific Theater, i.e. Helmet For My Pillow and With The Old Breed, in order to get a better feel for what will be depicted in the HBO series, and pick up The Pacific as a companion volume instead of a stand alone history of the Pacific War.

3.5 stars.

4stars - "A passable yet dry account of The Pacific War..." (Brian Hawkinson)

Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific / SalesRank : 62

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Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific
Author : Robert Leckie

Amazon Price : $9.36 42%($6.64) OFF
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Paperback [ Bantam ] [ Release : 2010 / 02 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9780553593310 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 0553593315
[ ListPrice : $16.00 ] [ Used Price:$9.85 ]

Average Customer Review :

4.5stars [ See more reviews ]

I read this and "The Old Breed." Two different books but telling remarkable stories of bravery, loss and horror. I recommend that this one be read before Sledge's work. After reading them both I've come to appreciate both their different styles and focus. What struck me most was when I read passages that described the same event but from obviously different perspectives. It is sad that as I watch "The Pacific" miniseries it only scratches at the strength both of these books convey. Read these books to get at the story because the screenplay makes compromises along the way.

5stars - "Short Note of Praise" (Robert Beaver)
This book was a disapointment. I had only read good reviews. Was expecting alot more.

3stars - "Helmet for my Pillow" (William D Campbell)

I first learned of this book when I read that it was being used as one of the sources for HBO's new miniseries about the Pacific theater in the Second World War. Having enjoyed the other source material being used, E. B. Sledge's superb memoir, With the Old Breed, I decided to track down a copy of Leckie's account and read it for myself. Because of this, I found myself comparing the two works as I read it, which influenced my overall opinion of the book.

In many ways, the experiences of the two men were similar. Both were civilians prior to the Second World War; Leckie enlisted in the Marines a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His account of basic training feels incredibly authentic, in part because of his attention to details. Leckie captures much of the mundane minutiae of learning how to be a Marine, from the bureaucratic experience of inoculation to the quest for a good time on leave. This sense of authenticity continues as he describes his deployment to Guadalcanal with the First Marine Division and his engagement with the war there. These experiences form the best part of the book, as his initial encounter with life as a Marine in both training and war reflect his interest in the novelty of it all.

From Guadalcanal, Leckie's unit was returned to Australia for rest and refitting. This transformation into what he calls a "lotus-eater" also bears a real sense of verisimilitude, as unlike many memoirs of war he does not gloss over the search for release that often characterized breaks from the battles. It is here, though, that his account flags a little, and his return to combat in New Britain as part of Operation Cartwheel was perhaps the least interesting part of the book. The book improves with his subsequent experiences in the hospital in Banika and his final, abbreviated deployment to Peleliu, which ended with his injury and return to the States for the duration of the war.

Reading this book, it is easy to see why it stands out as an account of the Second World War. Leckie's prose brings alive both the mundane routines of service and the violence of combat. It is when he is between the two that the book suffers, as his efforts at evocative prose about his surroundings in the jungle suffer from being a little overwrought, particularly in comparison to Sledge's plainer, more straightforward descriptions. Yet both need to be read for a fascinating portrait of what the war was like for the "new boots" who gave up their lives as civilians to fight in the humid jungles and barren islands of the Pacific.

4stars - "Leckie conveys the experience of war with authenticity" (Mark Klobas)
Not really a war memoir. The author describes more the times before and after the battles. The reader can experience the transition from untrained civilian to veteran. Mixed into the story are the surreal exploits of the marines in Australia after Guadacanal. Fine companion piece to the other books used as a basis for the HBO series.

Not really a war memoir. The author describes more the times before and after the battles. The reader can experience the transition from untrained civilian to veteran. Mixed into the story are the surreal exploits of the marines in Australia after Guadacanal. Fine companion piece to the other books used as a basis for the HBO series.

4stars - "Get into a marine's mind" (John Bowes)

"Helmet for my Pillow" is a book written by writer who was from my hometown of Rutherford, NJ. He had a personal relationship with his family physician William Carlos Williams the great poet. They spent much time together and you do not know how much of William's descriptive poetry style rubbed off on Leckie. I found his vocabulary to be extensive. You must keep in mind that he is describing a terrible yet historical time in U.S. history and he is attempting to give his fellow comrades in the marines their fair due. He never names a person by their real name and I think that is masterful because it shows how you do not want to get too personal with your fellow marines, because, they will be may gone at some point soon. He wrote the book after seeing 'South Pacific" when he walked out half way through the play and said to his wife Vera "I am going to write a book to tell the true story of what took place in the South Pacific". He wanted to honor his friends who gave up so much whether they lived or died. The book is hard reading but not as hard as he had it. He was a wild guy who tells the truth. He doesn't mix word or actions. Yeah, they drank a lot. From basic training to the awful islands where they would steal Saki when they could. After a while you begin to wonder if all the marines drank that much. Yet you must remember that his generation started the cocktail hour and they lived by "Its 5 O'clock, Dear Lets have a drink!". To sum it up they are making a huge HBO show 10 parts series about it, so whether you like it or not it is a must read to appreciate the show. I read it, and, I will have a much better understanding of what those men went through. I would recommend this book. I never met Mr. Leckie as far back as I can recall. My mother and uncles were his very close friends at St. Mary's high school, in Rutherford. He was the youngest of 8 kids and it is quite exceptional that the baby in the family turned out to be such a success. He wrote over 40 books in his lifetime and he is a man with a high school education. The Sisters of St. Dominic must have done a greast job teachingb him when he wasn't playing hookie.

5stars - "True hero giving credit to his fallen and wounded marines" (John F. Kelly)

With the Old Breed / SalesRank : 78

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With the Old Breed
Author : E.B. Sledge

Amazon Price : $9.36 42%($6.64) OFF
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Paperback [ Presidio Press ] [ Release : 2007 / 05 / 01 ]
ISBN : 9780891419068 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 0891419063
[ ListPrice : $16.00 ] [ Used Price:$9.50 ]

Average Customer Review :

5.0stars [ See more reviews ]

This is an incredible CHRONOLOGICAL account of the Pacific War,A CLASSIC, and Eugene is an INTELLECTUAL man of Great Modesty ...This Book is the "REAL DEAL " Sledge pulls no punches ...it's Brutal ...it's honest ...it's War like you've never read before ....MANS TOTAL ANIMALISTIC FEROCITY .....Only the AMERICAN MARINES could have fought and WON this War ...no other Country had the Primal Urge for Victory like the U.S.A....True the Eastern front was Savage ...but a Conventional Land Battle is no comparision to Seaborne Warriors Landing on Secured Beachheads and fighting for every grain of Sand inch by inch against an Enemy who had NEVER tasted Defeat in the whole History of there Country ......for the EMPEROR there GOD ....BUSHIDO....KAMIKAZE....BANZAI CHARGES ...it's all in this MASTERPIECE .

5stars - ""SLEDGHAMMER"" (Christopher G. Johnson)

I'm about half way through the Kindle edition of this book and have to say it is excellent. There are moments when you are brought into the battle so vividly you almost want to find a place to hide. The descriptions of the thirst Sledge and his fellow marines experienced are real and painful. The battle scenes are haunting. If you are interested in the Pacific Theater during WWII please read this book.

5stars - "You Are There" (ECU_Classic_Music_Fan)
Stick your head up, you die. The descriptions here assault all your senses. The definitive story from a front line marine. It ain't pretty. It will shock some. But it is what happened.

Stick your head up, you die. The descriptions here assault all your senses. The definitive story from a front line marine. It ain't pretty. It will shock some. But it is what happened.

4stars - "the view from the prone position" (John Bowes)

I've read a lot of books about WWII, particularly the Pacific theater. I deeply respect the fact that no one who hasn't experienced combat can really understand what it's like. If you're a veteran, my comments don't apply. But for a civilian like me, this book comes the closest to giving an idea of how awful it was. Just to think about what these men did, and what they endured to get it done, runs a shiver up my spine. An incredible story.

5stars - "the closest to being there a civilian is ever going to experience" (David Wilson)
I would highly recommend this book about WWII in the Pacific. Sledge has a remarkable way of writing that makes you feel what he felt.

I would highly recommend this book about WWII in the Pacific. Sledge has a remarkable way of writing that makes you feel what he felt.

5stars - "Highly Recommended" (Kevin Clifford)

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour / SalesRank : 540

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Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
Author : Lynne Olson

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Hardcover [ Random House ] [ Release : 2010 / 02 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9781400067589 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 1400067588
[ ListPrice : $28.00 ] [ Used Price:$16.00 ]

Average Customer Review :

4.5stars [ See more reviews ]

All I can say is I wish I had history books this interesting back when I was in college. This book as you may know cover the contributions of three important American figures in Britain during the early years of World War II before the U.S. had declared war. The people examined are John Gilbert Winant the American Ambassador to Britain after Joe Kennedy was recalled home; Edward R. Murrow the head of CBS news in Europe at the time, and Averell Harriman a businessman who developed the lend-lease program that would provide weapons, technology and materials to the British during the early years of WWII.

Olsen explores through stories and anecdotes the lives of these men during this trying time for the England and how they made significant contributions to the war effort in England and hwo they were responsible for forging those early bonds that tied England and USA together in the battle against the Axis.

Olsen is a journalist not a history professor, so she tend to mix in a bit of opinion and makes some claims without really justifying them, but that is easily overlooked for how fun and interesting of a read this book is. As a journalist the author crafts and tells great stories and you learn so much about how people you never knew existed had a great effect on WWII, and that includes many other people beyond the main subjects of Murrow, Winant and Harriman.

If you are a fan of World War II history and politics I think you will enjoy this book like I did. It is not a military book by any means, but rather a book about political inner workings, creating public opinion and the economics of waging a war. If any of those things interest you, then I think you will find this book a great read.

5stars - "I Wish History Textbooks Were This Interesting" (Rawim)

Citizens of London is well written. It gives the reader a totally different perspective on what it was like to live in London before World War II. I was intrigued by people like Gil Winant, our ambassador who replaced Joe Kennedy in London, as well as Edward R. Murrow and his dedication to reporting the "real stories" of life in London during the Blitz and how Americans were perceived during that time.

5stars - "A great read....." (Kathleen M. Niva)

Citizens of London is another fine work of World War II history by Lynne Olson. The book primarily focusses on three Americans who lived in London during the war: US Ambassador John Gilbert Winant, diplomat Averell Harriman, and broadcaster Ed Murrow. I knew quite a bit about Harriman and Murrow but little or nothing about Winant. All three men were influential in helping to form and nurture the "special relationship" between the US and Great Britain that eventually led to the Allied victory. The three had numerous personal interconnections, including liaisons with members of the Churchill family, Harriman and Murrow with the Prime Minister's daughter-in-law Pamela and Winant with his daughter Sarah.

The most important parts of Citizens of London deal with the events of World War II. There can never be too many retellings of the hammering the British withstood during the war, and Olson's is one of the best. But even more important is the new information (at least its new to me) about the innumerable stresses and strains of the alliance between the US and Britain. As an ardently Anglophile American, I take great pride in the "special relationship", and it was eyeopening, to say the least, to read Olson's descriptions of the arguments and debates that took place between the British and American leadership during and after the war. The Americans felt the British looked down on them, while the British feared that US policy aimed to permanently weaken them. Beyond the chronicles of the lives of the three main characters are the stories of many others, both British and American, who played important roles during the war years. I remember Eric Sevareid and Charles Collingwood as elderly newsmen, so it was fascinating to read about their younger years. I was also touched to read about the many interactions between British civilians and American servicemen and the friendships that resulted. I almost cried when I read about English villagers offering strawberries and cream to Americans on the way to the D-Day landings or US soldiers in Normandy who were anxiously questioning Eisenhower about the fates of English towns which had been hit by Nazi V-1 bombs, or of the many letters sent by Americans at the front back to their friends in Britain.

Citizens of London is an excellent recapitulation of an heroic time. If the story turns out to be darker and more convoluted than the legend would have it, it does not obscure the fact that two nations facing a common foe came to be partners and friends.

5stars - "Their Finest Hour, But With Darker Moments" (John D. Cofield)

There are plenty of books that focus on WWII, but Citizens Of London is one of the few I've read that aims to look at the subject from a fresh vantage point: the book looks at the impact of a few high-powered Americans in Britain during the war, but before American involvement in it. The men include the well-known crusading journalist Ed Murrow, the wealthy and politically talented Averell Harriman, and the most obscure of the group, John Winant, the U.S. Ambassador. Later chapters focus on Eisenhower, who performed some similar tasks once the U.S. had entered the war. In essence, Winant, Harriman and Murrow were on the scene in Britain before America entered the war, trying to build relationships both with elites as well as with the British public by educating them, by educating the Americans about their plight, and by advocating on their behalf during the darkest days of the war. These men were famous men in England at the time--they were practically rock stars, mobbed by adoring fans--and they were instrumental in establishing relations between the two peoples. Lynne Olson does an excellent job of letting us know what these men were about and making them seem like real people--even though they had some similarities (such as having affairs with female members of the Churchill family!), the three men were very different people. I rather liked the book's treatment of Winant, an unsung figure in this chapter of history, and I was able to relate to him on many levels.

So, if this book is so great, why not five stars? Well, I do feel that it could have been a bit shorter. Some of the latter chapters ignore the concept of the book entirely and mostly give general history on the latter stages of WWII, which I already knew. So, that brings it down just a bit for me. All in all, though, I would highly recommend the book to my fellow students of history. These men helped save the world. Honor their memories, and get this book!

4stars - "Great History Told from a Novel Perspective" (Adam Dukovich)
Outstanding Research and presentation. Facts that l had never heard before, and presented in page turner fashion.

Outstanding Research and presentation. Facts that l had never heard before, and presented in page turner fashion.

5stars - "Citizens of London" (Donald D. Goehler)

Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945 / SalesRank : 978

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Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945
Author : Barrett Tillman

Amazon Price : $18.48 34%($9.52) OFF
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Hardcover [ Simon & Schuster ] [ Release : 2010 / 03 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9781416584407 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 1416584404
[ ListPrice : $28.00 ] [ Used Price:$18.37 ]

Average Customer Review :

5.0stars [ See more reviews ]
As a review, in a nut shell, Barrett Tillman is the finest aviation author out there and WHIRLWIND is the definitive book of the air war against Japan in WWII. It is will done and well researched and yet easy to read. This is a must for any WWII buff, aviation buff, or even a casual reader. It is very very good. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

As a review, in a nut shell, Barrett Tillman is the finest aviation author out there and WHIRLWIND is the definitive book of the air war against Japan in WWII. It is will done and well researched and yet easy to read. This is a must for any WWII buff, aviation buff, or even a casual reader. It is very very good. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

5stars - "BEST BOOK ON THE SUBJECT" (James L. Woolridge)

Barrett Tillman is arguably America's finest aviation historian, having produced 30-something well-received military aviation titles over the years. WHIRLWIND, THE AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN, 1942-1945 is his latest book. A comprehensive account of the American bombing campaign against the Japanese homeland, it brings together a wide range of events, personalities, policies and weapons and synthesizes them into one easy-to-understand, insightful whole. A valuable book for air war buffs, WHIRLWIND is a masterful performance by an author at the top of his form.

After detailing the April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan, Tillman backtracks and discusses the early development of strategic air warfare and latter day proponents such as Mitchell and Arnold, the USAAF's creation of strategic warfare doctrine and development of bombers such as the B-17, B-24 and B-29 to implement that doctrine. Early American schemes to bomb Japan died aborning and it wasn't until the - premature - deployment of the B-29 to Chinese bases in 1944 that effective strikes could be mounted. It took the capture of Pacific islands such as Saipan, Guam and Tinian and the arrival of Curtis LeMay to turn the B-29 effort into a war-winning endeavor.

As stated, WHIRLWIND, perhaps for the first time in a book, brings together all the pieces of the puzzle, lays them out in easy-to-understand terminology and relates how and why they played a part in the American air campaign against Japan. Further, Tillman's narrative looks at both sides of the equation, noting military developments in America and Japan and how they impacted events. Mistakes were made on both sides and Tillman evenhandedly chronicles these as well. Likewise, he transitions seamlessly from top-level policy matters to B-29 design developments to in-the-cockpit air battle descriptions.

In short, Tillman manages to cram an incredible amount of information and insight into the book's 316 - not 336! - pages. Whatever the page length, WHIRLWIND may well be THE definitive account of the American air campaign against Japan. Highly recommended.

5stars - "Magnificent Account of the Air Campaign that Defeated Japan!" (Michael OConnor)

Barrett Tillman scores again, with this comprehensive work on the battles in the skies over Japan. From the opening chapter, where he establishes the basic concept of air power as seen through the eyes of Mitchell, Trenchard, and Douhet, thru the creation, teething pains, and eventual deployment of Boeing's massive B-29 Superfortress, Tillman socks one out of the park. Not merely a treatise on 'Victory Through Airpower', he covers all the bases. Each chapter transitions nicely--from the AAC's precision bombing campaign, thru the fast carrier strikes of Mitscher and McCain, and back to the employment of the long-legged P-51 Mustang, finishing finally with the climactic use of 'Fat Man' and 'Little Boy', and their legacy. Much of what I learned by reading this book was new to me...such as the enormous amount of labor involved in setting up those island airfields, the back story on napalm and incindiaries, and most especially, the woeful lack of adequate fire-fighting ablity and equipment in the Japanese cities. Most of the works out there concern the 'getting there' part of the war with Japan. This one covers the 'are there' part.

5stars - "From cover to cover" (John V. Seward)

The story of the B29 campaign against Japan is a microcosm of how the USA did its part to win World War II. Whirlwind tells the remarkable stories of:

1. The stupendous achievement in engineering technology and industrial production that went into the design, production, and deployment of the plane. The B29 was a gigantic plane, two of which would placed wing-to-wing would cover an entire football field. It was highly advanced with fire control by analog computing and remote-control of multiple gun turrets by a single crewman. The USA was able to produce thousands of these planes and create in the remote areas of China and the Pacific Islands the almost inconceivable infrastructure required to keep them flying.

2. The astounding degree of cooperation among engineers, production workers, and the branches of the armed forces to get this weapon into the war. A remarkably short time passed between the conception of this plane, its production, and its deployment. This was one aspect of America's wartime spirit of intensively hard work to win the war.

3. The huge amount of resources the USA committed to the effort. The first B29's were flown from bases deep inside Japanese-occupied China (I did not know this). The logistics of setting up these remote bases and keeping them stocked with fuel was a war within a war. Then the B29s were rebased to the Pacific islands and the effort scaled up a 100 fold.

4. The amount of effort required to work the "gremlins" out of the highly complex plane and to make it effective. Nearly 20% of the planes aborted due to mechanical failures on the early missions. Most of the planes that did get airborne missed their targets due to bad weather and poor bombing control. Careers of many famous Army Air Corps men were ended while others were advanced in the course of dealing with these problems and turning the planes from a liability into a weapon of terrible effectiveness.

5. The human stories of the men who flew the planes, the generals who conceived of the air campaign, and of the Japanese pilots who tried to defend against them. The story is vividly told through their perspectives and made to come to life. The reader will experience these events so vividly as to feel that he took part in them.

Whirlwind is a well-written, easy-to-read book that provides a detail of information and color that will provide fresh insights even of those who have intensively studied the B29 campaign in other books.

5stars - "A Microcosm of Victory in WWII" (Alan F. Sewell)

This book, like Barrett Tillman's other excellent book, the Clash of Carriers, provides the personal experiences of the men who were involved in bombing Japan. However, it also provides the strategic context for these events. Of course, the personal experiences are what makes this book. We are coming to the point where these men will no longer be with us, and sharing their experiences in print is priceless.

Here are a couple of examples to whet your appetite for this book. (1) There is the story of the gunner who was blown out of a B-29 at 29,000 feet and thanks to a make shift chord connecting him to the plane was dragged outside of the plane until a number of the crew could pull him in. (2) There is the story of the individual who accidentally fired off a flare in the plane. If the flare was not thrown out the window, it would burn through the plane's floor and detonate the bombs. Although he was blinded by the accident, he picked up the flare and threw it out the window. He received the Medal of Honor for his action.

Like his previous book, the author shares some insight on how things were accomplished in this period. For example, he shares how a bombadier made a Norden bombsight work, how a landing officer on a carrier helped a plane land on a bouncing deck, and the experiences of a P-51 fighter pilot who flew from Iwo Jima to Japan in a cramped uncomfortable space for 7 hours.

These are just some examples. He also shares the experiences of the men who were on the planes that dropped the first two atomic bombs, the experiences of the crews who fire bombed Tokyo in March, 1945, the carrier pilots who flew over Japan and had dog fights over their cities in the last few months, and the crews of bombers other than the B-29, e.g. the B-25 and B-24, who bombed Japan at the end of the war.

This is an excellent book and recommended for all individuals who are interested in reading about WWII in the Pacific.

5stars - "Provides personal perspectives of the men who were involved in bombing Japan" (J. Groen)

The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back (John MacRae Books) / SalesRank : 9364

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The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back (John MacRae Books)
Author : Charles Pellegrino

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Hardcover [ Henry Holt and Co. ] [ Release : 2010 / 01 / 19 ]
ISBN : 9780805087963 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 0805087966
[ ListPrice : $27.50 ] [ Used Price:$93.88 ]

Average Customer Review :

3.0stars [ See more reviews ]

I just finished reading this book today after being on a wait list at the library for some time. I was aware of some of the controversy regarding the author's sources but I didn't realize the extent of his inaccuracies and seeming fraud until I went to write a somewhat positive review here. The most glaring thing I learned from reading reviews here and checking the NYT's article is that the most parts of the book I found most significant are those most in question by the publisher. I was shocked to learn Joseph Fuoco, who is mentioned and quoted repeatedly, never was a part of the Hiroshima bombing. On top of that, the shocking revelation that the Hiroshima bomb was considered a "dud" by scientists due to an accidental reaction on Tinian that supposedly killed a scientist, is simply not true. It never happened. I had never read anywhere of such an incident and believed it to be a stunning, unknown fact that the author had uncovered through research. It surprised me so much I shared the information with friends and my wife. My wife was smart enough to question the story. I did not and that alone causes me to feel I wasted my time reading this book and very glad I didn't purchase it. But as someone commented, the shame of this is that the book will sit on library shelves and be read by people who never heard of this controversy. In fact, it's not a controversy at all because it is clear that the incident never took place and everything Fuoco told the author was untrue. These are significant sections of the book. Now I know also that another powerful part of the book, the suicide of a Jesuit priest, never happened and the priest never even existed. These are not minor errors. They are parts of the book that have a tremendous impact on the reader. As a result, everything in Pellegrino's book is called into question and nothing can be relied on as true. Simply correcting sections of the text resolves very little when the basic veracity of the author is questionable. While writing the book, did not Pellegino himself wonder why some of his "facts" seemed so shocking and never before heard of? It's all pretty astonishing and insulting to historians who devote a lot of hard work to verifying what they write. It is also an insult to the reader and especially to those who bought this book. However, all blame isn't Pellegrino's as the publisher is to be faulted for putting this mess into print.

1stars - "Very Disappointed" (John L.T.)

I went through Hiroshima in 1959 and saw the devastation. I also wrote a book on WWII Pacific POWs that included a great deal of research on Nagasaki. The book is a thorough study of the results of the atomic bomb damage and the lasting and continuing results. The writing is a vivid picture of the death and suffering but does not relate the horrors of fire bombing elsewhere in Japan although fire bombing didn't have the long term effects. The author also missed the Japanese exploding their own atomic bomb three days after the bombing of Nagasaki. A great book.

5stars - "Laqst Train from Hiroshima" (Robert K. Harmuth)

Pellegrino's "The Last Train From Hiroshima" tells the personal stories of many Japanese citizens directly affected by our A-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Among those stories are some of the 165 who survived the first A-bomb (8/6/1945 at Hiroshima), traveled to Nagasaki (173 miles away) - many on the last train from Hiroshima, and were subjected to a second A-bomb just three days later. One of those 'doubly-bombed' was Mitsubishi oil-tanker designer Tsutomu Yamaguchi. Ironically, at the time of the Nagasaki bombing Yamaguchi was trying to convince his boss and co-workers in Nagasaki of how powerful the Hiroshima bomb had been. After WWII ended, Mr. Yamaguchi became a carpenter and helped rebuild schools, then a school-teacher, and finally was asked by the Japanese government to speak to the U.N. in 2006, where he pleaded for mutual cooperation and assistance, as well as the abolition of nuclear weapons. Mr. Yamaguchi lived lived to be 93, dying in early 2010 of stomach cancer just before the book was released.

Pellegrino's book has generated controversy due to his often quoting an American flight engineer, Joseph Fuoco, who claimed to be aboard 'Bock's Car' when it bombed Nagasaki, and substantiated that claim to Pellegrino with a number of documents and photos. Feedback and photos from early readers and other sources indicate that Fuoco was not on that flight. Regardless, since the focus of Pellegrino's book is on the experiences of Japanese citizens near 'Ground Zero,' the veracity of Fuoco's claims don't make much, if any overall difference. More troubling, perhaps, is the fact that the book's publisher (Henry Holt) has stopped printing because of questions over the revocation of Pellegrino's PhD. degree in 1984, and the true identity of a Japanese priest identified with only a pseudonym.

Only 1.2 lbs (two teaspoons) of 83% enriched material actually fissioned, and that required only one-hundred-millionth of a second. People directly below were vaporized. Surviving either of the blasts was largely a matter of luck - how close one was to the epicenter (85% were killed within a mile at Hiroshima), whether there was any substantive shelter between the individual and the blast (a bomb-shelter tunnel, in the basement of a bank; the Nagasaki area was hillier than Hiroshima), whether one was facing the blast at initial detonation (likely blinded, and face severely charred/burned), and whether one was wearing light, long-sleeved clothes and hat (black clothing almost guaranteed immediate death for those close-in). Those knowledgeable enough to not turn and look at the blast and instead immediately leap to the ground (preferably within a ditch) had much higher odds of survival - especially if they were not subsequently directly exposed to the subsequent radioactive black rain that followed.

Many survived the initial blast, only to quickly fall ill and die from radiation sickness. About half the fatalities occurred on the first day; Hiroshima officials estimated about 60% of these were due to burns. (Many Japanese said the burning flesh smelled like squid grilled over hot coals.) Others lived for 1-2 years or even as long as a decade, then died of leukemia; still others died later at an early age of various cancers. A very few benefited - the blast reshaped their eyeballs and eliminated the need for glasses; one physician was reportedly dying of intestinal cancer, then went into remission after the blast and survived - supposedly because of the 'radiation treatment.'

Pellegrino explicitly avoids addressing the question of whether the U.S. should have dropped either or both bombs, though he does reveal that the pilots involved were quite worried that more would be needed. The Japanese cabinet met with Emperor Hirohito for two hours after Nagasaki before he decided to surrender. Even then, some military leaders plotted to isolate the Emperor to prevent his declaring an end to fighting. They guessed, correctly, that the U.S. had no more A-bombs, but also grossly overestimated how long it would take to make more - only 1-2 months in actuality. Regardless, their plot melted away when some of the leaders learned that the American armada was already closing in on Tokyo. Japan surrendered on 8/15/1945.

Pellegrino also tells us that prior to the Hiroshima bombing, local school-children were carving wooden bullets for fighting at close range (metal was scarce), sharpening bamboo spears, and constructing two-shot wooden handguns for distribution to children and their mothers. Near Ground Zero, a military physician was teaching new soldiers, some only 14-15, new procedures for strapping bombs to their bodies and throwing themselves under vehicles. Any invasion of Japan was bound to create enormous casualties on both sides. Some estimate that about one million American casualties and several million Japanese would have resulted, vs. the 150,000 - 250,000 that died in the A-blasts. Prior to dropping the A-bombs, U.S. fire-bombing had already resulted in great destruction of 67 Japanese cities and as many as 500,000 deaths - without deterring Japanese determination.

Pellegrino does a good job telling the stories of the Japanese in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unfortunately, conveying the destruction requires more than words, and he includes zero pictures - a major deficit. "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons," published by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1962, provides a number of photos from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (Presumably James Cameron will also fill that void - he has optioned the book for a movie.)

Bottom-Line: "Little Boy" (Hiroshima) had a yield of about 15 KT, "Fat Man" (Nagasaki) was larger - 21 KT. Both are quite small by today's standards. The most powerful American (thermonuclear) bomb exploded was 15 MT; the Russians countered with 50 MT - about 3,000 times more powerful. One estimate (Answerbag.com) is that if an 'only' 200 KT thermonuclear bomb had instead been been dropped on Nagasaki, 690,000 would have been killed. That's still 250 times smaller than the largest Russian bomb, and it was only half-loaded with nuclear fuel (bilderberg.org). Regardless, thousands of these monstrous bombs are now held by both the U.S. and Russia. Some are presumably hidden underwater just off our coasts reading for launch at the push of a button - with impact only minutes later. It really doesn't matter whether Fuoco was on Bock's Car over Nagasaki or not, who the priest was or if he even existed, or why Pellegrino's PhD. was revoked. The 'real' issue is whether "The Last Train From Hiroshima" describes our future.

4stars - "Hopefully Not A Vision of Our Future -" (Loyd E. Eskildson)

I love military history - everything from the Revolution through Vietnam. So, needless to say I was looking forward to reading this one. Being a Barnes & Noble member, imagine my surprise to find that I could not purchase the book at my local store. However, I was told that "Amazon is still selling it". Of course that piece of good news quickly went sour when I read the most recent reviews and actual media reports.

And the author's attempts to explain away the errors ("I used pseudonyms to protect them") only serves to compound his credibility problem. Clearly he is back-pedaling as quickly as possible.

And now my desire to read this book is trumped by my disgust at being misled, or at least an attempt to mislead. So, I'll pass, thanks just the same.

1stars - "New title: The Last Gasp of Credibility" (J. Robertson)

My father was at the launch of the Enola Gay. I bought "The Last Train from Hiroshima" to research the history that surrounds this historic and tragic event. Now that it has been revealed that the book contains inaccuracies to the point of being a work of fiction, I would encourage any one considering the purchase of this book to resist the temptation. If you want an account of the impact of the bomb on the victims of Hiroshima, read John Hersey's "Hiroshima." It has stood the test of time and is factual. It is a classic.

1stars - "Inaccurate facts make this book a work of fiction" (Sonia J. Luna)

We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance / SalesRank : 2079

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We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance
Introduction:Stephen E. Ambrose

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Paperback [ The Lyons Press ] [ Release : 2007 / 06 / 01 ]
ISBN : 9781599210636 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 1599210630
[ ListPrice : $16.95 ] [ Used Price:$9.02 ]

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4.5stars [ See more reviews ]
The book was given to me personally by Ian Baalsrud. It is the story of him, trained as a commando and his mission to Norway, skiing cross country one step ahead of the Germans ans his escape to Sweden with the aid of Lapps. Very readable

The book was given to me personally by Ian Baalsrud. It is the story of him, trained as a commando and his mission to Norway, skiing cross country one step ahead of the Germans ans his escape to Sweden with the aid of Lapps. Very readable

5stars - "comments on We Die Alone" (Edmund W. Peaslee Jr.)

This is a really excellent book about a group of Norwegian commandos who were infiltrated into Nazi-occupied Norway in WW2. The book is great reading as a true adventure story, and it would also be of some interest to soldiers and special forces who must work in hostile, cold environments. It can certainly be said that the hero of this story, Jan Baalsrud, achieved one of the great escapes of the second world war. But it might be more true to say that he really won an epic battle of survival against the forces of nature.

Before going further ... let me thank previous reviewers who added their thoughts here on Amazon.com. If you really want to understand the story, you need to buy one of the older hard-cover versions of this book. These were printed back in the 1950's. These old versions have important maps on the inside covers, and the maps help considerably in understanding the background of what happened. Fortunately, the older hard copies can be found fairly readily by searching the used copies of the book. It's a shame that the recent paperback versions did not reproduce the maps.

The subject of this story, Mr. Baalsrud, tried to infiltrate Norway with a small team of well-trained commandos. Unfortunately, the whole plan backfired when an incredible foul-up occurred with a local contact who was supposed to help the team (I won't spoil the surprise - read the story). After that, Mr. Baalsrud became very dependent upon his personal energy and resourcefulness, combined with the sympathy of Norwegian partisans, as he struggled to avoid capture in enemy-occupied territory. Ultimately, through mistakes of judgment about weather, he was plunged into a terrible struggle against the elements. It is actually hard to believe that he survived what happened to him - I can't imagine how anyone could be entombed in a frozen wasteland and get through the experience. So this really is an epic story of Man vs. Nature.

Overall, I was very impressed by the spirit of the Norwegian partisans in WW2. Frankly, I had little knowledge of what took place in Norway under the Nazi's, and this book explains a lot about the exemplary people who lived in that country. The patriotic Norwegians made a mighty effort to save their own man, and by a miracle they managed to succeed. But only at great cost. So the background material about Norway was all very interesting and made for a great story.

Overall, this is one of the finest escape stories from the WW2 era. But mostly - it is the true tale of an epic struggle between a man and the hostile forces of nature in the "white north" of Scandinavia.

5stars - "Great Book on WW2 Escape in Norway" (P. Pollock)
This book will leave you amazed. Some of it is so unbelievable that it is tough to believe. I read this book in a week. It never let up one bit. If you wanna read a book where you will have your jaw on the floor read this one.

This book will leave you amazed. Some of it is so unbelievable that it is tough to believe. I read this book in a week. It never let up one bit. If you wanna read a book where you will have your jaw on the floor read this one.

5stars - "Absolutely Incredible" (Matthew Theisen)
Great history and a very well-written "epic of escape and endurance." Probably one of the top 25 "adventure" books of all time.

Great history and a very well-written "epic of escape and endurance." Probably one of the top 25 "adventure" books of all time.

4stars - "Very good reading for history lovers" (Terry Crock)

This book was the best book I ever read. Modern books are not researched to the extent that this book was, this was written in 1955 and researched for something like five years. I was obsessed with this story as I read this book; a true tale of survival and human endurance. I don't know if modern man has the mental strength to endure such hardship for such a long time. You will not be disappointed by reading this book. I think that this is a classic story that more people need to read.

5stars - "Best book I ever read!" (Daniel B. Taylor)

Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific / SalesRank : 695

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Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific
Author : R.V. Burgin Bill Marvel

Amazon Price : $16.47 34%($8.48) OFF
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Hardcover [ NAL Hardcover ] [ Release : 2010 / 03 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9780451229908 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 0451229908
[ ListPrice : $24.95 ] [ Used Price:$12.92 ]

Average Customer Review :

4.5stars [ See more reviews ]

R.V. Burgin is well known among the readers and worshipers of E.B. Sledge's classic, "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa." Now, 29 years after Sledge's work, Mr. Burgin has published his own memoir "Islands of the Damned," with Bill Marvel.

First off, we shouldn't compare the two (but,let's face it, that's inevitable). Sledge's compassion and humanity, combined with his love of science and precision, produced what is probably the greatest World War II memoir. Burgin's book seems more like hearing a man sitting in his living room while you're over for a visit, telling war stories. Bill Marvel, Mr. Burgin's collaborator has helped Mr. Burgin fashion a brief and brisk read which, with a little effort, can be read in a day. It's like an apples and oranges comparison. More culturally sensitive readers (AKA "wusses") might be put off by Mr. Burgin's constant use of the word, "Jap" or "Japs," but to me, considering what cruelties the Japanese perpetuated that he saw during his service, Mr. Burgin can say whatever he likes in regards to his former enemies.

Obviously, Sledge's work will remain the standard, but if you want a memoir without as much introspection, that moves with vigor, then
this is the book for you.

4stars - "The Burgin View of Events" (Grant Waara)

This book is written from the perspective of a US soldier at or near the front lines of some very difficult battles during World War II. I haven't read a lot of World War II books but this book covers a couple battles that I wasn't been aware of.

I really enjoyed that through this book you get immersed in the details of these battles and some of the strategies that were used but you don't get the gory details that I am sure the author witnessed.

On a couple instances the author discusses events that I would describe as questionable, for instance, the killing of a US solider by another US soldier that was endangering the unit. He discusses these events without naming the soldier(s) responsible. He does mention that the events were reported to the higher ups, but I think that this is admirable that he didn't name the names.

I also liked that he mentioned With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa by a man in his unit on numerous occasions and gives his perspective on the events and people identified. He even clarifies, on one occasion, what he believes he said verse what was reported in With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. I think it is important to get the various viewpoints of these types of events as perspective plays an important part of the story.

I read the e-book version and the formatting was done very well.

I highly recommend this book.

5stars - "Amazing Read" (Chad L. Dunlap)

Right from the opening pages I was drawn in to this personal memoir of WWII. The descriptions of coming ashore in Peleliu, the detail, had me eagerly reading on. Its been a while since I was this drawn in to not only a WWII memoir but to any memoir/bio and couldn't wait to continue reading. Burgin's tale is heart wrenching and haunting and yet instills a sense of hopeful purpose that gives his account an edge over other memoirs.

The narrative is what makes this memoir immensely readable. Burgin tells it as though you are sitting around a campfire, drawing us into the moment and making it feel as though we were there with him. His attention to detail, the little things, helps the reader understand a time and situation that is hard to grasp unless you've actually lived through it. He doesn't fail to mention such details as walking by a discarded bazooka, or the more sickening details of the maggots and flies everywhere. We are treated to anecdotes of his fellow marines, such as Scotty, Sledge, Lieutenant Legs and so on, all of which add a rich and detailed description of what Burgin and the men he fought with went through.

Burgin also takes the reader on a linear walk through his life, briefly writing about his life pre-enlistment. We follow him through boot camp, rushed as it was since the Marine Corps cut the time in half to 6 weeks, and see some of the inner workings of how a WWII marine was molded and formed. Of course we also see Burgin as he progressed from a Gunner to a Sergeant and came out of three bloody battles: Cape Gloucester, Peleliu and Okinawa. The meat of his memoir is given in great detail of landings and battles he fought in and can only be told by someone who walked through hell and came out the other side. As Burgin says that there is nothing special about the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of WWII, but "everyone who fights for his or her country has something special to tell". Islands of the Damned is certainly special and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Islands of the Damned is now one of my favorite memoirs of WWII, for not only its detailed descriptions of important Pacific Theater battles but also in his grasp on life and love is it was interwoven with WWII.

5 stars.

5stars - "An upfront and personal memoir of the Pacific Theater" (Brian Hawkinson)

It was a real pleasure to find another first person account of the Pacific war. As mentioned in other reviews, books like this are far and few between. Especially, since our World War Two veterans are passing away far too quickly.

This book was easy to read, flows very nicely, and isn't burdened by large amounts of historical data. It's personal account from the ground by a Marine who was really there. It does however, put into place the importance of the battles the author fought in.

In particular, I enjoyed the descriptions of living and fighting on the South Pacific islands. The book also contains the only example of a man using a bayonet in combat on any book I've ever read. Most importantly I think the book puts in perspective ghastly nature of the war in the Pacific, in particular the cave-to-cave fighting common among the campaigns.

Ironically, one of the major themes of the book is a love story. While I don't normally seek out this type of theme in a history book (or any other book for that matter), the author does a fine job of making his place in history far more personal by doing so. The best part is, it only amplifies this situation, without it distracting from the historical narration.

This book makes for an excellent companion to the classic With the Old Breed by EB Sledge. If you enjoyed this book you would this book and Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie...books I understand the mini-series The Pacific are heavily based on.

4stars - "Well worth reading" (Toe Tag)

R. V. Burgin is in the last wave of World War II memoirists, and just in time. For 35 years, he says, he never talked about the war. It was only recently, in part driven by his involvement with HBO's dramatic miniseries "The Pacific," which covers the campaigns he fought in, that he and other veterans felt comfortable opening up. This plainspoken, humble personal account is among the results. It is a valuable first-person narrative and belongs in any history reader's library.

Burgin doesn't opine about grand strategy or second-guess commanders. He focuses on what he knew: life as a grunt in a 60mm mortar platoon that saw some of the worst fighting of the war, from Cape Gloucester to Peleliu to Okinawa. The perspective is immediate: "We were fighting uphill now, advancing in a wide arc through the jungle. It was raining, always raining. Every stream was swollen and the ground was gumbo. Moving forward was like trying to walk through oatmeal. I was still carrying around that mortar base plate, but we couldn't use it much because of the trees, so 90 percent of the time I took my place up front with the riflemen." Every Marine is a rifleman, including the mortarmen.

Burgin wasn't spared anything, and doesn't spare anything in this touching book. Read it during the week, and immerse yourself in HBO's miniseries on Sunday nights. You'll learn something important about the humble men who won the War in the Pacific.

5stars - "the last of the authentic voices" (americangadfly)

Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath / SalesRank : 2183

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Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath
Author : Michael Norman Elizabeth M. Norman

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Paperback [ Picador ] [ Release : 2010 / 03 / 02 ]
ISBN : 9780312429706 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 0312429703
[ ListPrice : $18.00 ] [ Used Price:$10.09 ]

Average Customer Review :

5.0stars [ See more reviews ]
My order was processed quickly, and I received my book in no time. Great condition too.

5stars - "Fast Shipping." (Eniscia R. Ruff)
Tears In the Darkness is a well written and easy to read historical account of the Bataan Death March. This is a must read for those who like historical non-fiction and those who just like a good read. I am amazed at the authors ability draw you into the novel and keep you trapped there until the last page.

Tears In the Darkness is a well written and easy to read historical account of the Bataan Death March. This is a must read for those who like historical non-fiction and those who just like a good read. I am amazed at the authors ability draw you into the novel and keep you trapped there until the last page.

5stars - "Absolute must read" (Phyllis)

It has been 65 years since the events depicted in "Tears of Darkness" took place. Yet they still tug at our heartstrings and make us ponder man's inherent inhumanity in war. The story of the abject cruelty of the Japanese military during World War II is still a very important one to tell, especially in an era when our national leaders are apologizing to our former enemies for defeating them in war and subordinating themselves to them (the Japanese Emperor) in public. I'm sure those images resonate negatively in the hearts and minds of the survivors of the Bataan Death March - men like Ben Steele.

It seems to be politically correct to laud "Tears in the Darkness" due mainly to it's subject matter and the human emotion it evokes from the depiction of the horrors perpetuated by the Japanese during the Battle of Bataan, the Bataan Death march, the Hell Ships and the Japanese Prisoner of War Camps. However, that is precisely the reason I'm criticizing it. All those subjects are covered but it is touted as the story of the Bataan Death March when that is only one of many things covered. In fact the Death March is almost an afterthought in the narrative. It is covered in only 56 pages out of the 430+ page book. Therefore the title is very misleading. The book was thoroughly researched and many of the participants, both victims and oppressors, were interviewed over a period of some ten years. However, there are a multitude of errors in detail which makes me suspect that they put aside accuracy in an intent to evoke emotion and advance an agenda. Most readers, who are not historians of the events, won't notice the errors so I'll focus on other aspects of the book.

I saw three main themes in the book. The first theme was very heart rendering. It was the biography of Ben Steele, a young man from Montana who found himself on Bataan and was thus was on the Death March and subsequently a Hell Ship and a prison camp in Japan. Apparently Mr. Steele was interviewed over a period of ten years. It was Mr. Steele's experiences that the story of Japanese atrocities was framed around. Again, the Death March was only a part of the story.

The second theme seemed to be a condemnation of MacArthur. The authors referenced the "Dugout Doug" mantra of his detractors and spoke of his escaping to safety in Australia leaving Generals Wainwright and King to suffer the ignobility of surrender and imprisonment. You can say what you want about his errors in judgment and his ego but he was NOT a coward. He received multiple awards for bravery during World War I and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire during World War II. While on Corregidor he lived in a house on the island not in the tunnel complex. Generals are not supposed to be killed in action - like it or not, they are more valuable than the common soldier. He has plenty to be criticized for but cowardice is NOT one of them.

The third theme seemed to be a veiled attempt to exonerate Homma for the actions of his troops. The book spent way too many pages on him and his trial. The background of his legal team has no place in a story of "the Death March" so the author's motives seem very suspect. Irrespective of what he saw and how much he saw, the principal of "Command Responsibility" holds true. It defeats logic to say he had absolutely no knowledge of or responsibility for the actions of his subordinates. True, Macarthur let the Japanese Emperor and others go free for political expediency but the way they portray Homma makes it seem like they're trying to set him up for a pardon. The whole emphasis on Homma seemed out of place in a biography of Mr. Steele and might have been better served in an appendix.

I rate the book a "3" for being well written and well researched. I am not an expert but do know something about the incidents described. My mother's family is from the Philippines and I have many friends and relatives who were on Corregidor and the Death March and on the Hell Ships and subsequent prison camps. My Grandfather smuggled sulfa drugs to the prison camps and testified in the Yamashita trial on the atrocities he witnessed. There have been discussions on "Command Responsibility" in the family since then. All the Japanese my family encountered during the War knew what was going on. I found it incredulous that Homma allegedly didn't. I bought the book thinking it would be on the Bataan Death March. It was basically a biography of Mr. Steele with the Battle of Bataan and subsequent Death March being mere props. I didn't like the flowery metaphors and poetic language. They padded the narrative, which sometimes made it difficult to follow the main story. There were some continuity problems and stories that didn't have closure, especially with other characters mentioned in the story but also including Mr. Steele. The story of Dr. Ashton and Bilibid was fascinating in that one of my Filipino relatives was tortured there and also treated by Dr. Ashton (and mentioned by name in his book). My mother and her cousins did volunteer work at the Japanese hospital that was in Malate school and also helped treat some of the Corregidor and Bataan POW's. However, nothing was mentioned about that facility. It made me feel that something was left out.

Overall, I recommend the book for people want to know about those events. But I also want to get away from the incessant plaudits and point out that there are issues with the book

3stars - "Well Researched but Flawed." (Robert Hansen)

Tears in the Darkness is the story of the Bataan Death March and the POW camps of the Japanese in the Philippines and Japan with the center line of this journey revolving around Ben Steele.

It tells the stroy of Ben and the men that he came in contact with during this trip through hell. Interspersed are illustrations by Mr.Steele.

The story also touches on other men on both sides of the conflict and provides complete view of the ordeal. Their description of the training of ordinary Japanese soldier your will find enlightening.

I knew about the Death March but from the 10,000 ft level. This book will bring you down to where the rubber meets the road.

The authors also cover the aftermath which is interesting and provides a fitting end to such a dramatic story.

5stars - "A breathless journey through hell" (W. Wirtanen)

I still haven't recovered from experiencing through words and voice the best story related to war I have ever listened to and read. I usually don't get emotional from a book. TEARS IN THE DARKNESS made me cry like a baby. In my opinion every history teacher should make this book required reading when studying the evils of war.

The emotions I felt were as close to the real thing humanly possible without experiencing the trials and evil of what Ben Steele experienced in real life. You will never get over the emotional impact of "Tears in the Darkness".

5stars - "What a wonderful experience to have read and listened to this story" (Steve Horwitz)

Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest / SalesRank : 830

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Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
Author : Stephen E. Ambrose

Amazon Price : $11.90 30%($5.10) OFF
amazon.com availability ： Usually ships in 24 hours

Paperback [ Simon & Schuster ] [ Release : 2001 / 09 / 06 ]
ISBN : 9780743224543 / ASIN(ISBN-10) : 074322454X
[ ListPrice : $17.00 ] [ Used Price:$1.38 ]

Average Customer Review :

4.5stars [ See more reviews ]
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is very well written and provides a level of detail not available in the HBO series (although I enjoyed that too). Anyone interested in the 101st Airborne during WWII would be happy with this account.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is very well written and provides a level of detail not available in the HBO series (although I enjoyed that too). Anyone interested in the 101st Airborne during WWII would be happy with this account.

5stars - "Better than HBO" (T. J. DIFULCO)
The book "Band of Brothers" is a very good addition to anyone's library, especially to those who collect history books and/or books over World War II. The tv series that was based on the book is outstanding, and for those who enjoyed that series and want to find out more of the details about some of the soldiers who fought in Easy Company, the book provides many of them.

The book "Band of Brothers" is a very good addition to anyone's library, especially to those who collect history books and/or books over World War II. The tv series that was based on the book is outstanding, and for those who enjoyed that series and want to find out more of the details about some of the soldiers who fought in Easy Company, the book provides many of them.

4stars - "Good addition to World War II library" (Lhornbk)
This book is excellent. It goes much deeper than the miniseries goes. The characters are developed more fully and the plot takes little turns that are not shown on the video version. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

This book is excellent. It goes much deeper than the miniseries goes. The characters are developed more fully and the plot takes little turns that are not shown on the video version. I give this book a 5 out of 5.

5stars - "A great book" (Matt Baer)

Having seen snippets of the Band of Brothers miniseries, I was very excited to read the book. Of course, as a history major and knowing that this was a history book, not a novel, I knew what not to expect...but to be completely honest, I was still a bit disappointed. Having read Ghost Soldiers (about the Bataan Death March) last year and enjoyed that book as much as I've enjoyed any novel, Band of Brothers was a bit too fast paced at times and included what I felt were too many lists of companies, names, etc. to be extremely interesting. I know that Ambrose interviewed a lot of the men of Easy Company and I think he discounted some of their quotes and personal stories in order to make this more like a book a teacher would assign and less like something one would want to read for fun. Still, because I'm used to reading books like this (and far worse!) I liked it enough to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars...of course Amazon doesn't allow half stars, and I feel that if anything, the history was accurate, hence the bump up to 4 stars here.

4stars - "Great [hi]story; Average execution" (Tara Walker)

I finally got around to reading this book and am I sorry I waited so long. This is an excellent history that gives a very accurate picture to what World War II was like for those who fought it, especially the airborne. The writing is in an engaging and entertaining style. The story is told chronologically and from multiple points of view, obviously, since it's the story of all the men involved, not just a few. This book really puts a very human face on the heroes that won the war.

5stars - "Above and Beyond Where Movies Go" (Grant Fritchey)

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