Marine combat veteran and award-winning military historian Joseph Alexander takes a fresh look at one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. His gripping narrative, first published in 1995, has won him many prizes, with critics lauding his use of Japanese documents and his interpretation of the significance of what happened. The first trial by fire of America's fledgling amphibious assault doctrine, the violent three-day attack on Tarawa, a seemingly invincible Japanese island fortress of barely three hundred acres, left six thousand men dead. This book offers an authoritative account of the tactics, innovations, leadership, and weapons employed by both antagonists. Alexander convincingly argues that without the vital lessons of Tarawa the larger amphibious victories to come at Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa might not have been possible.
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From Publishers Weekly
Alexander, a retired Marine officer and established scholar, uses a broad spectrum of fresh Japanese and American sources to present a gripping narrative of one of the bloodiest battles of WWII in the Pacific theater. At Tarawa in the Kiribati (formerly Gilbert) islands, "uncommon valor was a common virtue" on both sides. But this account is more than battle history. Alexander interprets Tarawa as a military test bed, a validation of the concept of amphibious assault against defended positions. The Marines and the Navy made mistakes but learned from them. Without the experience gained at Tarawa, America's path across the central Pacific would have been longer and bloodier, according to the author. Tarawa was a psychological landmark as well. The savage, close-quarters fighting and high casualties helped solidify the grim determination in the U.S. to prevail over the Japanese. Illustrations. Military Book Club main selection.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Colonel Alexander brings to his outstanding account of the Battle of Tarawa in 1943 a Marine Corps career largely spent with the amphibious tractors whose ancestors had their first combat test at Tarawa. He makes plain that the assault on heavily defended Betio was strategically essential but included a number of tactical mistakes, such as too light a bombardment. The marines also had bad luck with the tides and faced a well-trained, well-fortified, equally determined opponent--their counterparts in the Japanese Naval Landing Force, Alexander's account of whom draws upon Japanese sources used adequately for the first time ever. At the cost of a thousand dead, the marines prevailed. It is a tribute to Alexander that the reader sweats out every hour of the battle as if the book were a novel. Alexander's surpasses every other existing account of the battle by a considerable margin. Roland Green
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Jeff White
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I met Col. Alexander at 50th Anniversary of Tarawa landings at Camp Lejeune. He was working on the book at that time. After reading the finished book, I realize the hell my father and his fellow Marines endured in those three days more than I ever have before. The book is clearly written with many firsthand accounts from the Marines who fought this engagement. Many of the lessons learned with their blood, sweat and tears became a part of Amphibious Doctrine. Alexander's book is a testament to the sacrifices made by the Marine Corps.
By JACOB WARD
Format:Hardcover
The Marine Corps as we all know takes great pride in our amphibious doctrine. We call our selves warriors from the sea, amphibious monsters and a host of other hostile and well meaning nick names. We also hold great pride in the deeds that were accomplished by those Marines that came before us and the legacy that they have provided and our steadfast determination to carry it with honor into the future. This book is not just an account of the battle for a small island in the Pacific 60 years ago. It is an account of the birth of the pride of the modern day Marine Corps. Out ability to locate, close with from ship to shore, and destroy the enemy. To Amphibiously Assault.
By Bob Jarvis
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Yes, this guy knows his stuff & he can write, but a prospective purchaser needs to know that this book is really a tactical analysis of the battle for Tarawa, & what a battle it was! It is a text book for military historians & whilst dealing with an enormously violent military episode, it comes over curiously passionless. Tactics & battlefield problems are disected & judged with knowledge & objectivity, although I thought the tiny explanatory maps were just dreadful. Main problem for me though, was that I enjoy reading about battles from the blood 'n guts, "grunt," or platoon, point of veiw. In this book, although some pen pictures of the principle participants & some rousing accounts of personal bravery were related, these were very much a side issue. If you are a serious student in this genre, this is probably for you. If, like me, you just like a rousing battleground story, this isn't!
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4.7 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE book to read about Tarawa.
Utilizing his prodigious research skills, Retired Colonel Joseph Alexander has written what has to be the best all around account of Tarawa. Read more
Published on May 8 2001 by George G. Kiefer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful Account of an Epic Battle
Col. Alexander has produced a comprehensive and thorough account, and a brilliant analysis, of one of the toughest battles of the Pacific War. Read more
Published on Dec 7 2000 by George W. Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars
rayjoy@ipa.net
I made a mistake when I ordered this book, but it was the best mistake that I ever made. The author did a superior job in researching the material for this book. Read more
Published on July 24 2000 by "roadrunner6"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Issue in Doubt
Just before the fall of Wake, the Marines defending that island radioed the message, "Issue in doubt. Read more
Published on July 11 2000 by George R Dekle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tells a great story.
I really liked this book. It was my exercise bike book for a month, so you can put it down and pick it up after a day or two. Read more
Published on Jun 13 2000 by Mitch Reed
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transports you to the slaughter
Col. Alexander has produced an excellent blow by blow description of the taking of the Bieto Atoll. The horror of discovering that the landing craft were not able to negotiate the... Read more
Published on Mar 31 2000 by Richard P. Mayhew
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good account of a savage battle
A very good and dedicated account of one of the most savage and bloody - but also one of the most determined battle in the history of our armed forces. Read more
Published on Oct 11 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING BOOK !!!!!
Easy to read, the book was very exciting. It walked me through the campain as if I were there.
Published on Sep 7 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for WWII history nuts
Gripping, informative, well-written. One of the first books I've read on pacific battles. I only hope the rest I read are this good.
Published on Sep 7 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
gripping,terrifying,the horror of war at it's worst!!
AS A FORMER U.S. MARINE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INSPIRED BY THE BLOODY LEGENDS AND BATTLES OF THE MARINES.THIS IS A MUST READ!! Read more
Published on Aug 21 1999
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