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Battleground Pacific: A Marine Rifleman's Combat Odyssey in K/3/5
A POWERFULLY WROUGHT MEMOIR BY A MEMBER OF WWII’S FABLED 1ST MARINE DIVISION
Sterling Mace's unit was the legendary “K-3-5” (for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division) and his story takes readers through some of the most intense action of the Pacific War, from the seldom-seen perspective of a rifleman at the point of attack.
Battleground Pacific is filled with indelible moments that begin with his childhood growing up in Queens, New York, and his run-in with the law that eventually led to his enlistment. But this is ultimately a combat tale—as violent and harrowing as any that has come before. From fighting through the fiery hell that was Peleliu to the deadly battleground of Okinawa, Mace traces his path from the fear of combat to understanding that killing another human comes just as easily as staying alive. He learns that bravery often equates to stupidity, leading to the death of close friends, but also that life goes on, with death on its heels.
Battleground Pacific is one of the most important and entertaining memoirs about the Pacific theater in WWII.
Sterling Mace's unit was the legendary “K-3-5” (for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division) and his story takes readers through some of the most intense action of the Pacific War, from the seldom-seen perspective of a rifleman at the point of attack.
Battleground Pacific is filled with indelible moments that begin with his childhood growing up in Queens, New York, and his run-in with the law that eventually led to his enlistment. But this is ultimately a combat tale—as violent and harrowing as any that has come before. From fighting through the fiery hell that was Peleliu to the deadly battleground of Okinawa, Mace traces his path from the fear of combat to understanding that killing another human comes just as easily as staying alive. He learns that bravery often equates to stupidity, leading to the death of close friends, but also that life goes on, with death on its heels.
Battleground Pacific is one of the most important and entertaining memoirs about the Pacific theater in WWII.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2012
44 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 6, 2013
While not quite the masterpiece that E.B. Sledge's With the Old Breed is, this first person memoir of several battles of the Pacific theatre was very good. Taking nothing away from Mace's accomplishments, I simply think E.B. Sledge is a better writer. Sledge was able to add a bit more commentary on the psyche of battle than this book gave, but it was still a very good factual, battlefield, tip-of-the-spear memoir. I have a hard time giving anything dealing with this subject matter anything less than 4 stars, and this one certainly came thru with a solid 4.5 stars. I am very impressed that Mace, in his upper 80's still had the ability to write down such detail, so many years after the fact. At the same time I am not surprised though as my own grandfather who turns 91 in August, and who is a 4th Marine Division BAR-man veteran of the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima, can still remember facts from these battles like they were yesterday.
May 10, 2013
“Battleground Pacific” by Sterling Mace and Nick Allen, published by St. Martins Griffin.
Category – World War II
There have been many books written by soldiers who have gone through the horror of war. However, there are very few that give a “no holds barred”, down to earth, accurate account of what it is really like to go through a living hell, this is such a book.
Sterling Mace probably didn’t want to join the army let alone go to war, but a run in with the law put him in that situation. He gives a short and concise history of his early life and then puts the reader with him in the war for the Pacific.
Sterling tells of the friends he made and lost fighting for control of islands that no one ever heard of before the war. He questions the enormous price that was paid to take these islands that seemed to have very little importance to either side. He tells of his fear of going into battle and the fears of those around him. The fear of never knowing if this may be your last day and that you will be placed in a grave far away from your family.
On of the most telling aspects of his story is how he came to realize that taking another persons life, in this situation, is just a part of staying alive. The story shows it’s realism in the way Sterling tells it from the “grunts” standpoint. He uses the language that was used during the war and leaves no doubt about his feelings towards the enemy.
A very good read for those who are interested in the Second World War and those who want a “fox hole” view of what it was like to live for days without proper food, water, and clothes.
Category – World War II
There have been many books written by soldiers who have gone through the horror of war. However, there are very few that give a “no holds barred”, down to earth, accurate account of what it is really like to go through a living hell, this is such a book.
Sterling Mace probably didn’t want to join the army let alone go to war, but a run in with the law put him in that situation. He gives a short and concise history of his early life and then puts the reader with him in the war for the Pacific.
Sterling tells of the friends he made and lost fighting for control of islands that no one ever heard of before the war. He questions the enormous price that was paid to take these islands that seemed to have very little importance to either side. He tells of his fear of going into battle and the fears of those around him. The fear of never knowing if this may be your last day and that you will be placed in a grave far away from your family.
On of the most telling aspects of his story is how he came to realize that taking another persons life, in this situation, is just a part of staying alive. The story shows it’s realism in the way Sterling tells it from the “grunts” standpoint. He uses the language that was used during the war and leaves no doubt about his feelings towards the enemy.
A very good read for those who are interested in the Second World War and those who want a “fox hole” view of what it was like to live for days without proper food, water, and clothes.
June 20, 2014
This was an amazing first person account of the fighting on the islands of Peleliu and Okinawa. Sterling Mace joins the Marines during World War 2 and soon finds himself heading into battle against the army of Imperial Japan. He shares his thoughts, fears, and laughs with us as he goes through one of the most trying experiences a human can go through, combat. This is a great book for anyone interested in the Pacific War. It will also appeal to anyone who enjoyed the TV miniseries The Pacific, as Mace was in the same company as Eugene Sledge. The best part is the book reads like a story, which really keeps the pages turning.
July 17, 2012
Gripping! Powerful! A must read! Beyond mere memoir, this book is literature! Best World War II memoir I have read in years!
February 29, 2016
I originally read Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" about 30 years ago, so when this book came out I thought at first it would be a sort of companion piece to Sledge's book. Not exactly.
Sterling Mace fought in the same two battles (Peleliu and Okinawa) as Sledge, but that's pretty much where the similarity ends. Sure, Sledge is mentioned once in this book, along with his friend "Snafu" Shelton, but since Mace was a rifleman and Sledge was a mortarman, they had very different expriences in the two battles. Their writing styles are very different as well. Sledge is more polished, whereas Mace uses salty language frequently and his narration has an almost dreamy, story-telling quality to it. His descriptiveness is fantastic and he does a great job of getting the sights and smells across to the reader. If you like combat, there's a fair amount of that, much of it described in quite vivid detail.
Don't compare this to Sledge's book and you'll be fine. This is a really good book and stands well on its own merits.
Sterling Mace fought in the same two battles (Peleliu and Okinawa) as Sledge, but that's pretty much where the similarity ends. Sure, Sledge is mentioned once in this book, along with his friend "Snafu" Shelton, but since Mace was a rifleman and Sledge was a mortarman, they had very different expriences in the two battles. Their writing styles are very different as well. Sledge is more polished, whereas Mace uses salty language frequently and his narration has an almost dreamy, story-telling quality to it. His descriptiveness is fantastic and he does a great job of getting the sights and smells across to the reader. If you like combat, there's a fair amount of that, much of it described in quite vivid detail.
Don't compare this to Sledge's book and you'll be fine. This is a really good book and stands well on its own merits.
April 27, 2014
First off let me say I have read dozens of first hand accounts of infantry action from the Civil War, WW1, many theaters of WW2 - Battle of the Bulge/D-Day/Rhineland/Eastern Front/Italy/Africa, Korea, Vietnam, even Gulf War 1. This book was eye opening in regards to my understanding of the boot on the ground experience of U.S. Marines invading Peleliu and Okinawa. I was struck by the ferocity and utter futility of the marine experience on those battlefields. Mace brings forward such an honest point of view, you feel - as much as anyone who wasn't there - what he feels. His descriptions of what combat is are the best I have ever seen put into print. "A conglomerate of filth and garbage, moving muscle, and the progress of steel". That simply is the best and most accurate description of what a soldier/marine faces when in combat.
A brilliant account, a must read and one of the finest books ever written about combat in World War 2.
A brilliant account, a must read and one of the finest books ever written about combat in World War 2.
July 22, 2012
Great detailed story about what it was like to be on the front lines in the Pacific during WWII. The book does a good job of developing the characters in K/3/5 and describing the events that led them to lay their lives down for the grand old flag. Overall, it was a quick read with plenty of action that kept my attention from start to finish. Highly recommend it.
January 3, 2013
Good memoir of a rifleman's experience at Peleliu and Okinawa, two of the bloodiest and most terrible battles of WWII. Mace has a great voice and a keen eye for detail. That said, I think this book would be best served by reading an operational history of these two battles in addition to it; you will have a better sense of where to place him in the larger scheme of war.
August 15, 2018
Masterfully written...not something I say often about books I read. My father served in the 1st Marine Division but never spoke about it. Sterling’s account gave me insight into my own father’s experience and makes me even more appreciative of the service these men gave our country. This is a must-read book that takes you on a raw, honest journey through the war in the Pacific.
April 13, 2013
Well written. Reads like a novel in some ways. I felt it. I recommend it.
August 9, 2018
Excellent writing, Mace speaks with a far more refined style than that which most attribute to the WWII Marine. Simply a must read for the history, military, or WWII buff.
June 26, 2025
This book offers an excellent account of combat on Peleliu and Okinawa, which I found to be among the best I have ever read. Sterling Mace is a truly gifted storyteller, and this is evident throughout the book. It reads like a movie and is incredibly engaging. I am deeply grateful for the sacrifices made by the greatest generation, and I offer my sincere blessings.
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October 27, 2022A candid account of war.
November 15, 2023
At times badly overwritten with similes and metaphors loaded thickly on each page, yet maybe worth reading as a memoir for those that don’t care for such things.
May 13, 2014
4½ stars. Highly recommended!
Sterling Mace was a BAR man who fought in the PTO during WW2. He was a member of the famous K/3/5, a company that has produced several detailed and recommended memoirs, Mace's being the most recent. As a rifleman, Mace had a different experience from Sledge, which results in this unique personal story of combat in the brutal campaigns for Peleliu and Okinawa.
Mace chose to relay his experience through a more modern tone and from the perspective of a teenaged marine PFC (later corporal) resulting in a presentation of combat that emphasizes its confusing and hectic characteristics.
Around 40-50 pages into the book, Mace begins describing his part in the Battle of Peleliu. The landing and first days on Peleliu are described in rushes and with intensity. Mace and coauthor Nick Allen really do a good job of conveying the visceral aspects of combat. The violence is unsanitized but not over-described and Mace doesn't soften the language that colored his thoughts and the way he and his comrades spoke to each other, either. There are unique descriptions of insects and the miserable grimy, sweat-soaked environment. This is especially the case on Peleliu and Mace's experience comes out as harrowing and vivid. This tone is also set for Okinawa, though different parts of the combat experience are focused on more-thoroughly with respect to that battle (for example, K/3/5 saw little resistance for the first part of that campaign and they also interacted with the island's civilian population). By that campaign, Mace is a hardened veteran, distancing himself from newer company members and no longer carries a BAR as the fire team leader.
Some drawbacks to the book keep it from a full 5-star rating, however. For example, Mace is less explicit about his personal deeds as a BAR man (though there are several experiences he does detail) despite being very revealing on other experiences he underwent. Because I previously read the other memoirs that cover the campaigns Mace was involved in, I didn't mind that Mace's approach was to stick to only his POV, not stepping back to give us some exposition. But I can see how some readers might want that and maybe I would suggest reading WITH THE OLD BREED or HELL IN THE PACIFIC before and at the same time as BATTLEGROUND?
Ultimately though, these drawbacks aren't enough to take this book out of the top ten list of marine memoirs that I have read. There's just too much to like and Mace gives us a unique perspective, thereby warranting a 4½-star rating. One last thing that I can't help but mention is that I love his description of SNAFU, a character mentioned in Sledge and Burgin's memoirs and featured prominently in the HBO miniseries THE PACIFIC - it as just too funny, I also enjoyed his description of McEnery, too.
Definitely check out this memoir!
There are some interesting side-aspects about Mace's story. Sterling Mace was very active on social networking sites about a year ago: he posted an AMA on Reddit when he book was published that was quite revealing and he had some interesting things to say about Sledge and his book. Indeed, at one point in BATTLEGROUND Mace talks about teeth pulling, noting that the practice of pulling an entire tooth out of a dead soldier's mouth was not as widespread as claimed. At the time I figured this part of the book was mentioning general rumors but after reading Mace's AMA, I have since re-read the book and feel as though that passage was referencing the gold-filling excavation references in WITH THE OLD BREED. Anyways, I thought that was interesting. He also discusses his first introduction to atheism after meeting a pretty vocal marine about the subject and another interesting side-aspect is that Mace made several posts demonstrating his artistic abilities. If you look up u/Sterling_Mace on Reddit, you'll find several sketches of scenes on Peleliu (one of them is of "Nippo" Baxter, a Marine mentioned in BATTLEGROUND and HELL IN THE PACIFIC). I don't know if they're included in the physical copy of the book but they're not in the Kindle version, and I think they definitely should be included if a later edition is ever produced! Finally, if you look through the comments of some of the reviews on this site you'll find responses written by Mace to some of the things brought up by reviewers, giving us more insight to the decisions behind writing this memoir.
There are several memoirs by members of K/3/5 available. Mace's book finds itself amongst WITH THE OLD BREED by EB Sledge, ISLANDS OF THE DAMNED by RV Burgin, HELL IN THE PACIFIC by Jim McEnery, EARNED IN BLOOD by Thurman Miller and SHADOW OF THE SWORD by Jeremiah Workman. All sans Workman fought in WW2 (Workman fought in the Iraq War).
Sterling Mace was a BAR man who fought in the PTO during WW2. He was a member of the famous K/3/5, a company that has produced several detailed and recommended memoirs, Mace's being the most recent. As a rifleman, Mace had a different experience from Sledge, which results in this unique personal story of combat in the brutal campaigns for Peleliu and Okinawa.
Mace chose to relay his experience through a more modern tone and from the perspective of a teenaged marine PFC (later corporal) resulting in a presentation of combat that emphasizes its confusing and hectic characteristics.
Around 40-50 pages into the book, Mace begins describing his part in the Battle of Peleliu. The landing and first days on Peleliu are described in rushes and with intensity. Mace and coauthor Nick Allen really do a good job of conveying the visceral aspects of combat. The violence is unsanitized but not over-described and Mace doesn't soften the language that colored his thoughts and the way he and his comrades spoke to each other, either. There are unique descriptions of insects and the miserable grimy, sweat-soaked environment. This is especially the case on Peleliu and Mace's experience comes out as harrowing and vivid. This tone is also set for Okinawa, though different parts of the combat experience are focused on more-thoroughly with respect to that battle (for example, K/3/5 saw little resistance for the first part of that campaign and they also interacted with the island's civilian population). By that campaign, Mace is a hardened veteran, distancing himself from newer company members and no longer carries a BAR as the fire team leader.
Some drawbacks to the book keep it from a full 5-star rating, however. For example, Mace is less explicit about his personal deeds as a BAR man (though there are several experiences he does detail) despite being very revealing on other experiences he underwent. Because I previously read the other memoirs that cover the campaigns Mace was involved in, I didn't mind that Mace's approach was to stick to only his POV, not stepping back to give us some exposition. But I can see how some readers might want that and maybe I would suggest reading WITH THE OLD BREED or HELL IN THE PACIFIC before and at the same time as BATTLEGROUND?
Ultimately though, these drawbacks aren't enough to take this book out of the top ten list of marine memoirs that I have read. There's just too much to like and Mace gives us a unique perspective, thereby warranting a 4½-star rating. One last thing that I can't help but mention is that I love his description of SNAFU, a character mentioned in Sledge and Burgin's memoirs and featured prominently in the HBO miniseries THE PACIFIC - it as just too funny, I also enjoyed his description of McEnery, too.
Definitely check out this memoir!
There are some interesting side-aspects about Mace's story. Sterling Mace was very active on social networking sites about a year ago: he posted an AMA on Reddit when he book was published that was quite revealing and he had some interesting things to say about Sledge and his book. Indeed, at one point in BATTLEGROUND Mace talks about teeth pulling, noting that the practice of pulling an entire tooth out of a dead soldier's mouth was not as widespread as claimed. At the time I figured this part of the book was mentioning general rumors but after reading Mace's AMA, I have since re-read the book and feel as though that passage was referencing the gold-filling excavation references in WITH THE OLD BREED. Anyways, I thought that was interesting. He also discusses his first introduction to atheism after meeting a pretty vocal marine about the subject and another interesting side-aspect is that Mace made several posts demonstrating his artistic abilities. If you look up u/Sterling_Mace on Reddit, you'll find several sketches of scenes on Peleliu (one of them is of "Nippo" Baxter, a Marine mentioned in BATTLEGROUND and HELL IN THE PACIFIC). I don't know if they're included in the physical copy of the book but they're not in the Kindle version, and I think they definitely should be included if a later edition is ever produced! Finally, if you look through the comments of some of the reviews on this site you'll find responses written by Mace to some of the things brought up by reviewers, giving us more insight to the decisions behind writing this memoir.
There are several memoirs by members of K/3/5 available. Mace's book finds itself amongst WITH THE OLD BREED by EB Sledge, ISLANDS OF THE DAMNED by RV Burgin, HELL IN THE PACIFIC by Jim McEnery, EARNED IN BLOOD by Thurman Miller and SHADOW OF THE SWORD by Jeremiah Workman. All sans Workman fought in WW2 (Workman fought in the Iraq War).
August 25, 2024
Sterling Mace’s “Battleground Pacific” is a gripping and intensely personal account of the Pacific Theater during World War II. Drawing from his own experiences as a Marine, Mace provides an unfiltered view of the harsh realities faced by soldiers in the brutal island-hopping campaign. The book is notable for its vivid descriptions and candid reflections, offering readers an authentic glimpse into the trials, camaraderie, and sheer determination that defined the conflict. He was a member of K/3/5 with famous members such as Eugene Sledge, Andrew Helene, and RV Burgin.
His detailed recollections and reflections on the moral complexities of war make it more than just a military history; it’s a profound exploration of the sacrifices made and the enduring spirit of those who served. Overall, “Battleground Pacific” is a compelling read for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the personal stories behind the grand scale of wartime operations.
His detailed recollections and reflections on the moral complexities of war make it more than just a military history; it’s a profound exploration of the sacrifices made and the enduring spirit of those who served. Overall, “Battleground Pacific” is a compelling read for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the personal stories behind the grand scale of wartime operations.
August 11, 2015
If Sledge's With The Old Breed and Overton's God Isn't Here interested you then you should run right out to your local bookseller and pick up a copy of Mace's Battleground Pacific. Like Sledge & Overton it is a first hand account of Mace's time on Peleliu & Okinawa. I've heard criticism of Mace's use of dialogue. Those critics may have a point regarding conversations held almost 70 years ago but this fact does not bother me. Whether or not Mace has the kind of memory that can remember, word for word, conversations held on those islands does not detract from the book. If anything, Jeff Shaara should take a lesson from Mace's dialogue when writing his next book.
December 26, 2012
I picked up this book because of the AMA (Ask Me Anything) that the author did on Reddit. I thought it was well done, although not quite as well done as "With the old breed". I found many of the stories in this book very familiar, but I believe that is because the author was a consultant for "With the Old Breed", so the same stories were being told.
I wasn't a fan of the snide remarks throughout the book about how Mortar Squads and Machine Gun Squads were second class solders because they were not right on the front line like the rifle squads were. It seemed petty.
I wasn't a fan of the snide remarks throughout the book about how Mortar Squads and Machine Gun Squads were second class solders because they were not right on the front line like the rifle squads were. It seemed petty.
November 9, 2016
Incredible Story, Incredible Journey
I have read many books by combat veterans of WWII, but this one is written a bit differently. To my mind's eye, there is a trained writer's hand telling the story of Sterling Mace. My own father was a marine who fought in World War II, and to his dying day he wouldn't speak of what he went through, so I have to learn what that time in his life was like. These brave men were what is referred to as The Greatest Generation, and I only wish that more people alive and free realize the debt we owe them.
I have read many books by combat veterans of WWII, but this one is written a bit differently. To my mind's eye, there is a trained writer's hand telling the story of Sterling Mace. My own father was a marine who fought in World War II, and to his dying day he wouldn't speak of what he went through, so I have to learn what that time in his life was like. These brave men were what is referred to as The Greatest Generation, and I only wish that more people alive and free realize the debt we owe them.
March 1, 2013
If you are interested in understanding the horrors of war, this book along with one by Eugene sledge, will easily fulfill that need. It is well-written and horribly descriptive of combat And it's effects on, in this case, young men. I think every leader in our country who is faced with the decision to send our young people to war must be required to read this book.
August 13, 2012
Excellent/ God Bless America and its Freedom Fighters!
December 18, 2012
good book i believe that the writing is forced to change the typical military history book language. tries rewording too often.
March 14, 2014
An okay read - kind of a bumpy narrative, but appreciate the additional context for appreciating With the Old Breed, which is a much better read.
June 8, 2015
Pretty intense book. Lots of stories, lots of people get killed, lots of things about bombs guns and jumping on beaches and wondering when it's all going to end.
October 11, 2012
Great book easy read. We owe these greatest generation
March 29, 2017
In “Battleground Pacific” Sterling Mace and Nick Allen deliver an excellent firsthand account of Sterling Mace’s participation in the battles of Peleliu (Operation Stalemate II) and Okinawa (Operation Iceberg) in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Throughout the course of the book Mace does a commendable job articulating the full spectrum of senses and emotions associated with combat in the Pacific. From the relatively carefree and monotonous camp life on Pavuvu, to the horrors of some of the most vicious fighting of the war, Mace provides an honest and unvarnished perspective of his experiences in a way that gives the reader true sense of what it was like to go through all he encountered. For me, the one negative distraction is the author’s mixture of the crass vernacular of a young enlisted Marine with the refined vocabulary someone reflecting years on his experience. That aside, “Battleground Pacific” is a worthwhile read, on par with similar firsthand accounts of combat during World War II.
Why read this book. I recommend this book to anyone looking to better understand the nature of war, while at the same time seeking a unique first hand account of a young man facing the crucible of combat. Even though there have been a number of other similar books providing first person narratives of the same, or similar battles in the Pacific during World War II, this book still well worth the time to read. If 100 people were all in the same battle at the same time there would be 100 unique accounts of what took place, and this book provides one of those unique personal perspective of combat. It reminds you that war is, in the end, a very personal experience, which is experienced in as many different ways as there are people who have fought in wars. It also brings out the fact that, despite all the differing perspectives, common trends surface. It is those trends that make up the nature of war, and through exposure to Serling Mace’s personal memoir, the reader will better understand the nature of war.
Why read this book. I recommend this book to anyone looking to better understand the nature of war, while at the same time seeking a unique first hand account of a young man facing the crucible of combat. Even though there have been a number of other similar books providing first person narratives of the same, or similar battles in the Pacific during World War II, this book still well worth the time to read. If 100 people were all in the same battle at the same time there would be 100 unique accounts of what took place, and this book provides one of those unique personal perspective of combat. It reminds you that war is, in the end, a very personal experience, which is experienced in as many different ways as there are people who have fought in wars. It also brings out the fact that, despite all the differing perspectives, common trends surface. It is those trends that make up the nature of war, and through exposure to Serling Mace’s personal memoir, the reader will better understand the nature of war.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews