Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island: The World War II Battle That Saved Marine Corps Aviation

by John R. Bruning, Brian Troxell (narrator), Grand Central Publishing (publisher)

The pivotal true story of the first fifty-three days of the standoff between Imperial Japanese and a handful of Marine aviators defending the Americans dug in at Guadalcanal, from the New York Times bestselling author of Indestructible and Race of Aces.

On August 20, 1942, twelve Marine dive-bombers and nineteen Marine fighters landed at Guadalcanal. Their defeat the Japanese navy and prevent it from sending more men and supplies to "Starvation Island," as Guadalcanal was nicknamed. The Japanese were turning the remote, jungle-covered mountain in the south Solomon Islands into an air base from which they could attack the supply lines between the U.S. and Australia. The night after the Marines landed and captured the partially completed airfield, the Imperial Navy launched a surprise night attack on the Allied fleet offshore, resulting in the worst defeat the U.S. Navy suffered in the 20th century, which prompted the abandonment of the Marines on Guadalcanal.

The Marines dug in, and waited for help, as those thirty-one pilots and twelve gunners flew against the Japanese, shooting down eighty-three planes in less than two months, while the dive bombers, carried out over thirty attacks on the Japanese fleet. Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island follows Major John L. Smith, a magnetic leader who became America’s top fighter ace for the time; Captain Marion Carl, the Marine Corps’ first ace, and one of the few survivors of his squadron at the Battle of Midway. He would be shot down and forced to make his way back to base through twenty-five miles of Japanese-held jungle. And Major Richard Mangrum, the lawyer-turned-dive-bomber commander whose inexperienced men wrought havoc on the Japanese Navy.

New York Times bestselling author John R. Bruning depicts the desperate effort to stop the Japanese long enough for America to muster reinforcements and turn the tide at Guadalcanal. Not just the story of an incredible stand on a distant jungle island, Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island also explores the consequences of victory to the men who secured it at a time when America had been at war for less than a year and its public had yet to fully understand what that meant. The home front they returned to after their jungle ordeal was a surreal montage of football games, nightclubs, fine dining with America’s elites, and inside looks at dysfunctional defense industries more interested in fleecing the government than properly equipping the military. Bruning tells the story of how one battle reshaped the Marine Corps and propelled its veterans into the highest positions of power just in time to lead the service into a new war in Southeast Asia.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military Fiction, Audiobook, Aviation

Audible Audio

Published May 14, 2024

About the author

John Bruning is the author or coauthor of twenty-two non-fiction books, including four New York Times best sellers, and seven national best sellers, including the critically acclaimed "Race of Aces," "Indestructible," "Outlaw Platoon" (with Sean Parnell) and "House to House" (with David Bellavia).

In 2011, he received a Thomas Jefferson Award for his photojournalism and reporting in Afghanistan during the surge in 2010.

He lives in Oregon with his family and writes with an office staff that includes three dogs and two cats, one of whom identifies as canine and enjoys swimming, hiking and urban exploration.

For further information on John, his office staff and his published words, please check out:

johnbruning.com

John R Bruning on Facebook

and Sylvie_the_canine_cat on Instagram

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bruning's Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island mirrors its subject matter by seeming to stall before taking off. This is a very well-written book with one particular peculiarity. Let me start with my major criticism, but be advised that this book is very good.

The narrative is about U.S. Marine pilots on Guadalcanal. All World War II buffs know about it and, if you don't, trust me it was a big deal. The book starts with a prologue set during the Battle of Midway. So far, so good. Midway would lead to Guadalcanal. Then, inexplicably, Part I of the book takes six chapters to cover a homecoming tour for three of the characters in the book set after Guadalcanal. I have read many books which do a flash forward to set a scene or to highlight certain aspects of a character. I have never seen it used for some much page length. It also doesn't set anything up that you won't find in the rest of the book. This entire part could be eliminated from the book and it would improve.

Yes, I spilled a lot of ink on my criticism of the book, but you may be wondering why I am rating it as very good then. Quite simply, Bruning's prose and focus when the narrative reaches Guadalcanal is exceptional. In fact, the chapters I think could be cut are also well-written and interesting. They are just badly misplaced in the narrative. Bruning is laser focused on the characters when they get to battle and the frenetic energy he describes is palpable. Many World War II books fall into the trap of trying to write about the entire war while telling a smaller story at its core. Bruning gives the reader the bare minimum about the greater war and keeps engaged with only the characters at the heart of his story. Yes, the first few chapters threw me off, but I was very happy I kept going. The journey was worth it.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Hachette Books.)

[TheWizardLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a group of Marine aviators who are left to fend for themselves after the US Navy is forced to abandon them on Guadalcanal in August of 1942. This book is amazingly well written and engaging. This book does not read at all like a work of nonfiction, it reads like a historical thriller. I especially loved the detailed look at what it was like for the survivors when they returned to "normalcy" in the United States. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who enjoyes historical nonfiction.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many books have been written on Guadalcanal? Do we need yet another one? We most assuredly do. I served 30 years in the Marines with the last five in the History and Museum Division and I learned much from this book.

This book was a work of love. Nonfiction written as fiction. Storytelling history. I felt like I was in the cockpit of a Wildcat with Marion Carl and the Red Devils. Bruning tells the story of Marine aviation in the early days of Guadalcanal through the principals of two squadrons: VMF- 232 and VMSB-232; Wildcat fighters and Dauntless dive bombers. We meet others as well to include maintainers, gunners, and a mess chief. The precariousness of the combat situation as well as the intense suffering of the Marines is palpable.

The only thing missing from this book, incredibly, is a map! That's a major flaw that still does't detract from it. BYOM. Bring Your Own Map. I read this as an ebook so I was going back and forth into Google Maps for all the place names.

Some real icons and heroes profiled here who have sadly been forgotten. Thanks John R. Bruning for resurrecting them.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing true story about how much people can live through and survive. These soldiers are heroes whose story deserves this book and so much more. If you found Masters of The Air or Band of Brothers inspiring, then check out this beautifully narrated gripping true story about what the US Marines in the So. a Pacific went through. You will cherish your freedom so much more after reading about why they sacrificed and Thank Someone For Their Service a lot louder because of the this.

[Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was in my wish list for so long (waiting for it to be released) that I forgot why I was wanting it. However after the first few paragraphs I looked up the author to see why I had it on my wish list. I had read other books by this author (Indestructible more than once!) and he is a very good writer. This book was also well written and told an amazing story that needed to be shared.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

** This was a NetGalley book [original due date 5.15.2024]. I was finally able to purchase [as it was unavailable at the libraries I belong to] the eBook of this title [the digital eBook ARC was unavailable when I went to read it and I was unable to download again due to an unexpected archive of the book] to read and review. See below. **

8.9.2024
I finished this two days ago [8.7.2024] and I am still unsure if I will 1. be able to write this review without [once again] bawling my head off and 2. be able to write a review that will do this book justice. Because this book deserves ALL the great reviews, the men within honored this way, and remembered now by many.

I'm honestly not sure when a book has moved me as much as this book and the tears flowed freely and often [my mom teased me one night about crying and I told her that I was reading a book about Guadalcanal and she paused and said, "never mind. Cry all you need to"] as I read about these amazing men who fought against fascism and for the the people not even born yet.

This is a book about courage, love of country, family, and the men they served with, the horrors of war and how doing everything in their power to ave this island from the enemy helped win the war [had Guadalcanal been lost, the results of the war would have been dramatically different].

It is also a book about pain, hardship, fear, and deep, deep loss [some of the struggles the men encountered AFTER they came home are almost as brutal as what they encountered in the war] and I defy anyone to read this and not cry over some of the horrific losses [just thinking about it right now, my eyes have filled and I must stop this as it is so hard to type when one is bawling].

Meticulously researched [the author note and acknowledgements at the end, about the research the author did made me cry all over again], the author shows again and again just how much he loved and respects these men so much; that love just shines in both the amazing writing/storytelling and the minor details he found in his research and then used to great success, to bring us all closer to these men and all they did and endured. The families of these men can be proud of all they did and accomplished AND of this man who loved them enough to write about them and continues to honor them and in return, has taught all of us to respect and honor them as well.

A must-read for both history-buffs AND non-history buffs [anyone who has a heart, a love of country and empathy will be greatly rewarded by this story] alike, this book will reach deep in side of you and when you come out on the other side, you will never be the same.

Absolutely stunning, I am so grateful that I got a chance to read about this amazing group of men.

Thank you to NetGalley, John R. Bruning, and Hachette Books for this [unreadable] ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristi]

In the fall of 1967 as a sophomore at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota I was privileged to participate in the Term in Thailand with 25 other students. We studied at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok - Buddhism, Southeast Asian history, art, literature, and political science. On the way to Bangkok we visited Japan and Hong Kong - and Honolulu, both ways. Coming home included stops in Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Guam. We were the only undergraduate study group in Southeast Asia - the closest program was in Japan. I have been an avid reader of World War II history and literature for more than 60 years. My father and most of my uncles served in the war in many roles - as a tank driver in Patton's army, a tail gunner who was killed over Germany, and a medic in the Pacific Theater. My reading, however, has largely been within the European Theater of operations. About 2 years ago I had a "DUH" moment. Why was I not reading about the Pacific War when I had visited so many important sites in that history?? I am trying to make up for my lack of knowledge. I have visited two locations of horror and death at the hands of the Japanese. The first is the bridge over the river Kwai at Kanchanaburi, Thailand. With an enormous pool of captive labor at their disposal, the Japanese forced approximately 200,000 Asian conscripts and over 60,000 Allied POWs to construct the Burma Railway. Among the Allied POWs were some 30,000 British, 13,000 Australians, 18,000 Dutch, and 700 Americans. Of the US personnel forced to work on the railway, 133 died. (Their remains were expatriated. ) This included personnel from USS Houston and the 131st Field Artillery Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard. The Americans were called the Lost Battalion as their fate was unknown to the United States for years after their capture. Near the bridge is the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the main prisoner of war (POW) cemetery for victims of Japanese imprisonment while building the Burma Railway. . The cemetery contains 6,982 graves of British, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war, of whom 6,858 have been identified. I have walked through that cemetery and always remember the peace and beauty of the bougainvillea, and the graves and graves and graves. After contemplating the devastating loss of life in WWII, we were standing on the railroad bridge over the River Kwai when 3 American jets made a low pass - coming from or heading to Vietnam. Remember this was the fall of 1967. The Tet Offensive would be in the spring of 1968. I could not help but think of the new waste of lives and the fact that we never learn. I still recommend the 1957 movie, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", starring William Holden and Alec Guinness . Although it is not completely factual, it does capture the hardship of the slave labor to build the railway. Ironically upon awakening on our first day in Tokyo my roommate and I heard the "Colonel Bogey March" which was the theme song from the movie. We looked down upon a lower roof and saw Japanese workers doing morning exercises to the music. We wondered if they had any idea that the music was associated with Japanese atrocities for us.. I have walked through Fort Santiago, the last building in old Manila liberated by the Americans during the recapture of the Philippines. It had been used as a prison/ torture chamber / death house and was found with literally hundreds if not thousands of dead bodies inside. The main entrance when I was there was broken and enlarged to permit American tanks to enter the fort..... I have read about Guadalcanal previously, but it was from the point of view of the Marine infantry, not the air squadrons. I am enjoying the book very much so far. I recently read History Matters by David McCullough. I loved his point that what matters about history, whether fiction or non-, is emotion. Good history needs to evoke the fellings of the individuals involved. So far the focus is primarily upon 3 marine pilots - J. L. Smith, Marion Carl, and Dick Mangrum. They share trauma of the attack on Pearl Harbor or the Battle of Midway. EXCELLENT HISTORY!!! The Japanese at Rabaul , New Guinea had been notified of the arrival of the planes. After less than 12 hours on the ground, the fighter pilots strafed an invading Japanese force resulting in over 800 casualties. The story of Guadalcanal could have had a very different storyline if the Marine infantry had still been alone. *** The book has just been addressing the value of coastwatchers for valuable information on enemy activities.... I walked over to a nearby hotel in Bangkok one afternoon to get a cup of coffee and a dessert - we ate only Thai food at the dorm. A very dapper gentleman approached me at my table - there were not very many young white women in Bangkok in 1967. He was elegantly dressed, wore a bowler, and carried an umbrella - quite an outfit for the warmth of Thailand. He asked me if he could sit down and speak with me. I replied, of course he was welcome. It turned out he was stationed at Singapore when it was captured in February, 1942. He escaped and was a coastwatcher for the duration of the war. He spoke extensively about the help he received from the Malay people - he never would have survived otherwise. He did, however, eat a lot of rats. Marvelouse chance encounter. Now I am on page 275. Don Rose, a Minnesotan and one of Dick Mangrum's pilots graduated from St. Olaf College with honors. Rose discovered that Ansgar South one of his favorite Ole professors was serving as chaplain for the 11st Marine division on the island. They had "small world" reunions. Synchronicity!!

[Zach Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is single-greatest book that has ever been written about the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. I have read dozens of books about Guadalcanal in 1942-43 from all perspective: Marines at the Battle of the Tenaru and Bloody Ridge, US Navy ships fighting Japanese battleships and cruisers in the waters offshore, and Marine and Naval pilots fighting the Japanese air force in the skies above. All were great, but none of those books come even remotely close to capturing so many intimate details from so many men's lives who fought there. None have achieved the portrayal that Bruning achieves with this one.

The main story follows the experiences of 3 American Marine ace pilots during their 53-day fight at Guadalcanal: John L. Smith, Marion Carl, and Dick Mangrum. The book takes a deep dive into what their hellish life was like, being on that island fighting in the sky and on the ground. But it's also about the bonds of friendship and brotherhood forged in the struggle and hardship of a war unlike any that had ever been fought before. As John L. Smith said himself, "I was a Marine rifleman in charge of a fighter squadron." The Marine pilots not only fought in the skies against Japan's best pilots at the time, but they were forced to grab rifles and fight for their lives against the fanatical Japanese army as it fought brutally to take back Henderson Airfield from the Marines. The Marines were starving and forced to eat insects in their food. They caught diseases from the jungle like Malaria. They were abandoned and told they were "expendable" by the high command. Yet this group of Marine aviator pilots put up one of the bravest fights in the history of warfare that will leave you in tears more times than you can count.

This is such a moving story, it is truly one for the ages. I hope humans hundreds and thousands of years from now are still reading this incredible book. Bravo to author John Bruning for once again putting together an unforgettable and epic masterpiece.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read much regarding the Guadalcanal battle of the early days of America's involvement in WWII and within that reading, I'd come across many accolades for the efforts of the U.S. air arms' contribution to that horrific battle. However, there were very few details given regarding the air portion of this battle. This book "fixes" that because it focuses on the air arms of the U.S. and their sacrificial efforts.
The book starts slowly and builds interest as it progresses. (So, if you begin reading, hang in there!) The author goes backward and forward in time as the book unfolds. It took me a bit to get used to that and keep my place, so to speak - but it "works."
I encourage the reader of this review to consider the book - especially if one wishes to learn more of the incredible physical and emotional challenges that the pilots and their ground crews endured to secure victory in this most important battle.
I found it of particular interest to read what became of the pilots who survived this battle during the rest of WWII and their lives following the war's conclusion. As you might expect, there are some great outcomes for some of the men (and their wives/girlfriends/families) and some outcomes that are tragic. But that's life in this fallen world.
Check it out!

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read at least a dozen books on Guadalcanal and the Cactus Air Force, I found this one to be excellent--exhaustively researched, engagingly written, and emotionally hard-hitting. Author Bruning not only captures the intensity of battle and the grueling existence of the Marines on Guadalcanal, but also their personalities and feelings. Choosing three aviators to follow in detail--Marion Carl, John L. Smith and Richard Mangum--Bruning shows the realities of war and the costs that military pilots pay to do their duty. The demands placed on the ground crew are also presented in detail, giving the book greater dimension and interest. Bruning starts with the homecoming of the three aviators after the first two months on Guadalcanal, and the contrast between a war bond tour and real war is powerful. This book is a delight for any student of military or aviation history--I couldn't put it down.

[Carter McNeese · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Bruning's most recent book focuses on two of the first US aviation units to land at Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Over the next fifty-three days the pilots and crews of VMF-223 and and VMSB-232 fought like hell in support of the ground force Marines to hold the Lunga Perimeter.

Bruning is able to do something in this book that few military history writers accomplish. Simultaneously he gives the nitty-gritty details of the fights, logistics and missions, provides insightful and human connect to the men carrying out these actions, and does it all with a lovely writing style that is true joy to read.

If you have interest in USMC Aviation history, WWII, Guadalcanal, or just want to read a story of men and leaders overcoming horrific conditions to rise the the very heights of the warrior virtues of honor, courage, and sacrifice, this should race to the top of your "to read" list.

[Patrick Wikstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

In August 1942 12 Marine dive-bombers and 19 fighters landed on a recently liberated runway on Guadalcanal and proceeded to try and provide air cover for the “mud marines” and stop Japanese reinforcement by sea. It was a terribly hard job. Some thought it a suicide mission. Shortly after arrival the Navy pulled their ships out for fear of a massive Japanese naval attack and left the ground soldiers and air squad without resupply of food, ammunition, spare parts, and just about everything else. This edge of your seat narration occasionally got bogged down in the in-depth descriptions of the marines missions and day to day privations but it was a great telling of a historic battle that went on and on and changed the course of the war. 3½***

[Jer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to rate, because it’s certainly a long read, but also detailed in a way that feels important in a time when military battles in the Pacific are once again in vogue (or at least, in the back of some minds).

I chose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this reason, and because the distance from the time period discussed (along with the lessons we have learned since then) struck me in sharp relief.

The stories are gritty and help paint a picture that few, if any, still alive can relate to, which strikes me as valuable, even if the world and our military looked a lot different back then.

[Marc S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. We all know about Guadalcanal as a MAJOR battle of WWII - when the Jap and the Marines were both well established on the island. But before that, in those earlier months, a small group of Marine pilots did some absolutely amazing things that in retrospect changed the entire course of the war. They knew they would likely die. They knew their planes were not as good as the Zeroes. They were just disposable placeholders until more men and better equipment could arrive. Talk about heroes - wow!

[David Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect when I picked up Fifty-three Days on Starvation Island. I've read a lot of material on Guadalcanal in the past few years. Fifty-three Days made me realize I have only scratched the surface.

Bruning makes the airway for Guadalcanal intensely personal. Always engaging, it is also often quite an emotional read. While Bruning does emphasize the impact that a handful of Marine pilots had in preventing a Japanese buildup on Guadalcanal, he shines in sharing the extraordinary personal experiences of those pilots.

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book about the perilous situation the US and Pacific allies found themselves in after Pearl Harbor. Ill-equipped, under trained and unprepared, Marines on the ground and their aviator brethren were abandoned by the US Navy on Guadalcanal. Yet somehow, these USMC heroes, most of whom suffered and willed their way through the great depression outlasted the Japanese and held onto this island against all odds. This is an excellent read.

[Nicole Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a wonderful account of the poor Marine flyers that were tasked to protect and defend Guadalcanal in WWII. Often I can find accounts of the ground Marines that fought and defended the island, but this is the first of the small air core that was tasked to aid the ground Marines. It is a detailed, although deeply personal, truth of some of the worst conditions, brutal fighting, and heroic deeds of the often overlooked air defense of Guadalcanal.

[Garrett Budwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

John R. Bruning's "Fifty-Three Days on Starvation Island" is a thrilling and poignant story of the first weeks of the Marine Corps' arial defense of Guadalcanal in 1942. The story reads like a novel and had a surprising emotional impact on me. I was cheering and rooting for the pilots, gunners and ground crew when operations were successful and saddened when the men were lost. Mr. Bruning does a wonderful job of telling the stories of these real-life characters and the hardships they endured defending an island none had ever heard of before being sent there. I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a World War Two history buff like myself.

[beingmelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3.5*


1. Plot
- 3*: Decent plot; engaging but with a few flaws or slow parts.

2. Characters
- 5*: Outstanding character development; deeply relatable, complex, and memorable.

3. Writing Style
- 3*: Good writing style; clear, engaging, with occasional highlights.

4. Pacing
- 3*: Consistent pacing; generally smooth, though some sections may slow or speed up unnecessarily.

[Tom Rechtien · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II that I have read This one was more focused on the aviation side, rather than on the mud Marines that fought in the jungles. The toll was horrendous, and yet they continued to fight until relieved (at least, those that remained). Highly recommended.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at three Marine Corp pilots at Guadalcanal. Their heroism and what they endured are truly inspirational. A great read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have given it a 5 but for Part One seeming to be out of sequence, not in sync and the lack of maps. The Epilogue, Final Notes and Legacy add greatly to the long term affect the crucible of war has on individuals.

[Elmwoodblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grinding read, unflinching in its recall of both the heroism and brutality inherent in the Pacific Theater. A stark look at the often-overlooked aftermath of war on its combatants is a welcome coda, if a grim one to read.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well researched book focusing on a small and crucial part of America’s WWII campaign in the Pacific. It manages to convey the bravery and pivotal importance of the Marine corps air units on Guadalcanal in the fall of 1943 without omitting the human costs.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guadalcanal from the pov of marine aviation. My continued interest in this early Pacific battle caused me to read and it was informative with information totally new
A bit too detailed as you read about almost every battle of ships and aircraft and individuals. Worthwhile

[Amanda Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was something else but it was okay. I learned a lot. It was hard to keep track of all the names.

[Stephen Ditman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.7 stars

[Paul Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Starts a little slow, but stick with it.

[Fixie Nice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the amazing story of some of the first Marine flyers during the pacific theater in ww2, really enjoyable reading

[Jim Welke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about veterans of Guadalcanal and their return to the States.