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Coral and Brass
Coral and Brass , first published in 1949, is the memoir of U.S. Marines Corps general Holland “Howlin' Mad” Smith (1882-1967), considered one of the leading figures of modern amphibious warfare. Controversial at times, Smith never wavered in his dedication to the Marine Corps and dedicated his career in support of the men and women under his command. Coral and Brass remains the classic account of the Marines in the Pacific in World War II.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1949
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 2, 2019
this extraordinary man talks with you, one hears his voice
Reading this book, more than any other military book, (and I’ve read plenty, at least for a woman) allowed me to comprehend, in a very limited way, mysterious things never spoken of by my husband, brothers, father, uncles, grandfathers, so many ancestors who have fought, died and or lived through and with so that we have our country. 🇺🇸🦅🙋♀️
Reading this book, more than any other military book, (and I’ve read plenty, at least for a woman) allowed me to comprehend, in a very limited way, mysterious things never spoken of by my husband, brothers, father, uncles, grandfathers, so many ancestors who have fought, died and or lived through and with so that we have our country. 🇺🇸🦅🙋♀️
July 5, 2017
Very Good Primary Source Overview of Marines in the Pacific
General Holland Smith gives an unvarnished telling of the development of the United States Marine Corps into the finest amphibious assault force in the world from WWI through Iwo Jima. He does so with as much modesty as he can given his major role in that development. His candid opinions of General MacArthur, the Army fighting prowess in particular as well as the treatment of the Marines by some Navy Admirals including Turner and Spurance, while seen from a Marine's perspective, is insightful and entertaining. Especially since it was written down in the mid-1940s, before their canonization was completed by their biographers and post-war historians. Excellent insights into what went right and what went went wrong in the conduct of the war in the Pacific by one of the main prosecutors of the American strategy for that campaign.
General Holland Smith gives an unvarnished telling of the development of the United States Marine Corps into the finest amphibious assault force in the world from WWI through Iwo Jima. He does so with as much modesty as he can given his major role in that development. His candid opinions of General MacArthur, the Army fighting prowess in particular as well as the treatment of the Marines by some Navy Admirals including Turner and Spurance, while seen from a Marine's perspective, is insightful and entertaining. Especially since it was written down in the mid-1940s, before their canonization was completed by their biographers and post-war historians. Excellent insights into what went right and what went went wrong in the conduct of the war in the Pacific by one of the main prosecutors of the American strategy for that campaign.
July 28, 2020
Holland Smith commanded Marines in WWII's Central Pacific Area under Admirals Nimitz and Spruance. His forthright autobiography tells how he battled the Japanese, the Navy and the Army to complete his mission and defeat the Japanese. Smith's account of the performance of the Army's 27th Division and subsequent relief of its commanding General in the battle for Saipan is short but accurate.
As much as anyone, Holland Smith established the US Marine Corps on equal footing with the Army and Navy for the ensuing decades.
As much as anyone, Holland Smith established the US Marine Corps on equal footing with the Army and Navy for the ensuing decades.
June 7, 2017
Incredible book about the war in the Pacific
This book is a classic because General Smith takes the reader behind the scenes of what it takes to prepare Marines for battle. The planning, the training, and in-fighting to get support from other top military leaders, who didn't have his vision or his genius, is a testament to the great Marine General. I highly recommend this book to all.
This book is a classic because General Smith takes the reader behind the scenes of what it takes to prepare Marines for battle. The planning, the training, and in-fighting to get support from other top military leaders, who didn't have his vision or his genius, is a testament to the great Marine General. I highly recommend this book to all.
February 2, 2019
So I am finding this book underwhelming. It is really kind of annoying that this hard-charging, Marine is such a whiny paranoid individual. He mentions only a few people that he likes or respects outside of the Marine Corps (King and Higgens) and then goes on this long rants about others either not being smart enough to understand modern warfare, or else being out to get him personally or the Marine Corps as a whole.
I understand that judging what went wrong is harder when you have just won the war because victory makes self-evaluation less of a task than loosing. But there are a few less offensive ways to go about it. Smith seems to relish in choosing the most abusive and insulting ways to talk about those he finds himself in disagreement with.
I find it little wonder that he was shunted off to the side after the war was close to ending. I am starting to wonder if 'Howlin' Mad' had less to do with his temper and more to do with the fact that he might not have been all together all together.
While the book does bring up some really good information it is a hard read because you have to slog through his bits about the Army and the Navy, out to get the Marines and sometimes him personally.
I guess in a sense he would be the Stillwell of the Corps.
I understand that judging what went wrong is harder when you have just won the war because victory makes self-evaluation less of a task than loosing. But there are a few less offensive ways to go about it. Smith seems to relish in choosing the most abusive and insulting ways to talk about those he finds himself in disagreement with.
I find it little wonder that he was shunted off to the side after the war was close to ending. I am starting to wonder if 'Howlin' Mad' had less to do with his temper and more to do with the fact that he might not have been all together all together.
While the book does bring up some really good information it is a hard read because you have to slog through his bits about the Army and the Navy, out to get the Marines and sometimes him personally.
I guess in a sense he would be the Stillwell of the Corps.
October 4, 2017
An excellent memoir of "Howling Mad" Smith, the Marine who commanded the land forces in the Central Pacific push. Briefly covers his early life but gets most serious when the (non) preparations for war start in the 30's. It is a good read that sticks with its subject without getting overly bogged down in details. He does name people and disputes and perceived errors and mistakes. Yet there is little feel of a need to settle scores or righting of slights, rather it seems a desire to pass on what he has learned to the next generations of marine. And while he does not spare those with whom he disagreed he is also lavish in his praise. I would have preferred a narrative that said things like on March 7, instead of "two weeks later" but that's minor and the real dates are easily found in this age of Google.
What does come through is Howlin's love for Country, Corps and the marines he led.
What does come through is Howlin's love for Country, Corps and the marines he led.
May 27, 2019
SEMPER FI: No one says it better!I I love my homeland and the fight for service equality
I have been associated with the Marines for all of my 82 years. My Uncle Millard was an USMC aviator, who joined the service in 1917 or 1918 and retired in 1954 with the rank of bird Col. Additionally i was engaged to a Marine during my senior year of high school. I joined the Marines in 1955, was posted to MCAS Cherry Point, met my future husband who was in the hospital after an auto accident and who decided to stay in and so I spent the next 23 years following him until our divorce in 1978. No one tells it better than this author ... the second close status foisted on the Marines by Army and Navy upper echelons, and the fight for service equality. If you want an eyewitness account of WWII in the Pacific in all it's parameters, I urge you to READ THIS BOOK !!!
I have been associated with the Marines for all of my 82 years. My Uncle Millard was an USMC aviator, who joined the service in 1917 or 1918 and retired in 1954 with the rank of bird Col. Additionally i was engaged to a Marine during my senior year of high school. I joined the Marines in 1955, was posted to MCAS Cherry Point, met my future husband who was in the hospital after an auto accident and who decided to stay in and so I spent the next 23 years following him until our divorce in 1978. No one tells it better than this author ... the second close status foisted on the Marines by Army and Navy upper echelons, and the fight for service equality. If you want an eyewitness account of WWII in the Pacific in all it's parameters, I urge you to READ THIS BOOK !!!
July 7, 2017
Whining Marine General
Perspective: I'm a US Army officer who has tremendous respect for the Marine Corp and the warriars it produces. The fact is that most of us who read history will tell you the public at the time thought the only US military force assaulting the Japanese in the Pacific were Marines.
Smith obviously has many axes to grind. But not being credited with Marine prowess in the fight against the Japs in the Pacific is pure fiction. One wonders his motives. As I read his account of his Pacific war I was struck at Smith's absence from the battlefield. His contribution seemed to be limited to planning and after action reports.
Chuck Dooley
Perspective: I'm a US Army officer who has tremendous respect for the Marine Corp and the warriars it produces. The fact is that most of us who read history will tell you the public at the time thought the only US military force assaulting the Japanese in the Pacific were Marines.
Smith obviously has many axes to grind. But not being credited with Marine prowess in the fight against the Japs in the Pacific is pure fiction. One wonders his motives. As I read his account of his Pacific war I was struck at Smith's absence from the battlefield. His contribution seemed to be limited to planning and after action reports.
Chuck Dooley
November 9, 2018
Howlin' Mad Smith was responsible for most of the Marine island assaults in the Central Pacific. In this book, he tells us the story of his career, those assaults and his conflicts with the Army and the Navy. He pulls no punches, and his loyalty to the United States Marine Corps is never in question. Holland Smith would never be Commandant and I think this book demonstrates why. Like Patton, he was the sort of warrior you pull out in wartime.
I did find it amusing that he failed to credit the US Army with having staged multiple amphibious operations prior to Tarawa when he complains that Army Generals weren't trained or prepared to do so.
I did find it amusing that he failed to credit the US Army with having staged multiple amphibious operations prior to Tarawa when he complains that Army Generals weren't trained or prepared to do so.
June 4, 2018
Outstanding study of the long development of amphibious warfare and the U.S. Marines actions in the Pacific during WWII. The Marines fought not only the Japanese but also the Army and Navy brass, the Joint Chiefs, and long-held public opinions about their status as a secondary force before emerging from the war triumphantly as probably the premier ground combat force in the world. Smith sounds like a gruff old Marine, which he undoubtedly was, but he was a gifted writer capable of waxing poetic at times when speaking of the corps in which he served for over three decades.
August 25, 2025
The documented story of amphibious assault warfare from its beginning
A must read for US Marines and anyone interested in the development of amphibious assault by the marines; their setbacks and progress throughout the Pacific War in the 1940’s. The control of the Navy Brass until it became evident that the Marines were a ground assault force and needed to conduct the planning and assault from the beginning through the firing of naval vessels weapons in support of the beach head landing up to the final assault against the enemy.
A must read for US Marines and anyone interested in the development of amphibious assault by the marines; their setbacks and progress throughout the Pacific War in the 1940’s. The control of the Navy Brass until it became evident that the Marines were a ground assault force and needed to conduct the planning and assault from the beginning through the firing of naval vessels weapons in support of the beach head landing up to the final assault against the enemy.
July 19, 2017
WWII Marines from the General's view, interesting
General Holland Smith gives me the big picture of Marines in the Pacific. It was interesting and educational as he navigated with the Navy to fight the Japanese and his superiors to prepare and win battles in the islands and the wardroom .
The book is a good read for military history guys or gals, like myself and it doesn't hurt that I was a marine.
General Holland Smith gives me the big picture of Marines in the Pacific. It was interesting and educational as he navigated with the Navy to fight the Japanese and his superiors to prepare and win battles in the islands and the wardroom .
The book is a good read for military history guys or gals, like myself and it doesn't hurt that I was a marine.
October 8, 2018
One tough old Marine, with a kind heart inside.
As a kid I loved the Marine Corps, and at that time I knew nothing about "Howlin Mad Smith", or even much about their exploits. I joined up because I loved it. I still do. I like to think that I too am helping Marines gain the respect they deserve, by supporting the Marine Corps Foundation which supports the Museum of the Marine Corps.
As a kid I loved the Marine Corps, and at that time I knew nothing about "Howlin Mad Smith", or even much about their exploits. I joined up because I loved it. I still do. I like to think that I too am helping Marines gain the respect they deserve, by supporting the Marine Corps Foundation which supports the Museum of the Marine Corps.
August 24, 2017
Awesome man, good book
Awesome man, awesome marine. Many proofreading errors,but, they didn't hinder the flow of the reading material to badly. It would be an excellent read for military persons who know the jargon better. It was a little bit hard to understand for me as I have not served and some items were unfamiliar to me, but, I figured it out after I read further on.
Awesome man, awesome marine. Many proofreading errors,but, they didn't hinder the flow of the reading material to badly. It would be an excellent read for military persons who know the jargon better. It was a little bit hard to understand for me as I have not served and some items were unfamiliar to me, but, I figured it out after I read further on.
May 13, 2018
WOW!!!!!
I’m not a history buff, merely a history reader. This book gave me a look at a piece of history that I must admit is more than an awakening. I finished this with tears in my eyes and my heart heavy, thankful to those whose story it tells. Thank you, all of you, for the work you did and the life you allowed me to live.
I’m not a history buff, merely a history reader. This book gave me a look at a piece of history that I must admit is more than an awakening. I finished this with tears in my eyes and my heart heavy, thankful to those whose story it tells. Thank you, all of you, for the work you did and the life you allowed me to live.
October 21, 2018
An important perspective on the issues of high level command in the Pacific war. While Smith details the plans and execution of the campaign across the central Pacific, perhaps the most important aspects of this book deal with the development of amphibious doctrine and capabilities in the period between WWI and WWII as well as the inter-service bickering that took place at senior command levels as the role of the Marine Corps increased. Smith details the fights with the Navy over everything from who should command ashore to application of naval gunfire support for a landing, as well as controversy surrounding his relationship with Army commanders in Hawaii (especially in relation to his relieving an Army division commander during the Saipan operation).
Smith's account isn't without bias however. Like any memoir, its accounts should be taken with a grain of salt and not as gospel truth. Overall though, a well written account that is a "must read" for the student of the war in the Pacific.
Smith's account isn't without bias however. Like any memoir, its accounts should be taken with a grain of salt and not as gospel truth. Overall though, a well written account that is a "must read" for the student of the war in the Pacific.
February 8, 2019
Our marines
This is the best book addressing multiple issues such as pride, dedication and real history that I have ever had the privilege of reading. At times I had a tough time emotionally. My brother
was a marine and proud of his buddies and the corps.
A wonderful piece of history of which all should be proud.
Thank you!
This is the best book addressing multiple issues such as pride, dedication and real history that I have ever had the privilege of reading. At times I had a tough time emotionally. My brother
was a marine and proud of his buddies and the corps.
A wonderful piece of history of which all should be proud.
Thank you!
March 5, 2019
Joslin' Mad at his best
I've read books of WWII for years but never really noticed the importance of Gen Smith.The officers in the "meatgrinder" got the attention. Smith had planned the entire operation. He only wanted his Marines to get their credit for their fighting and dieing.
A very good book, especially to explain things from the too down.
I've read books of WWII for years but never really noticed the importance of Gen Smith.The officers in the "meatgrinder" got the attention. Smith had planned the entire operation. He only wanted his Marines to get their credit for their fighting and dieing.
A very good book, especially to explain things from the too down.
September 18, 2017
Good read
Too much officer and high command talk with too many names I don't know
Since I had an uncle with the third marine division is the reason I was so interested knowing hollering mad was leading the Iwo jima battle...
Too much officer and high command talk with too many names I don't know
Since I had an uncle with the third marine division is the reason I was so interested knowing hollering mad was leading the Iwo jima battle...
November 11, 2017
Once a marine lived.
This is an excellent book about a great Marine. Without men like Howling Mad, the outcome could have been different. The WW2 story needs to be read by our younger generations. This is just one of many good books on the subject.
This is an excellent book about a great Marine. Without men like Howling Mad, the outcome could have been different. The WW2 story needs to be read by our younger generations. This is just one of many good books on the subject.
January 19, 2018
God bless you, General
This was a very inspiring book. I learned a lot about amphibious warfare. I learned a lot more about Marines, despite knowing many, including one who survived Iwo Jima. I am thankful for these heroes. What a book!
This was a very inspiring book. I learned a lot about amphibious warfare. I learned a lot more about Marines, despite knowing many, including one who survived Iwo Jima. I am thankful for these heroes. What a book!
May 4, 2018
Good history of USMC in WWII Pacific by a hands on leader/commander!
I enjoyed reading this as an interested Marine Corps veteran of late 1950's serving with many career people who experienced many of the operations discussed.
I enjoyed reading this as an interested Marine Corps veteran of late 1950's serving with many career people who experienced many of the operations discussed.
June 19, 2017
Excellent book with perhaps a little too much emphasis on the political infighting and not enough on the technical details.
June 29, 2017
If you ever wondered what it means to be a general, this book will give you insight.
July 23, 2017
Pacific war story . .
Never again will we see the likes of these men from the greatest generation. Very telling what went on with the navy and command during the war.
Never again will we see the likes of these men from the greatest generation. Very telling what went on with the navy and command during the war.
August 1, 2017
Hell of a book
He love his marine, and they in turn love him. It's men like the General that make boys into marine's.
He love his marine, and they in turn love him. It's men like the General that make boys into marine's.
August 27, 2017
Marine leadership and tactics in the Pacific war
A personal account of war by one marine general. Follows the change and growth in the status of the marine before and during WW2.
A personal account of war by one marine general. Follows the change and growth in the status of the marine before and during WW2.
August 28, 2017
Great Book
It starts a little slow but it pays to keep reading. The description of the land fighting is very precise for each amphibious battles in the Pacific Campaign.
It starts a little slow but it pays to keep reading. The description of the land fighting is very precise for each amphibious battles in the Pacific Campaign.
September 22, 2017
Different view.
I have read the solders view of the war, this was a good point of view from the leaders of the soldiers.
I have read the solders view of the war, this was a good point of view from the leaders of the soldiers.
October 8, 2017
Struggles
Great insight into not only the combat fought by the marines but also the fight to repeatability. Great struggles involved with each.
Great insight into not only the combat fought by the marines but also the fight to repeatability. Great struggles involved with each.
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