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Pacific War Trilogy #2
Island Infernos: The US Army's Pacific War Odyssey, 1944
In Fire and Fortitude--winner of the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History--John C. McManus presented a riveting account of the US Army's fledgling fight in the Pacific following Pearl Harbor. Now, in Island Infernos, he explores the Army's dogged pursuit of Japanese forces, island by island, throughout 1944, a year that would bring America ever closer to victory or defeat.
After some two years at war, the Army in the Pacific held ground across nearly a third of the globe, from Alaska's Aleutians to Burma and New Guinea. The challenges ahead were enormous: supplying a vast number of troops over thousands of miles of ocean; surviving in jungles ripe with dysentery, malaria, and other tropical diseases; fighting an enemy prone to ever-more desperate and dangerous assaults. Yet the Army had proven they could fight. Now, they had to prove they could win a war.
Brilliantly researched and written, Island Infernos moves seamlessly from the highest generals to the lowest foot soldiers and in between, capturing the true essence of this horrible conflict. A sprawling yet page-turning narrative, the story spans the battles for Saipan and Guam, the appalling carnage of Peleliu, General MacArthur's dramatic return to the Philippines, and the grinding jungle combat to capture the island of Leyte. This masterful history is the second volume of John C. McManus's trilogy on the US Army in the Pacific War, proving McManus to be one of our finest historians of World War II.
After some two years at war, the Army in the Pacific held ground across nearly a third of the globe, from Alaska's Aleutians to Burma and New Guinea. The challenges ahead were enormous: supplying a vast number of troops over thousands of miles of ocean; surviving in jungles ripe with dysentery, malaria, and other tropical diseases; fighting an enemy prone to ever-more desperate and dangerous assaults. Yet the Army had proven they could fight. Now, they had to prove they could win a war.
Brilliantly researched and written, Island Infernos moves seamlessly from the highest generals to the lowest foot soldiers and in between, capturing the true essence of this horrible conflict. A sprawling yet page-turning narrative, the story spans the battles for Saipan and Guam, the appalling carnage of Peleliu, General MacArthur's dramatic return to the Philippines, and the grinding jungle combat to capture the island of Leyte. This masterful history is the second volume of John C. McManus's trilogy on the US Army in the Pacific War, proving McManus to be one of our finest historians of World War II.
656 pages, Hardcover
First published November 9, 2021
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932 people want to read
About the author
John C. McManus
24 books194 followersJohn C. McManus is an author, military historian and award-winning professor of military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is one of America’s leading experts on the history of modern American soldiers in combat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 26, 2022
With Island Infernos, Professor McManus has written a superb follow on to Fire and Fortitude. In this book, the author continues the story of the US Army in the Pacific into 1944. As with Fire, he covers all the theaters of the war against the Japanese, not just the Island hopping campaigns of the Pacific, but China, Burma (kinda the same theater, but…) as well and the POW experience the those captured after the fall of Corregidor.
In addition to combat operations and assessments of the commanders, Prof McManus looks at the politics of High Command, esp in China. The US commander in the China-Burma theater, Joe Stillwell, DID NOT get along with the Chiang Kai-shek (to put it mildly) leading to much ruffled feathers and crossed purposes and Stillwell tried to both train and use Chinese forces. The author does a good job of explaining both the cultural differences and the goals of the two men. Basically Stillwell wanted to defeat the Japanese and Chiang had his eye on the post war confrontation with Mao and the Communists. In telling the story of the China/Burma Theater, the story of Merrill’s Marauders is well told.
In telling the tale McArthur and the advancement up the New Guinea Coast, and the end of the Solomon Islands campaign, McA’s tactical talents are well told and well the his treatment of his senior land commanders, Gens Kruger and Eichelberger. McA’s treatment of Eichelberger is well told in the previous volume of this series and recapped in this volume; basically McA’s kept him for going to Europe to command the 1st Army on D-Day. While he does eventually get an Army, McA gives Kruger an Army first – much to E’s dismay. In addition to McA’s treatment of the two Generals, the good Professor also looks at the relationship between the two men, who basically become rivals. To put it simply, they did not like each other very much.
In discussing McA’s advance up the New Guinea coast to Hollandia, Prof McManus also looks at the power McA’s Chief of Staff , Gen Richard Sutherland, acquires and his downfall. To put it mildly by mid ‘44 Sutherland had in many ways usurped McA’s authority often making major decisions without McA’s input. The author uses the changing date for the Admiralty Island Invasion as an example. McA was traveling and out of Radio Contact when Washington proposed moving up the date – Sutherland agreed to it without consulting his boss. In addition to his usurping some of his boss’s power, he was also a very prickly personality – his conflicts with George Kenny, 5th AF commander are very well done. Finally his downfall is story of huberous gone wayyyyyyy to far. He had a mistress, an Australian socialite, whose husband was a prisoner of the Japanese, while in Brisbane. When the McA's HQ moved to Port Moresby, he arranged to have her commissioned and brought with him to Port Moresby. Then when the HQ moved to Hollandia, McA directly ordered him to send her back to Australia. He ignored the order and took her to Hollandia with him. One morning McA came out of his bedroom in his underwear and he was on the sofa and “cheekily” said “Good Morning, General” causing much embarrassment to McA. She was back in Australia within 24 hrs and Sutherland was raked over the coals but not allowed to resign in spite his repeated offers. His wings were severely clipped from that point forwards, and more importantly everybody knew it.
When discussing operations on Bougainville, the fate of the 91st ID is covered. A “colored” division, the enlisted men were black, but the vast majority of the officers were white. Put into the line at Princess Augusta Bay, it didn’t perform particularly well, but not as abysmally as was claimed – about the same as other new divisions. The author claims most of the officers didn’t want to be there which affected its performance. The main point he makes is that the division was not allowed to grow from its mistakes like other “green” division. After a few weeks on the line it was withdrawn and assigned duties as stevedores and was never returned to combat.
The author also looks at the invasion of Leyte.
The author looks at Marine/Army relations, esp on Saipan and Peleliu. Most reading this probably know what happened to the 27thID’s commander when his division did not meet the demands of the 3rd Amphibious Corps CG, Marine Corps’ H.M. Smith, on the drive up the middle of Saipan. To put in bluntly, Smith did not like the Army or its commanders and when the 27th failed to meet his lofty expectations, he sacked the 27th's CG. At the same time saying the Army wouldn’t fight. While Prof McManus never states that HM Smith did not have the authority to relieve the 27th's CG, but it was not the wisest move he could have made. The relief created a fire storm and a public relations nightmare for the Navy. The Army didn’t help matters, convening a board to look into the matter. The board's result was that H.M. Smith was prejudiced against the Army and the 27th’s GC, also named Smith, and was unjustly treated. In fact as soon as the Army’s Smith got back to Hawaii, he was given command of another division. He eventually moved to Europe and was on Eisenhower’s staff.
Much the same thing occurred on Peleliu when the 1st Marine Division commander’s, William Rupetus, mishandled an Army Regiment and said many of the same things. While neither man was technically relieved, both were soon replaced and neither commanded troops in combat again. The author’s conclusion was that neither of the Marine Generals should have been anywhere near a combined services command.
Finally, the author looks at the treatment of the POWs in the Philippines and their movement from the PI to mainland Asia and Japan for use as labor in factories, mines and other industrial endeavors.
In summary this is an excellent, fairly complete look at the US Army’s efforts against the Japanese in 1944. An excellent follow on to the previous book in this series – 4.75 stars rounded up to 5 for good reads
In addition to combat operations and assessments of the commanders, Prof McManus looks at the politics of High Command, esp in China. The US commander in the China-Burma theater, Joe Stillwell, DID NOT get along with the Chiang Kai-shek (to put it mildly) leading to much ruffled feathers and crossed purposes and Stillwell tried to both train and use Chinese forces. The author does a good job of explaining both the cultural differences and the goals of the two men. Basically Stillwell wanted to defeat the Japanese and Chiang had his eye on the post war confrontation with Mao and the Communists. In telling the story of the China/Burma Theater, the story of Merrill’s Marauders is well told.
In telling the tale McArthur and the advancement up the New Guinea Coast, and the end of the Solomon Islands campaign, McA’s tactical talents are well told and well the his treatment of his senior land commanders, Gens Kruger and Eichelberger. McA’s treatment of Eichelberger is well told in the previous volume of this series and recapped in this volume; basically McA’s kept him for going to Europe to command the 1st Army on D-Day. While he does eventually get an Army, McA gives Kruger an Army first – much to E’s dismay. In addition to McA’s treatment of the two Generals, the good Professor also looks at the relationship between the two men, who basically become rivals. To put it simply, they did not like each other very much.
In discussing McA’s advance up the New Guinea coast to Hollandia, Prof McManus also looks at the power McA’s Chief of Staff , Gen Richard Sutherland, acquires and his downfall. To put it mildly by mid ‘44 Sutherland had in many ways usurped McA’s authority often making major decisions without McA’s input. The author uses the changing date for the Admiralty Island Invasion as an example. McA was traveling and out of Radio Contact when Washington proposed moving up the date – Sutherland agreed to it without consulting his boss. In addition to his usurping some of his boss’s power, he was also a very prickly personality – his conflicts with George Kenny, 5th AF commander are very well done. Finally his downfall is story of huberous gone wayyyyyyy to far. He had a mistress, an Australian socialite, whose husband was a prisoner of the Japanese, while in Brisbane. When the McA's HQ moved to Port Moresby, he arranged to have her commissioned and brought with him to Port Moresby. Then when the HQ moved to Hollandia, McA directly ordered him to send her back to Australia. He ignored the order and took her to Hollandia with him. One morning McA came out of his bedroom in his underwear and he was on the sofa and “cheekily” said “Good Morning, General” causing much embarrassment to McA. She was back in Australia within 24 hrs and Sutherland was raked over the coals but not allowed to resign in spite his repeated offers. His wings were severely clipped from that point forwards, and more importantly everybody knew it.
When discussing operations on Bougainville, the fate of the 91st ID is covered. A “colored” division, the enlisted men were black, but the vast majority of the officers were white. Put into the line at Princess Augusta Bay, it didn’t perform particularly well, but not as abysmally as was claimed – about the same as other new divisions. The author claims most of the officers didn’t want to be there which affected its performance. The main point he makes is that the division was not allowed to grow from its mistakes like other “green” division. After a few weeks on the line it was withdrawn and assigned duties as stevedores and was never returned to combat.
The author also looks at the invasion of Leyte.
The author looks at Marine/Army relations, esp on Saipan and Peleliu. Most reading this probably know what happened to the 27thID’s commander when his division did not meet the demands of the 3rd Amphibious Corps CG, Marine Corps’ H.M. Smith, on the drive up the middle of Saipan. To put in bluntly, Smith did not like the Army or its commanders and when the 27th failed to meet his lofty expectations, he sacked the 27th's CG. At the same time saying the Army wouldn’t fight. While Prof McManus never states that HM Smith did not have the authority to relieve the 27th's CG, but it was not the wisest move he could have made. The relief created a fire storm and a public relations nightmare for the Navy. The Army didn’t help matters, convening a board to look into the matter. The board's result was that H.M. Smith was prejudiced against the Army and the 27th’s GC, also named Smith, and was unjustly treated. In fact as soon as the Army’s Smith got back to Hawaii, he was given command of another division. He eventually moved to Europe and was on Eisenhower’s staff.
Much the same thing occurred on Peleliu when the 1st Marine Division commander’s, William Rupetus, mishandled an Army Regiment and said many of the same things. While neither man was technically relieved, both were soon replaced and neither commanded troops in combat again. The author’s conclusion was that neither of the Marine Generals should have been anywhere near a combined services command.
Finally, the author looks at the treatment of the POWs in the Philippines and their movement from the PI to mainland Asia and Japan for use as labor in factories, mines and other industrial endeavors.
In summary this is an excellent, fairly complete look at the US Army’s efforts against the Japanese in 1944. An excellent follow on to the previous book in this series – 4.75 stars rounded up to 5 for good reads
December 14, 2023
McManus is basically my replacement Ambrose, which is high praise.
November 15, 2021
A Story of Uncommon Valor and Sacrifice
Excellent description of all aspects of the Army's role in the Pacific War. I'm sorry my Dad, an Army combat engineer who fought on Guam and Leyte, didn't live to read it. He was one of the men who attacked fortified caves and bunkers with grenades and satchel charges. He would have enjoyed this book immensely. I will buy a hard-bound copy of the book for my grandchildren to read, so they will appreciate what my Dad endured for them.
Excellent description of all aspects of the Army's role in the Pacific War. I'm sorry my Dad, an Army combat engineer who fought on Guam and Leyte, didn't live to read it. He was one of the men who attacked fortified caves and bunkers with grenades and satchel charges. He would have enjoyed this book immensely. I will buy a hard-bound copy of the book for my grandchildren to read, so they will appreciate what my Dad endured for them.
March 18, 2022
McManus offers an excellent overview of the War in the Pacific for 1944. His focus is on the US Army rather than the better documented Marines and Navy. This includes excellent overviews on the action in New Guinea, Burma, and points in-between. The writing style is also exceptional in that it incorporates elements of both popular and academic writing that maintains momentum.
The Navy takes the spot light in the Pacific War. The Battles of Midway, Coral Sea, and Philippine Sea arguably did more to win the war than the land-based fighting. Then the marines did get their share of glory, especially on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and the joint operations in the Marianas, Philippines, and Okinawa. Readers can easily gloss over the Army even while acknowledging General Douglas MacArthur as the the most famous American general in the Pacific Theater. Island Infernos focuses on the Army, especially the SWPA Theater on New Guinea and the India-China-Burma Theater.
This is a big book at 540+ pages excluding endnotes. Readers should have more than a casual interest in the Pacific War. Nevertheless, McManus writes amazingly well by digesting a vast amount of data and reorganizing it into a new coherent narrative that fits together like a puzzle. McManus weaves together accounts from third-person narratives to first-person eye witness accounts, and academic studies with easy-to-digest summaries of the strategic and tactical aspects of the war. I do not know any other nonfiction writer who can combine so many distinctly separate narratives and styles into such a beautifully crafted manuscript.
McManus also includes perspectives from the Japanese. Later stages in the war led to more prisoners including higher-ranking prisoners who could give accounts of Japanese thinking from the strategic level. Diaries recovered from battlefields allow for a Japanese perspective from the front lines. Of particular note is the Japanese belief in the "Battle of Formosa," where a large part of the Japanese armed forces believed they won a major victory over the Americans. Other books have included a Japanese perspective; but as masterfully done as McManus in comparing the experiences of front line troops side-by-side using the soldiers' own words. Nor does McManus extend these narratives any further than he needed. He knows exactly where to stop and start on another line. In 540+ pages, nothing is wasted space.
And I mean it, every sentence has its place. More than once I thought I could skip ahead. Sections on POWs, homosexuality, race relations, logistical trains, etc. Nope. These sections are so beautifully integrated into the larger narrative that readers will see a more holistic story to the war. The American "cities" on Bougainville, Hollandia, Biak, and elsewhere are beautifully brought to life as he describes how these amazing army camps were established, the scale of operations, and daily life. Readers cannot imagine a city that existed in a virtual state of war with the enemy being a constant threat. At both Bougainville and Hollandia, the commanders decided not to pursue the Japanese soldiers, but rather keep them isolated or under siege. It is hard to imagine that diseased-ravaged and starved Japanese soldiers had devolved into a camp nuisance sneaking around trying to get scraps of food, medicine, or ammunition; but rarely amounting to anything more than a pest like mosquitos, cockroaches, or stray dogs. The only thing missing was compassionate yanks leaving scraps for the invaders.
But the Pacific War was not always like that. Upper-division generals particularly wanted to hunt down and exterminate the last Japanese holdouts even if they could be (mostly) safely isolated and kept under siege in their fortified places. McManus does not withhold criticism for commanders who continued to send troops into harms' way when a less costly alternative was available. MacArthur's decision to skip over Wewak and go straight for Hollandia saved countless lives. Holland Smith's insistence on taking every inch of Saipan led to countless lives lost and maimed. Admiral Nimitz's decision to invade Peleliu and Anguar produced little or no strategic advantage. And the steady stream of troops - both American and Japanese - to Leyte Island was beyond surreal, especially when considering after the battle, Leyte offered no advantage at all considering the unsuitability of the environment for bases or runways.
I cannot think of any drawbacks to this book. He offers some grand criticism for a select few - MacArthur's subverting chief of staff, Marine General Holland Smith who single-handedly caused an inter-service rivalry that extends to the modern era, and General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, whom he blames for US-China relations. McManus' treatment of Stilwell is somewhat unique. While acknowledging Stilwell's success, McManus focuses more on the after affects of Stilwell's actions as they related to US relations with Chaing Kei Shek. The Burma Campaign also belittles the Chinese role in the theater. China gave Stilwell control over some of their best troops. They also campaigned in support of the theater- crossing the Sulween River. McManus treats this as being too little, too late. But other sources note that these Chinese regiments captured at least 2 Japanese strongholds in the area. All I can conclude is that McManus offers a different interpretation of events.
Overall, this is an amazing book. It is superbly written. It compacts so much information into so little space. I will definitely look for his story of the US Army in 1943. And I will look forward to a future volume on 1945.
The Navy takes the spot light in the Pacific War. The Battles of Midway, Coral Sea, and Philippine Sea arguably did more to win the war than the land-based fighting. Then the marines did get their share of glory, especially on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and the joint operations in the Marianas, Philippines, and Okinawa. Readers can easily gloss over the Army even while acknowledging General Douglas MacArthur as the the most famous American general in the Pacific Theater. Island Infernos focuses on the Army, especially the SWPA Theater on New Guinea and the India-China-Burma Theater.
This is a big book at 540+ pages excluding endnotes. Readers should have more than a casual interest in the Pacific War. Nevertheless, McManus writes amazingly well by digesting a vast amount of data and reorganizing it into a new coherent narrative that fits together like a puzzle. McManus weaves together accounts from third-person narratives to first-person eye witness accounts, and academic studies with easy-to-digest summaries of the strategic and tactical aspects of the war. I do not know any other nonfiction writer who can combine so many distinctly separate narratives and styles into such a beautifully crafted manuscript.
McManus also includes perspectives from the Japanese. Later stages in the war led to more prisoners including higher-ranking prisoners who could give accounts of Japanese thinking from the strategic level. Diaries recovered from battlefields allow for a Japanese perspective from the front lines. Of particular note is the Japanese belief in the "Battle of Formosa," where a large part of the Japanese armed forces believed they won a major victory over the Americans. Other books have included a Japanese perspective; but as masterfully done as McManus in comparing the experiences of front line troops side-by-side using the soldiers' own words. Nor does McManus extend these narratives any further than he needed. He knows exactly where to stop and start on another line. In 540+ pages, nothing is wasted space.
And I mean it, every sentence has its place. More than once I thought I could skip ahead. Sections on POWs, homosexuality, race relations, logistical trains, etc. Nope. These sections are so beautifully integrated into the larger narrative that readers will see a more holistic story to the war. The American "cities" on Bougainville, Hollandia, Biak, and elsewhere are beautifully brought to life as he describes how these amazing army camps were established, the scale of operations, and daily life. Readers cannot imagine a city that existed in a virtual state of war with the enemy being a constant threat. At both Bougainville and Hollandia, the commanders decided not to pursue the Japanese soldiers, but rather keep them isolated or under siege. It is hard to imagine that diseased-ravaged and starved Japanese soldiers had devolved into a camp nuisance sneaking around trying to get scraps of food, medicine, or ammunition; but rarely amounting to anything more than a pest like mosquitos, cockroaches, or stray dogs. The only thing missing was compassionate yanks leaving scraps for the invaders.
But the Pacific War was not always like that. Upper-division generals particularly wanted to hunt down and exterminate the last Japanese holdouts even if they could be (mostly) safely isolated and kept under siege in their fortified places. McManus does not withhold criticism for commanders who continued to send troops into harms' way when a less costly alternative was available. MacArthur's decision to skip over Wewak and go straight for Hollandia saved countless lives. Holland Smith's insistence on taking every inch of Saipan led to countless lives lost and maimed. Admiral Nimitz's decision to invade Peleliu and Anguar produced little or no strategic advantage. And the steady stream of troops - both American and Japanese - to Leyte Island was beyond surreal, especially when considering after the battle, Leyte offered no advantage at all considering the unsuitability of the environment for bases or runways.
I cannot think of any drawbacks to this book. He offers some grand criticism for a select few - MacArthur's subverting chief of staff, Marine General Holland Smith who single-handedly caused an inter-service rivalry that extends to the modern era, and General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, whom he blames for US-China relations. McManus' treatment of Stilwell is somewhat unique. While acknowledging Stilwell's success, McManus focuses more on the after affects of Stilwell's actions as they related to US relations with Chaing Kei Shek. The Burma Campaign also belittles the Chinese role in the theater. China gave Stilwell control over some of their best troops. They also campaigned in support of the theater- crossing the Sulween River. McManus treats this as being too little, too late. But other sources note that these Chinese regiments captured at least 2 Japanese strongholds in the area. All I can conclude is that McManus offers a different interpretation of events.
Overall, this is an amazing book. It is superbly written. It compacts so much information into so little space. I will definitely look for his story of the US Army in 1943. And I will look forward to a future volume on 1945.
August 1, 2023
Meticulous, detailed and with the cross referencing to contemporary sources of Japanese orders, movements and even the correspondence of individual soldiers, makes for a compelling read. The only caveat is that McManus does editorialize some, but mostly to "correct" popular opinions of the time with updated information.
September 8, 2024
Buy.
A strong follow up to the first in the series which I found rockier and lacking in flow. But in Island Infernos, McManus hits his stride and the history flows more freely and cohesively.
A strong follow up to the first in the series which I found rockier and lacking in flow. But in Island Infernos, McManus hits his stride and the history flows more freely and cohesively.
July 15, 2023
Exhaustive and exhausting. Was a little disappointed in the Philippines section, which closes out the book. The section had a feeling of anticlimax. Maybe because the big battles -- The Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf -- were naval, and nothing can top James Hornfischer's gripping accounts.
The most exciting chapters were, in my humble opinion, the ones on New Guinea, Burma, and Peleliu.
I had not known that the loss of life in D-Day, the Pacific Theater, was much greater than D-Day in Normandy.
The most exciting chapters were, in my humble opinion, the ones on New Guinea, Burma, and Peleliu.
I had not known that the loss of life in D-Day, the Pacific Theater, was much greater than D-Day in Normandy.
January 31, 2022
Island Infernos is the second title in the trilogy about the US Army during the war in the Pacific.
Like 'Fire and Fortitude', the book covers the Pacific war through the actions of the US Army, not the Marine Corps or US Navy, although where the services fought side by side they see coverage too. At times tensions arose between the US Army commanders and their USMC brothers, but mostly on the level of the commanding officers. When in the field, confronted by tenacious Japanese resistance, the soldiers operated in unison and with full respect for each other.
It is this full coverage, top to bottom, commander-in-chief to GI, that makes the book for another great read. We get to follow the decision cycle of why certain islands were invaded, see the planning, preparations and training, and next storm ashore in a landing craft to hit the beach under withering fire. What went through the minds of the GI's, and their commanders, goes back and forth. The way this is written keeps up the pace and makes you see how hard this struggle was on the men. The personal eyewitness accounts and letters show the ferocity of the war in this theater, which was so much different from the war that raged in Europe.
The book also shows, through diary entries and interrogations that took place after the war, how the Japanese experienced this war. These young men fought a war that they believed in, or tried their best to believe, just like the Allies did. It was the mindset however that was worlds apart from that of the Allied soldiers. But here we get to see that there was a shift in the way the Japanese tried to counter Allied invasions. There was however a difference in opinion among the Japanese commanders: do we defend on the beaches and push the attackers back or do we draw them inland to next wage a war of attrition. The Japanese soldier was a cunning foe in that respect. We get to see how 'mopping up' operations, drew on for months, while the newspapers told the US citizens that the islands were secured and under full control.
Island Infernos covers 1944 and the third title will takes us into 1945, a year that would see the end of the war but it would be taking many lives before the weapons went silent.
Like 'Fire and Fortitude', the book covers the Pacific war through the actions of the US Army, not the Marine Corps or US Navy, although where the services fought side by side they see coverage too. At times tensions arose between the US Army commanders and their USMC brothers, but mostly on the level of the commanding officers. When in the field, confronted by tenacious Japanese resistance, the soldiers operated in unison and with full respect for each other.
It is this full coverage, top to bottom, commander-in-chief to GI, that makes the book for another great read. We get to follow the decision cycle of why certain islands were invaded, see the planning, preparations and training, and next storm ashore in a landing craft to hit the beach under withering fire. What went through the minds of the GI's, and their commanders, goes back and forth. The way this is written keeps up the pace and makes you see how hard this struggle was on the men. The personal eyewitness accounts and letters show the ferocity of the war in this theater, which was so much different from the war that raged in Europe.
The book also shows, through diary entries and interrogations that took place after the war, how the Japanese experienced this war. These young men fought a war that they believed in, or tried their best to believe, just like the Allies did. It was the mindset however that was worlds apart from that of the Allied soldiers. But here we get to see that there was a shift in the way the Japanese tried to counter Allied invasions. There was however a difference in opinion among the Japanese commanders: do we defend on the beaches and push the attackers back or do we draw them inland to next wage a war of attrition. The Japanese soldier was a cunning foe in that respect. We get to see how 'mopping up' operations, drew on for months, while the newspapers told the US citizens that the islands were secured and under full control.
Island Infernos covers 1944 and the third title will takes us into 1945, a year that would see the end of the war but it would be taking many lives before the weapons went silent.
November 9, 2021
The U.S. Marines' engagement in the Pacific during WWII is well documented but the U.S Army's is not as well known. Island Infernos is well written, researched and supremely interesting. Military buffs and historians will enjoy Island Infernos but so will lovers of general history. McManus has documented the how and why as well as interviews from every level of the U.S. Army who were there.
My sincere thanks to John C. McManus, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing an advanced copy of Island Infernos.
My sincere thanks to John C. McManus, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing an advanced copy of Island Infernos.
December 2, 2021
A big, dense history of a segment of the US Army in the Pacific during one year of WWII.
Very detailed. Strays into the commanders personalities with at times overly emphatic highlighting of their flaws.
I will have to revisit this work in the future as certain portions border on mind numbingly unreadable. This is due to some organization of the material and tangential anecdotes.
This make a worthy reference addition to military history reading and libraries.
I don't find this one a 'page turner'!
Very detailed. Strays into the commanders personalities with at times overly emphatic highlighting of their flaws.
I will have to revisit this work in the future as certain portions border on mind numbingly unreadable. This is due to some organization of the material and tangential anecdotes.
This make a worthy reference addition to military history reading and libraries.
I don't find this one a 'page turner'!
March 16, 2022
This is the first book I have found that describe the mission on Biak and why it was important. My Uncle, Lt. Raymond Goerke was killed there while piloting a LVT on the river bringing ammunition in and taking wounded soldiers out. For his heroic acts he was awarded the silver star, bronze star and purple heart.
November 16, 2021
I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher through Net Galley in return for an honest review. My thanks to both.
Having read and enjoyed immensely the first book in the series, “ Fire and Fortitude” I was very much looking forward to John MacManus’ second book, “ Island Infernos”. The first book earned awards for the author as should this one. I highly recommend both to any student of WWII history.
The book covers action by the US Army in 1944, from the invasion of the Eniwetok islands to the first landing in the Philippines . Of course the area commander was Douglas MacArthur, who had vowed that he would return to liberate the former US colony from Japan. The first book described the first, difficult steps to that goal in which the largely inexperienced Army, GI’s and officers faced both the Japanese and the jungles of New Guinea. Hard lessons learned the army was moving forward again to combat.
The Army reinforced, retrained , re- motivated was taking the next steps of Mac Arthur’s goal by again attacking New Guinea, but farther up the large island chains, first by clearing the enemy from airfields that were then used by the ISAAF to attack the enemy.
The author does a good job for the reader by putting him inside the war- planning sessions. The vain, proud and often inscrutable, devious , and usually redoubtable MacArthur is determined to push his armies to his final goal and uses his vast political skills and personal charms to insure that will happen. The author’s research illuminates the General’s thought process, his any way of using and manipulating subordinate generals , the press , and the chiefs of staff to further his goals. The author does not stint on the General’ s military genius , nor does he ignore on his irksome traits in painting a picture of the man.
But the book is not only about MacArthur or his generals. Mr MacManus paints vivid word pictures of the nasty jungles where the vicious war was fought. The author shows great sympathy and respect for the courage and fortitude of the GIs .Acts of quiet heroism and unselfish courage are on nearly every page. Nor does MacManus neglect the Japanese soldier often starving and sick, whose tenacity in the face of overwhelming US firepower , continued to attack and fight to their deaths. Descriptions of the ghastly combat and the suffering are moving and an eloquent way of honoring the sacrifices made. ( I write this review on Veteran ‘s Day, btw.)
This book ends with the Army in Leyte where once again soldiers combatted the jungle bred and a fie with its back against the wall in an operation that dragged on longer than planned and spat dearer cost than the supreme general had foreseen. The book ends with the Army poised to fight their way into the heavily defended island of Luzon. Still In the future is the liberation of Manila. And then the last , horrific battle- Okinawa.
I look forward to what will be the last volume in the excellent history series.
The book is assessable to all readers, not just professional military historians. The writing is clear, detailed and factual but not burdened with more details than necessary for historical clarity. Since I have an advanced copy, it did not have the maps and pictures that will be in the final product; the endpapers refer to both. There are also extensive end notes of the research done by the author.
Highly recommended .
Having read and enjoyed immensely the first book in the series, “ Fire and Fortitude” I was very much looking forward to John MacManus’ second book, “ Island Infernos”. The first book earned awards for the author as should this one. I highly recommend both to any student of WWII history.
The book covers action by the US Army in 1944, from the invasion of the Eniwetok islands to the first landing in the Philippines . Of course the area commander was Douglas MacArthur, who had vowed that he would return to liberate the former US colony from Japan. The first book described the first, difficult steps to that goal in which the largely inexperienced Army, GI’s and officers faced both the Japanese and the jungles of New Guinea. Hard lessons learned the army was moving forward again to combat.
The Army reinforced, retrained , re- motivated was taking the next steps of Mac Arthur’s goal by again attacking New Guinea, but farther up the large island chains, first by clearing the enemy from airfields that were then used by the ISAAF to attack the enemy.
The author does a good job for the reader by putting him inside the war- planning sessions. The vain, proud and often inscrutable, devious , and usually redoubtable MacArthur is determined to push his armies to his final goal and uses his vast political skills and personal charms to insure that will happen. The author’s research illuminates the General’s thought process, his any way of using and manipulating subordinate generals , the press , and the chiefs of staff to further his goals. The author does not stint on the General’ s military genius , nor does he ignore on his irksome traits in painting a picture of the man.
But the book is not only about MacArthur or his generals. Mr MacManus paints vivid word pictures of the nasty jungles where the vicious war was fought. The author shows great sympathy and respect for the courage and fortitude of the GIs .Acts of quiet heroism and unselfish courage are on nearly every page. Nor does MacManus neglect the Japanese soldier often starving and sick, whose tenacity in the face of overwhelming US firepower , continued to attack and fight to their deaths. Descriptions of the ghastly combat and the suffering are moving and an eloquent way of honoring the sacrifices made. ( I write this review on Veteran ‘s Day, btw.)
This book ends with the Army in Leyte where once again soldiers combatted the jungle bred and a fie with its back against the wall in an operation that dragged on longer than planned and spat dearer cost than the supreme general had foreseen. The book ends with the Army poised to fight their way into the heavily defended island of Luzon. Still In the future is the liberation of Manila. And then the last , horrific battle- Okinawa.
I look forward to what will be the last volume in the excellent history series.
The book is assessable to all readers, not just professional military historians. The writing is clear, detailed and factual but not burdened with more details than necessary for historical clarity. Since I have an advanced copy, it did not have the maps and pictures that will be in the final product; the endpapers refer to both. There are also extensive end notes of the research done by the author.
Highly recommended .
Read
July 3, 2023I really enjoyed reading about the US Army in the Pacific, mos of the stories I’ve read haven about the US Marines/Navy. It was good to read an army point of view about the Pacific War. Highly recommend rit to others.
March 24, 2022
Excellent follow-up to "Fire and Fortitude", "Island Infernos " is the second volume in a planned three volume history of the US Army's experience in the Pacific in WWII. There's a popular misconception that the Navy and the Marines won the Pacific War. While their contributions were essential, the Army's role was equally important. Without taking away anything from other branches of the service. McManus' purpose is to correct this misconception.
His volume makes the reader aware of the monumental logistical and planning challenge fighting a modern war on the other side of the globe posed.
McManus views the Pacific campaigns critically and does not hesitate to point out strategic and tactical errors made by both the US and Japan, e.g., the fighting for Leyte. It seems to me he is fair-minded in his judgments. For example, he points out MacArthur's less attractive character traits without losing sight of his brilliance.
There is a certain sameness to all these island battles-a successful US landing, then the Japanese losing the initiative and any chance of repelling the US invaders followed by pointless, horrific small unit actions under terrible conditions as the Japanese fight practically to the last man.
His volume makes the reader aware of the monumental logistical and planning challenge fighting a modern war on the other side of the globe posed.
McManus views the Pacific campaigns critically and does not hesitate to point out strategic and tactical errors made by both the US and Japan, e.g., the fighting for Leyte. It seems to me he is fair-minded in his judgments. For example, he points out MacArthur's less attractive character traits without losing sight of his brilliance.
There is a certain sameness to all these island battles-a successful US landing, then the Japanese losing the initiative and any chance of repelling the US invaders followed by pointless, horrific small unit actions under terrible conditions as the Japanese fight practically to the last man.
March 2, 2022
This is a very well written account of the WWII island hopping and efforts in Burma during 1944. I especially appreciated McManus' descriptions of the incredible logistics challenge of moving, supporting, and supplying thousands of troops in some of the harshest fighting environments. Kudos too for the insights to the many personnel insights and relationships between (in some cases) over-egotistical leaders. McManus also produced detailed descriptions of troop movements and progress from the moment of beach landings to the final "mopping up" phase of compaigns. His descriptions of the muddy, humid, disease-ridden conditions endured by the soldiers as they faced a fanatical enemy that almost always fought to the death brought home for me the horrorifying conditions endured by Pacific GIs and Marines.
My one minor complaint was the coordination between maps and the text. There were good page-sized maps of most of the islands discussed and pretty good indications of troop movements. However, many locations (towns, beach codenames) were mentioned in the writing, but with little or no indication of location on the maps. I enjoy military history much more when I can constantly refer to maps to keep track of locales and troop movements. I think this book would be the better for a few more detailed and labeled maps of area of particular importance.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I plan to read several more of John McManus' books.
My one minor complaint was the coordination between maps and the text. There were good page-sized maps of most of the islands discussed and pretty good indications of troop movements. However, many locations (towns, beach codenames) were mentioned in the writing, but with little or no indication of location on the maps. I enjoy military history much more when I can constantly refer to maps to keep track of locales and troop movements. I think this book would be the better for a few more detailed and labeled maps of area of particular importance.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I plan to read several more of John McManus' books.
March 5, 2022
The second book of John McManus' trilogy about the US Army island battles in the Pacific. It covers the action of the island hopping and jungle fighting Army forces during the calendar year of 1944. From the icy Aleutian Islands, to the steamy jungles of Burma and the beach heads of many South Pacific Islands, McManus takes us to the front to talk to the grunts, as well as the officers who are under intense pressure to win at all costs. Most of the action is in the South Pacific, where the Army toils under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Along with the action at the front with Japanese, the author also describes the battles between the Army and the Marines, MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz, and MacArthur and his own staff. McManus doesn't gloss over the mistakes that were made at all levels, especially in the bloody battle for Peleiu, which by the time the lengthly battle, had lost any military value. I enjoyed the book and will wait for the final chapters in the last book of the trilogy.
January 31, 2022
The author blends facts and first person accounts very well. To a degree that once again it I find it amazing that we ever "won' WWII. The conflicting personalities of the leaders, the horrendous condition that even when "safe" behind lines the troops had to live in and just the sheer number of things that had to happen to make anything work is incredible. This book did a noticeable job at including more people who fought in the war including black troops and Asian Americans without it seeming like a detour (because again they were there just like everybody else) At one point during discussion of the POWs the author says that before WWII Japan had a really good reputation in how it treated POWs. The massive scale of people captured after the fall of the Philippines and just Japan's inability to plan ahead allowed a culture of cruelty to happen was an interesting and sobering way to look at it.
January 28, 2022
McManus gives a detailed look at the incredible US Army performance fighting across multiple Pacific islands against fanatical Japanese defenders, most of whom willingly chose death over surrender. Though it maintains a focus at the small unit level in most of the battle narratives, he includes enough about the debates, and sometimes petty jealousies, going on at the 4- and 5- star general staff levels, shining a light on selfless examples of wonderful leadership by Admirals Nimitz and Halsey, General Marshall and others. The book moves quickly through its roughly 550 pages of battle narratives, making for a very informative and enjoyable read.
June 5, 2022
This is a tremendously well written and heavily researched book by an author who is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors of military history. McManus offers the reader his delicate balancing act of looking at the overall "big picture" view of strategy in the Pacific war along with "grunt's eye" view of the Hellish fighting found there. Additionally, he tells of the logistical and geographical challenges facing the United States Army and their opponents, the Japanese. It's a simply fascinating book.
However, he doesn't deal with the entire Pacific odyssey of the Army. Attu and Kiska are largely ignored, and he cuts the book short right after the Leyte campaign--it turns out that this is part of a trilogy!
It is a remarkable book. As a former Marine whose father served in the South Pacific on Bougainville and Guam, I realize now that I'd harbored a prejudice towards the Corps's accomplishments in the Pacific. I now belatedly and humbly acknowledge the Army's immense and indispensable contributions to winning the fight.
McManus does an excellent job of presenting analytical biographies of the generals and admirals who led U.S. forces. His critique of Marine General Holland M.("Howlin' Mad") Smith was spot on. My Dad served under Smith, and Smith deserves condemnation.
Other than it's incompleteness my greatest critique is the narration of the audiobook. The narrator continually mispronounced Japanese, Filipino, and Guamanian names. It was painful. Early on he mispronounced one Japanese commander's name, only to mispronounce it a different way seconds later. He mispronounced the pre-1998 name for capital of Guam, Agana (I've been there with my Dad, who was in the force that liberated the island and city); he mispronounced Samar, the the third largest island in the Philippine archipelago ('Suh-mar', not Say-mar'); and mispronounced (among many others) the name "Nakagawa" to the point that I was cursing aloud every time he did it. If you haven't gone to school with a legion of Honolulu born Japanese Americans as I have, then USE GOOGLE.
Critics of the work on Audible complain that McManus downplayed Japanese atrocities in the book. On the contrary, he devoted a very long, painful chapter to them. One viewer complained that the book was "woke garbage" because McManus had the audacity to write about racist attitudes in the American Army of that era. Doing this has been described as "revisionist", even though it is an easily supportable assertion. McManus reports, correctly, that ours was a segregated Army, and black troops were unfairly relegated to non-combat roles. American troops often viewed the Japanese as sub-human. These are uncomfortable and indisputable facts.
It isn't the job of an historian to make a reader comfortable.
Check out McManus. He's an excellent writer. This work and his "Alamo In The Ardennes" are superb works. I joined two friends of mine (both Army colonels) in reading the latter book before heading off to Belgium and Luxembourg to visit battleground of which McManus writes. His writing brought life to the experience.
However, he doesn't deal with the entire Pacific odyssey of the Army. Attu and Kiska are largely ignored, and he cuts the book short right after the Leyte campaign--it turns out that this is part of a trilogy!
It is a remarkable book. As a former Marine whose father served in the South Pacific on Bougainville and Guam, I realize now that I'd harbored a prejudice towards the Corps's accomplishments in the Pacific. I now belatedly and humbly acknowledge the Army's immense and indispensable contributions to winning the fight.
McManus does an excellent job of presenting analytical biographies of the generals and admirals who led U.S. forces. His critique of Marine General Holland M.("Howlin' Mad") Smith was spot on. My Dad served under Smith, and Smith deserves condemnation.
Other than it's incompleteness my greatest critique is the narration of the audiobook. The narrator continually mispronounced Japanese, Filipino, and Guamanian names. It was painful. Early on he mispronounced one Japanese commander's name, only to mispronounce it a different way seconds later. He mispronounced the pre-1998 name for capital of Guam, Agana (I've been there with my Dad, who was in the force that liberated the island and city); he mispronounced Samar, the the third largest island in the Philippine archipelago ('Suh-mar', not Say-mar'); and mispronounced (among many others) the name "Nakagawa" to the point that I was cursing aloud every time he did it. If you haven't gone to school with a legion of Honolulu born Japanese Americans as I have, then USE GOOGLE.
Critics of the work on Audible complain that McManus downplayed Japanese atrocities in the book. On the contrary, he devoted a very long, painful chapter to them. One viewer complained that the book was "woke garbage" because McManus had the audacity to write about racist attitudes in the American Army of that era. Doing this has been described as "revisionist", even though it is an easily supportable assertion. McManus reports, correctly, that ours was a segregated Army, and black troops were unfairly relegated to non-combat roles. American troops often viewed the Japanese as sub-human. These are uncomfortable and indisputable facts.
It isn't the job of an historian to make a reader comfortable.
Check out McManus. He's an excellent writer. This work and his "Alamo In The Ardennes" are superb works. I joined two friends of mine (both Army colonels) in reading the latter book before heading off to Belgium and Luxembourg to visit battleground of which McManus writes. His writing brought life to the experience.
September 27, 2022
This book is so much fun to read. Can't wait to finish it.
March 25, 2022
With his Island Infernos: The US Army's Pacific War Odyssey, 1944, John C. McManus continues the engaging, well researched history of the U.S. Army's role in the Pacific war that he first introduced in Fire and Fortitude: The US Army in the Pacific War, 1941-1943 His research is truly top-drawer, and his loving attention to detail is what makes both these accounts so captivating.
In Fire and Fortitude he presented a riveting account of a peace-time army's painful and frustrating first lessons in battling a ruthless and superior foe following Pearl Harbor. Now, in Island Infernos, he explores the Army's dogged pursuit of Japanese forces, island by island, throughout 1944, a year that saw the hunted become the hunter.
Again, McManus shows us the war from the top down. He has us looking over MacArthur's and Nimitz's shoulders as they hash out their strategies over the large scale maps. Then he takes us down to various corps and division headquarters to see how the tactical commanders struggle with the terrain and the enemy situation to hammer the strategic visions into workable plans. Then he takes us down to the frontlines - to the dogface in his foxhole, surrounded by strange noises and shadows at night - to show us how these guys made the plans work despite battling suicidal Jap resistance, heat, humidity and tropical diseases.
The book is a wonderful read whether you are interested in grand strategy or the hellish world of the combat infantryman. This volume spans the fight down the New Guinea coast to pave the way towards the rescue of the the Philippine Islands, the savage battles for Saipan and Guam, the appalling carnage of Peleliu, and the grinding jungle combat to capture the island of Leyte.
Some pretty good maps are included to help the reader follow the planners' logic and the actual execution of plans by the troops during each battle. McManus does a great job of describing how the terrain effected the planning and fighting. He also provides the number, composition, and placement of the opposing forces and explains how each commander's philosophy of training and combat would influence operations.
McManus delves into a number of non-combat subjects as well. He covers the unglamorous but vital role of logistics, racial segregation, and details on the US Army POWs in the Pacific. He also write about the monumental civil affairs challenge of feeding, sheltering and rendering medical aid to the Filipino victims of Japanese oppression. It was also interesting to read how political battles were waged behind the lines, and how the commanders squabbled among themselves.
At the pinnacle of this richly told story are character sketches of the generals: Douglas MacArthur, a military autocrat driven by his dysfunctional lust for fame and power; Robert Eichelberger, perhaps the greatest commander in the theater yet consigned to obscurity by MacArthur’s jealousy (until he needed him again) “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell, a prickly soldier miscast in a diplomat’s role; and Walter Krueger, a German-born officer who came to lead the largest American ground force in the Pacific.
There are numerous personal stories that make this book one to be read and remembered. McManus captures these using diaries, notes, letters, official reports, and newspaper accounts. You'll meet some celebrated heroes and plenty of unsung heroes as well.
My favorite is Ben Salomon, the Jewish kid from Milwaukee, Born in 1914, he graduated from the USC Dental School in 1937 and began a dental practice. In 1940 he was among the first to receive a draft notice. Though he had explored the possibility of pursuing a commission as a dental officer—and drew zero interest in that prospect from the army—he instead entered the service in March 1941 as a private with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division.
Salomon proved himself to be a natural and highly enthusiastic infantry soldier. In regimental competitions, he consistently emerged as the best rifle and pistol marksman. He could fieldstrip and clean weapons blindfolded faster than most men could with their eyes open. He cheerfully took on any task, no matter how onerous. The officers of his regiment uniformly considered him to be the unit’s best enlisted soldier, and Salomon soon became a sergeant in charge of a machine gun section.
In the summer of 1942, the army finally decided to make him a dental officer after all. The War Department sent a letter to his home in Los Angeles, ordering him to report for commissioning. But Salomon refused the commission; he preferred to stay in the infantry. The army would not relent, though, and Salomon, then 27, finally bowed to the seemingly inevitable and became a lieutenant in the Army Dental Corps. In March 1943, he was assigned as the dental officer for the 27th Division’s 105th Infantry Regiment in Hawaii—a fairly cushy job that promised little combat action.
Although Salomon enjoyed his new practice, he badly missed life with an infantry company. As the division trained intensively for battle, Salomon kept honing his own combat expertise. In the mornings, he saw patients. But each afternoon, he changed into a field uniform and trained with the rifle company soldiers, again winning all skills competitions. “He wallowed in the dirt and the mud,” the division historian wrote of him. “He made the long, hot hikes. He fired on the range.” Colonel Leonard Bishop, his regimental commander, called him “the best instructor in infantry tactics we ever had.” Salomon soon earned a promotion to captain. In late May 1944, Captain Salomon and the soldiers of the 27th Infantry Division left Oahu, bound for Saipan in the Marianas, a vital steppingstone on the long road to Japan.
They got there on June 15th and three weeks later in the steamy predawn darkness of July 7, 1944, thousands of Japanese attackers hurled themselves at frontline positions held by the U.S. Army’s 27th Infantry Division, unleashing the largest banzai assault of the Pacific War.
You can read about Ben Salamon's response to this situation that another officer compared to a “stampede staged in the old wild west movies..." on pages 383-385.
The U.S. Army Infantry School adopted its motto in the early 1920s, but one officer brought it to life in 1944. Colonel Aubrey S. "Red" Newman rallied the troops of the 34th Infantry Regiment pinned down on the beachhead at Leyte with his cry of "Follow Me!" and inspired ensuing generations of American infantrymen for decades to come.
How did Murphy. the canine mascot for the 821st Infantry, influence the troops to greater efforts during the fight on Peleliu? The answer is on page 459.
Tales of bravery and appropriate anecdotes throughout add human interest to the operational details and map symbols.. This history is imminently readable. Both the general reader and the military history expert will find it informative and enjoyable.
In Fire and Fortitude he presented a riveting account of a peace-time army's painful and frustrating first lessons in battling a ruthless and superior foe following Pearl Harbor. Now, in Island Infernos, he explores the Army's dogged pursuit of Japanese forces, island by island, throughout 1944, a year that saw the hunted become the hunter.
Again, McManus shows us the war from the top down. He has us looking over MacArthur's and Nimitz's shoulders as they hash out their strategies over the large scale maps. Then he takes us down to various corps and division headquarters to see how the tactical commanders struggle with the terrain and the enemy situation to hammer the strategic visions into workable plans. Then he takes us down to the frontlines - to the dogface in his foxhole, surrounded by strange noises and shadows at night - to show us how these guys made the plans work despite battling suicidal Jap resistance, heat, humidity and tropical diseases.
The book is a wonderful read whether you are interested in grand strategy or the hellish world of the combat infantryman. This volume spans the fight down the New Guinea coast to pave the way towards the rescue of the the Philippine Islands, the savage battles for Saipan and Guam, the appalling carnage of Peleliu, and the grinding jungle combat to capture the island of Leyte.
Some pretty good maps are included to help the reader follow the planners' logic and the actual execution of plans by the troops during each battle. McManus does a great job of describing how the terrain effected the planning and fighting. He also provides the number, composition, and placement of the opposing forces and explains how each commander's philosophy of training and combat would influence operations.
McManus delves into a number of non-combat subjects as well. He covers the unglamorous but vital role of logistics, racial segregation, and details on the US Army POWs in the Pacific. He also write about the monumental civil affairs challenge of feeding, sheltering and rendering medical aid to the Filipino victims of Japanese oppression. It was also interesting to read how political battles were waged behind the lines, and how the commanders squabbled among themselves.
At the pinnacle of this richly told story are character sketches of the generals: Douglas MacArthur, a military autocrat driven by his dysfunctional lust for fame and power; Robert Eichelberger, perhaps the greatest commander in the theater yet consigned to obscurity by MacArthur’s jealousy (until he needed him again) “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell, a prickly soldier miscast in a diplomat’s role; and Walter Krueger, a German-born officer who came to lead the largest American ground force in the Pacific.
There are numerous personal stories that make this book one to be read and remembered. McManus captures these using diaries, notes, letters, official reports, and newspaper accounts. You'll meet some celebrated heroes and plenty of unsung heroes as well.
My favorite is Ben Salomon, the Jewish kid from Milwaukee, Born in 1914, he graduated from the USC Dental School in 1937 and began a dental practice. In 1940 he was among the first to receive a draft notice. Though he had explored the possibility of pursuing a commission as a dental officer—and drew zero interest in that prospect from the army—he instead entered the service in March 1941 as a private with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Division.
Salomon proved himself to be a natural and highly enthusiastic infantry soldier. In regimental competitions, he consistently emerged as the best rifle and pistol marksman. He could fieldstrip and clean weapons blindfolded faster than most men could with their eyes open. He cheerfully took on any task, no matter how onerous. The officers of his regiment uniformly considered him to be the unit’s best enlisted soldier, and Salomon soon became a sergeant in charge of a machine gun section.
In the summer of 1942, the army finally decided to make him a dental officer after all. The War Department sent a letter to his home in Los Angeles, ordering him to report for commissioning. But Salomon refused the commission; he preferred to stay in the infantry. The army would not relent, though, and Salomon, then 27, finally bowed to the seemingly inevitable and became a lieutenant in the Army Dental Corps. In March 1943, he was assigned as the dental officer for the 27th Division’s 105th Infantry Regiment in Hawaii—a fairly cushy job that promised little combat action.
Although Salomon enjoyed his new practice, he badly missed life with an infantry company. As the division trained intensively for battle, Salomon kept honing his own combat expertise. In the mornings, he saw patients. But each afternoon, he changed into a field uniform and trained with the rifle company soldiers, again winning all skills competitions. “He wallowed in the dirt and the mud,” the division historian wrote of him. “He made the long, hot hikes. He fired on the range.” Colonel Leonard Bishop, his regimental commander, called him “the best instructor in infantry tactics we ever had.” Salomon soon earned a promotion to captain. In late May 1944, Captain Salomon and the soldiers of the 27th Infantry Division left Oahu, bound for Saipan in the Marianas, a vital steppingstone on the long road to Japan.
They got there on June 15th and three weeks later in the steamy predawn darkness of July 7, 1944, thousands of Japanese attackers hurled themselves at frontline positions held by the U.S. Army’s 27th Infantry Division, unleashing the largest banzai assault of the Pacific War.
You can read about Ben Salamon's response to this situation that another officer compared to a “stampede staged in the old wild west movies..." on pages 383-385.
The U.S. Army Infantry School adopted its motto in the early 1920s, but one officer brought it to life in 1944. Colonel Aubrey S. "Red" Newman rallied the troops of the 34th Infantry Regiment pinned down on the beachhead at Leyte with his cry of "Follow Me!" and inspired ensuing generations of American infantrymen for decades to come.
How did Murphy. the canine mascot for the 821st Infantry, influence the troops to greater efforts during the fight on Peleliu? The answer is on page 459.
Tales of bravery and appropriate anecdotes throughout add human interest to the operational details and map symbols.. This history is imminently readable. Both the general reader and the military history expert will find it informative and enjoyable.
May 31, 2021
An interesting read on the US Army action in the Pacific during WW2. The author does an outstanding job of telling the story of the battles fought and the political/personnel in-fighting that took place as well. The use of first hand accounts really added to the enjoyment of the books. A great read for the history enthusiast.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 27, 2023
A riveting second installment of what will certainly be the definitive trilogy on the U.S. Army in the Pacific War
In Island Infernos, John C. McManus chronicles the U.S. Army's relentless advance across the Pacific theater's far flung landscape in the pivotal year of 1944. The second volume picks up with Operation Flintlock in the Marshall Islands, characterized by fierce fighting on Kwajalein atoll. This engagement is a great example of the Army's ever improving efficiency in amphibious operations.
McManus also spends adequate time covering the 93rd Infantry Division's experience in Bougainville, an all-Black combat unit who faced unimaginable pressure to perform under poor leadership and immense pressure to prove their mettle as Black soldiers in a segregated Army. McManus points to the 93rd Division as an illustration the divide between the America's fight for democracy abroad but struggles with racism at home.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to General McArthur's westerly slog across the bitter jungles of New Guinea. Despite a string of strategic victories at Hollandia, Lone Tree Hill, and Driniumor River, McArthur's eagerness to expedite his return to the Philippines is often at odds with the deliberate fighting necessary to eliminate stubborn Japanese defenders.
Attention is also paid to the Burma campaign and POW camps spanning the Japanese empire. The last chapters of Island Infernos focus on the more well known Marianas, Palau, and Philippine campaigns. Unfathomable bloodletting, disease, and close-quarters combat define these chapters, coupled with the enormous logistic effort required to sustain such operations.
The oft-repeated story of Holland Smith's relief of General Ralph Smith at Saipan is covered. However, despite narrative surrounding inter-service rivalries, McManus notes that the Marines and Army soldiers actually worked well together in many combat instances. At Guam, for instance, Marines and Army troops eliminated an obstinate Japanese enemy through well-coordinated infantry and tank assaults. It was refreshing to read more about how well the two services fought alongside one another as opposed to a perpetuation of overblown rivalries.
The book finishes up with the long, arduous campaign in Leyte. Torrential rains, enervating terrain, and unrelenting diseases resulting in appalling casualties. Filipino guerrillas proved to be indispensable as a vexing obstacle to Japanese operations in the Philippines while poor infrastructure and weather accounted for disastrous supply lines.
Overall, Island Infernos is fast-paced, detailed account of the U.S. Army's island hopping exploits in the Pacific War. I found this volume to be more combat oriented than Fire and Fortitude. Very much looking forward to the forthcoming third volume of this trilogy.
In Island Infernos, John C. McManus chronicles the U.S. Army's relentless advance across the Pacific theater's far flung landscape in the pivotal year of 1944. The second volume picks up with Operation Flintlock in the Marshall Islands, characterized by fierce fighting on Kwajalein atoll. This engagement is a great example of the Army's ever improving efficiency in amphibious operations.
McManus also spends adequate time covering the 93rd Infantry Division's experience in Bougainville, an all-Black combat unit who faced unimaginable pressure to perform under poor leadership and immense pressure to prove their mettle as Black soldiers in a segregated Army. McManus points to the 93rd Division as an illustration the divide between the America's fight for democracy abroad but struggles with racism at home.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to General McArthur's westerly slog across the bitter jungles of New Guinea. Despite a string of strategic victories at Hollandia, Lone Tree Hill, and Driniumor River, McArthur's eagerness to expedite his return to the Philippines is often at odds with the deliberate fighting necessary to eliminate stubborn Japanese defenders.
Attention is also paid to the Burma campaign and POW camps spanning the Japanese empire. The last chapters of Island Infernos focus on the more well known Marianas, Palau, and Philippine campaigns. Unfathomable bloodletting, disease, and close-quarters combat define these chapters, coupled with the enormous logistic effort required to sustain such operations.
The oft-repeated story of Holland Smith's relief of General Ralph Smith at Saipan is covered. However, despite narrative surrounding inter-service rivalries, McManus notes that the Marines and Army soldiers actually worked well together in many combat instances. At Guam, for instance, Marines and Army troops eliminated an obstinate Japanese enemy through well-coordinated infantry and tank assaults. It was refreshing to read more about how well the two services fought alongside one another as opposed to a perpetuation of overblown rivalries.
The book finishes up with the long, arduous campaign in Leyte. Torrential rains, enervating terrain, and unrelenting diseases resulting in appalling casualties. Filipino guerrillas proved to be indispensable as a vexing obstacle to Japanese operations in the Philippines while poor infrastructure and weather accounted for disastrous supply lines.
Overall, Island Infernos is fast-paced, detailed account of the U.S. Army's island hopping exploits in the Pacific War. I found this volume to be more combat oriented than Fire and Fortitude. Very much looking forward to the forthcoming third volume of this trilogy.
December 21, 2022
I highly recommend this book for casual students of WWII. The topic is the U.S. Army in the Southwest Pacific Area. The Marines were the masters of amphibious assault, and also the masters of public relations, so this area has faded somewhat from public memory, overshadowed by Northwest Europe and the Marines amphibious advance across the Pacific. But in actuality there were twice as many Army divisions in the Pacific than Marines and the Army became quite adept at amphibious operations.
The narrative starts at the conclusion of the Buna campaign in New Guinea, when MacArthur planned his first leap frog advance along the northern New Guinea coast to Hollandia, bypassing Japanese troops. This became his pattern, cutting off Japanese troops and letting them starve or forcing them to launch attacks on American beach enclaves. The narrative continues to the Battle for Leyte Island, with side trips to Guam and the Marianas where Army troops coordinated with the Marines as well as Merrill's Marauders in Burma.
What impressed me with this book is the manner in which the author combines the narratives of events with portraits, warts and all, of the commanders. He's quite candid about their strengths and weaknesses. MacArthur, brilliant but an egotist obsessed with public relations. His chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Sutherland, a conniver who bent the rules to get his Australian mistress commissioned in the US Womens Army Corp and brought her to Hollandia and then to Leyte Island. Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, who hated the Army, causing considerable friction when Army troops were under his command, Lt. Gen. Robert Eichelberger, one of the best American generals sidelined for a time by MacArthur because he saw him as a rival.
The book is well provided with quotes and anecdotes taken from unit histories, memoirs, diaries and letters homes, giving a good feel for what a terrible fight US troops had. The terrain on many of the islands and the Burma jungle was terrible and greatly favored the defense. The Japanese knew they were heavily overmatched and unlikely to be reinforced, but they adopted a strategy of inflicting as many casualties on the Americans as they could to wear down American resolve. Interestingly, the author managed to locate many surviving Japanese letters and diaries, as well as what surviving Japanese commanders told American interrogators after the war, giving a fairly good picture of the war from the Japanese side, and it wasn't pretty. As bad as American troops had it, the Japanese suffered incredible privations. AN excellent history.
The narrative starts at the conclusion of the Buna campaign in New Guinea, when MacArthur planned his first leap frog advance along the northern New Guinea coast to Hollandia, bypassing Japanese troops. This became his pattern, cutting off Japanese troops and letting them starve or forcing them to launch attacks on American beach enclaves. The narrative continues to the Battle for Leyte Island, with side trips to Guam and the Marianas where Army troops coordinated with the Marines as well as Merrill's Marauders in Burma.
What impressed me with this book is the manner in which the author combines the narratives of events with portraits, warts and all, of the commanders. He's quite candid about their strengths and weaknesses. MacArthur, brilliant but an egotist obsessed with public relations. His chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Sutherland, a conniver who bent the rules to get his Australian mistress commissioned in the US Womens Army Corp and brought her to Hollandia and then to Leyte Island. Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, who hated the Army, causing considerable friction when Army troops were under his command, Lt. Gen. Robert Eichelberger, one of the best American generals sidelined for a time by MacArthur because he saw him as a rival.
The book is well provided with quotes and anecdotes taken from unit histories, memoirs, diaries and letters homes, giving a good feel for what a terrible fight US troops had. The terrain on many of the islands and the Burma jungle was terrible and greatly favored the defense. The Japanese knew they were heavily overmatched and unlikely to be reinforced, but they adopted a strategy of inflicting as many casualties on the Americans as they could to wear down American resolve. Interestingly, the author managed to locate many surviving Japanese letters and diaries, as well as what surviving Japanese commanders told American interrogators after the war, giving a fairly good picture of the war from the Japanese side, and it wasn't pretty. As bad as American troops had it, the Japanese suffered incredible privations. AN excellent history.
November 27, 2021
“ISLAND INFERNOS: THE U. S. ARMY’S PACIFIC WAR ODYSSEY, 1944,” BY JOHN C. MCMANUS (CALIBER, 2020). MOST OF MY PACIFIC WAR READING HAS BEEN ABOUT THE NAVY AND THE MARINES. BUT IT WAS THE ARMY THAT DID MOST OF THE DIRTIEST FIGHTING; COMPARED WITH THE MARINES’ SIX DIVISIONS AND 15 LANDINGS, THE ARMY COMPRISED MORE THAN 21 DIVISIONS AND CARRIED OUT DOZENS OF LANDINGS. IN THIS VOLUME MCMANUS DESCRIBES THOSE FROM THIS YEAR, STARTING WITH KWAJALEIN THROUGH GUAM, SAIPAN, NEW GUINEA AND ON TO LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINES. BY THIS TIME THE ARMY (AND THE NAVY) WAS HUGE, SOPHISTICATED, COMPLEX, AND THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL. THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, THOUGH THE GENERALS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE OF THE BEST. MCMANUS PULLS NO PUNCHES: MACARTHUR’S NO. 2, DICK SUTHERLAND, WAS DUPLICITOUS, CONNIVING, INSUBORDINATE (HE BROUGHT HIS MISTRESS ALONG WITH HIM DESPITE MACARTHUR’S DIRECT ORDERS NOT TO); MACARTHUR WAS STRATEGICALLY AND TACTICALLY SOUND, AND UNCOMMONLY COURAGEOUS, BUT NARCISSISTIC, EGO-DRIVEN, VAIN. MCMANUS HAS NO USE AT ALL FOR THE MARINE GEN. HOLLAND M (HOWLIN’ MAD) SMITH, WHO TALKED A GOOD WAR---BUT ONLY FOR THE MARINES---BUT NEVER WENT TO THE FRONT, NEVER VISITED THE TROOPS, NEVER REALLY SAW ACTION, AND DID HIS BEST TO DESTROY THE CAREER OF GEN. RALPH SMITH OF THE 27TH DIVISION. R. SMITH, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS A FINE BATTLEFIELD COMMANDER. HM SMITH RELIEVED R SMITH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIGHTING AND SMEARED HIS NAME TO THE POINT THAT IT IS ONLY NOW BEING RESURRECTED. MCMANUS GOES THROUGH THE COMMANDERS LIKE THIS, DEALING OUT PRAISE AND BRICKBATS IN GREAT DETAIL. SPEAKING OF DETAIL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SHEER PHYSICAL HORROR OF THE FIGHTING ITSELF, MCMANUS IS GRAPHIC ABOUT THE OBSCENITY OF THE COMBAT. THE JAPANESE WOULD NOT SURRENDER; AND THEY WERE SUPERB DEFENSIVE PLANNERS AND FIGHTERS. THEIR POSITIONS IN THE SWARMING JUNGLES WERE CUNNINGLY SITED AND ALMOST INVISIBLE. THE GIS COULD NOT BYPASS ANYTHING, BECAUSE THERE WERE ALMOST ALWAYS JAPANESE TROOPS HIDING IHN THERE SOMEWHERE. THE JAPANESE LEADERS WERE NOT SO SMART, THOUGH. THEIR TACTICS, OF THE MASS “BANZAI” CHARGES, WERE PREDICTABLE AND POORLY ORGANIZED. THEY WERE ALMOST ALWAYS SMASHED, THOUGH NOT BEFORE CAUSING TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION. MCMANUS DESCRIBES IN OBSCENE DETAIL THE SIGHT, SMELL, SQUELCH OF THE BODIES, JAPANESE AND AMERICAN, FESTERING AND DECAYING EVERYWHERE. THE EUROPEAN WAR WAS CIVILIZED BY COMPARISON, EVEN ON THE EASTERN FRONT. I AM SO GLAD MY FATHER NEVER WAS SENT INTO COMBAT IN THE PACIFIC.
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September 11, 2024
This, the second volume of John McManus's saga of the US Army in the war with Japan during World War II, narrates the campaigns and battles of 1944. There was plenty of fighting to do. In Burma, New Guinea, the Philippines, the Marshalls the Palaus and the Marianas, the Army fought in conditions that ranged from terrible to even worse. Being in a jungle under constant rainfall while ill with tropical diseases isn't fun even if other people aren't trying to kill you, and the Japanese were always trying.
By 1944 the war in the Pacific had been divided into two theaters: Central Pacific, advancing through the island chains of Micronesia to the Marianas, and SouthWest Pacific, taking bases and airfields along the northern coast of New Guinea and islands to its north, always aiming for the Philippines, MacArthur's great cause. Mac's strategic sense was sound enough but, aside from hogging the limelight, he would always declare his battles over prematurely, much to the disgust of the soldiers who had to do the "mopping up."
Just to make things interesting, the Army was under the command of the Navy or even the Marines in the Central Pacific Theater. This usually worked out, but at Saipan, a full-blown inter-service pissing contest broke out when the Marine Corps corps commander (General Holland Smith) decided to sack the commander of the single Army division (General Ralph Smith) in his corps. Without going into too many details, let's just say that the change might have been justified, but it definitely wasn't a smart move.
Over in Burma, the theater commander, Joseph Stilwell, was also the chief military advisor to Chiang Kai Shek as well as having to direct military and engineering campaigns to open the overland route to China, all while trying to get along with the Brits, whom he loathed. Too many hats, and he ended up destroying his primary American ground combat force: Merrill's Marauders.
McManus has managed to weave these disparate tails into a seamless and well-crafted garment; his writing is both descriptive and empathetic, especially for the sufferings of the combat soldiers who served. I eagerly await the following volume.
By 1944 the war in the Pacific had been divided into two theaters: Central Pacific, advancing through the island chains of Micronesia to the Marianas, and SouthWest Pacific, taking bases and airfields along the northern coast of New Guinea and islands to its north, always aiming for the Philippines, MacArthur's great cause. Mac's strategic sense was sound enough but, aside from hogging the limelight, he would always declare his battles over prematurely, much to the disgust of the soldiers who had to do the "mopping up."
Just to make things interesting, the Army was under the command of the Navy or even the Marines in the Central Pacific Theater. This usually worked out, but at Saipan, a full-blown inter-service pissing contest broke out when the Marine Corps corps commander (General Holland Smith) decided to sack the commander of the single Army division (General Ralph Smith) in his corps. Without going into too many details, let's just say that the change might have been justified, but it definitely wasn't a smart move.
Over in Burma, the theater commander, Joseph Stilwell, was also the chief military advisor to Chiang Kai Shek as well as having to direct military and engineering campaigns to open the overland route to China, all while trying to get along with the Brits, whom he loathed. Too many hats, and he ended up destroying his primary American ground combat force: Merrill's Marauders.
McManus has managed to weave these disparate tails into a seamless and well-crafted garment; his writing is both descriptive and empathetic, especially for the sufferings of the combat soldiers who served. I eagerly await the following volume.
January 4, 2022
Nearly every serious treatment of WWII reenforces some long-held truths about the war and adds a little depth of understanding. As terrible as the experiences of our 21st century servicemen are, we must be thankful that the number who must face these terrors has been reduced so drastically.
It is distressing to read of the large numbers of troops who were wounded or dies serving under seriously flawed military leaders or in causes driven by the self-interest of politicians. Unfortunately, no human being is flawless. Every war has its share of high-ranking military leaders who served most of their career in peacetime. When war came, it turns out some of them were not suited to the task. Perhaps that is even a good thing, since we would not like to be around people whose personalities are best suited to killing on a massive scale. Still, the troops under their command bear the price of their incompetence.
The more one learns about famous presidents and military leaders, the more one finds even the greatest that each one had serious flaws but seems to have been just the person needed at the time.
As the author points out, this trilogy concentrates on the role of the U.S. Army in the Pacific under the presumption that the U.S. Navy and Marines seem to get so much more credit in most histories. He does a good job of that.
One minor criticism is about the maps. They were helpful to place the various islands geographically and to understand the shape of the islands. However, they seemed disconnected from the text. The text never refers to the maps and the maps seems to have insufficient annotations to help align with the flow of the narrative. The font on the maps was also small enough that I had trouble reading it.
It is distressing to read of the large numbers of troops who were wounded or dies serving under seriously flawed military leaders or in causes driven by the self-interest of politicians. Unfortunately, no human being is flawless. Every war has its share of high-ranking military leaders who served most of their career in peacetime. When war came, it turns out some of them were not suited to the task. Perhaps that is even a good thing, since we would not like to be around people whose personalities are best suited to killing on a massive scale. Still, the troops under their command bear the price of their incompetence.
The more one learns about famous presidents and military leaders, the more one finds even the greatest that each one had serious flaws but seems to have been just the person needed at the time.
As the author points out, this trilogy concentrates on the role of the U.S. Army in the Pacific under the presumption that the U.S. Navy and Marines seem to get so much more credit in most histories. He does a good job of that.
One minor criticism is about the maps. They were helpful to place the various islands geographically and to understand the shape of the islands. However, they seemed disconnected from the text. The text never refers to the maps and the maps seems to have insufficient annotations to help align with the flow of the narrative. The font on the maps was also small enough that I had trouble reading it.
October 11, 2022
1944 would be a milestone year in both the Pacific and European theaters for the U.S. Army. In Europe wold be invasions of Italy and France. In the Pacific the U.S. Army was still struggling in New Guinea. It had made progress among the Gilbert Islands, cleared the Aleutian Islands, and established a force in India aimed at Burma. It was the opening John McManus had set for Island Infernos, the second volume of his series on the U.S. Army in the Pacific War.
John McManus lays out the situation at the beginning of 19955 in the Prologue of Island Infernos. He then takes the reader though all the operations and activities of the U.S. Army in 1944 over the course of the next ten chapters. Operation Flintlock - the invasion of the Marshall Islands. The invasion of the Admiralty Islands of Los Megros and Manus. Fighting and more fighting in New Guinea and on Bougainville. Galahad Force left India and trekked though Burma. The Marine/Army invasions of Guam, Saipan, and Tinian that brought plenty of casualties and almost ruptured relationships between the two services. Finally came the longed for return to the Philippines by McArthur and the U.S. Army assisted by the U.S. Navy. McManus also provided a brief update on POWs and their treatment.
John McManus has continued his credible job of presenting the role of the US Army in the Pacific Theater of WWII. He works to provide details from both combat and other aspects of Army life. In one volume he managed to cover the wide range of activities undertaken by the U.S. Army over the course of 1944 for the reader to peruse and absorb.
John McManus lays out the situation at the beginning of 19955 in the Prologue of Island Infernos. He then takes the reader though all the operations and activities of the U.S. Army in 1944 over the course of the next ten chapters. Operation Flintlock - the invasion of the Marshall Islands. The invasion of the Admiralty Islands of Los Megros and Manus. Fighting and more fighting in New Guinea and on Bougainville. Galahad Force left India and trekked though Burma. The Marine/Army invasions of Guam, Saipan, and Tinian that brought plenty of casualties and almost ruptured relationships between the two services. Finally came the longed for return to the Philippines by McArthur and the U.S. Army assisted by the U.S. Navy. McManus also provided a brief update on POWs and their treatment.
John McManus has continued his credible job of presenting the role of the US Army in the Pacific Theater of WWII. He works to provide details from both combat and other aspects of Army life. In one volume he managed to cover the wide range of activities undertaken by the U.S. Army over the course of 1944 for the reader to peruse and absorb.
September 25, 2025
I knew almost nothing of the war in the Pacific in the early 1940's, so I learned a great deal from this book, both about the overall strategy and about the day to day life of soldiers on those hot, humid, insect-infested islands. I had recently read books about the Hump and building the Burma Road, and enjoyed reading McManus' slightly different take on some of the same commanders. My only complaint is the maps. The maps are terrible. Some include places irrelevant to the text while omitting battle areas that are described in the text. Perhaps frequent readers of war history will understand the boxes, the roman numerals, the dotted or dark or plain lines and curves. Are they American lines or Japanese lines? Are the numerals referring to army divisions (if so, why are they different than numbers in the text)?. Could the print be any smaller? Why are there no legends on the maps to explain the symbols or help one understand differences. I finally gave up on the maps. If I really want to understand the situation, I go to google maps or look for online references. It's a shame that such a good history book is so poorly served by the maps.
November 25, 2023
Coming across Island Infernos, one may assume another Pacific book about Marine island hopping. However, the title of the book, while initially generic, is actually extremely descriptive: this is a work about only the US Army units fighting in the campaign, and featuring only battles from 1944. In that sense, it actually presents a fair amount of lesser known material, starting with fighting around New Guinea and working its way up to the slog through the Philippines.
The writing itself is very good, McManus keeps things organized, mentions the Marines and Navy when he has to, which is obviously pretty often, but one can very much tell this is meant to be about the Army divisions and their particular struggles. Commanders are fleshed out pretty well without walls of boring biography, and the first person accounts are well placed. I didn't think there was any particular action that overstayed its welcome.
The ending of the book may seem jarring, ending exactly during the capture of the Philippines, though I guess we can't blame the author for doing what it says on the tin.
The writing itself is very good, McManus keeps things organized, mentions the Marines and Navy when he has to, which is obviously pretty often, but one can very much tell this is meant to be about the Army divisions and their particular struggles. Commanders are fleshed out pretty well without walls of boring biography, and the first person accounts are well placed. I didn't think there was any particular action that overstayed its welcome.
The ending of the book may seem jarring, ending exactly during the capture of the Philippines, though I guess we can't blame the author for doing what it says on the tin.
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