Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific

by R.V. Burgin, William Marvel, Bill Marvel

Watch author RV Burgin discuss Islands of the Damned and The Pacific . See R.V. Burgin in the award winning documentary film Peleliu 1944: Horror in the Pacific. Click here for more information. This is an eyewitness-and eye-opening-account of some of the most savage and brutal fighting in the war against Japan, told from the perspective of a young Texan who volunteered for the Marine Corps to escape a life as a traveling salesman. R.V. Burgin enlisted at the age of twenty, and with his sharp intelligence and earnest work ethic, climbed the ranks from a green private to a seasoned sergeant. Along the way, he shouldered a rifle as a member of a mortar squad. He saw friends die-and enemies killed. He saw scenes he wanted to forget but never did-from enemy snipers who tied themselves to branches in the highest trees, to ambushes along narrow jungle trails, to the abandoned corpses of hara kiri victims, to the final howling banzai attacks as the Japanese embraced their inevitable defeat.

An unforgettable narrative of a young Marine in combat, Islands of the Damned brings to life the hell that was the Pacific War.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military Fiction, War, Biography, Military History

296 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2010

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When I thought about it, I counted myself lucky to be serving with these men. We'd solidified into a unit. We worked well together. We had each other's backs." -- on page 236

Although not specifically used as the basis for the HBO network's The Pacific miniseries - their follow-up to the very successful Band of Brothers - co-author Burgin was featured as a character in that TV dramatization. A native of a rural Texas farm family, Burgin volunteered for the Marine Corps - believing the USMC was the sharpest-looking of the U.S. military branches - soon after both completing high school and America's entry into WWII. Shipped overseas to the Pacific Theater, he was a corporal (and later sergeant) in charge of a mortar squad from 1943 to 1945. With assistance from Dallas print journalist William Marvel, the plain-spoken Burgin details his action in combat against the merciless Japanese forces and the stretches of downtime in-between in the memoir Islands of the Damned. Episodic in its nature as well notable for its brevity, readers follow the landings on various shores - Cape Gloucester, Talasea, Peleliu, Ngesebus, Okinawa (where Burgin earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service) and Takabanare - as well as the hardships, near-misses, and occasional tragedies experienced by his increasingly battle-hardened platoon.

[Bon Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm starting to realize why I like these war testimonials so much. In short, it's condensed human experience. It's the worst of us, it's the best of us. It's all in there. And it always makes me wonder, what would I do in their place? Would I go "asiatic", as they say in this book (hilarious:), crapping my pants at the very thought of showing my nose out of a foxhole, or would I go stoically, methodically completing my duty like the author of this book? The bravery of those people is beyond the scope of our daily experience. That's why it's almost unbelievable human beings are capable of such feats. I certainly can't imagine I'd be able to pull it off, but who knows. But I'd probably remember how someone, somewhere did manage to keep his sanity, listening bullets ripping the air inches from his head, coldly thinking "Those sons of bitches are still trying to kill me".

[Marijan Šiško · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sjećanja jednog od veterana američkih marinaca iz rata na pacifiku. za razliku od Sledge-a koji je još ljut nakon svih tih desetljeća, za razliku od Leckiea koji je uvijek pokušavao dati široku sliku, Burgin priča smireno, matter-of-factly, bez pretjeranih emocija, o onom što je sam vidio i proživio. za one koje zanima, svakako vrijedno čitanja.

[Dachokie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a grandfather telling a story ..., July 14, 2010

The HBO miniseries "The Pacific" has stoked interest in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, but more importantly, it has introduced many to some of the finest accounts of combat ever put on paper (E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" and Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow"). R.V. Burgin's "Islands of the Damned" is a fine companion to the above-mentioned books. What makes Burgin's book worth the read is simple ... he's one of the dwindling number of World War II Marines alive that can still tell his story.

My first introduction to R.V. Burgin was while watching the prologue to each episode of "The Pacific" that included brief but somber interviews with nameless grandfatherly men telling us what they experienced during the war. One gentleman in particular spoke of Peleliu in a stern and quiet manner that I found particularly mesmerizing. It wasn't until the end of the 10th and final episode that he was finally named: R.V. Burgin. He'd been portrayed in the series all along, as E.B. Sledge's sergeant and had more prominent roles in the final few episodes. When the credits revealed his "Islands of the Damned" as contributing to the miniseries, I had to buy it.

More often than not, the fighting in the Pacific takes a back seat to the glory of Allied soldiers liberating historic European cities. However, the Pacific theatre arguably includes some of the most savage and intense combat of the entire war, including the Eastern Front. R.V. Burgin's personal account of his war experience echoes the brutal nature of the Pacific War as well as the misery the Marines endured and the bond that kept them together through it all. His story starts from childhood and carries on through the war to his current life in Texas (a perspective that the Leckie and Sledge books do not offer). His book reads exactly like he spoke in "The Pacific" prologues ... short, simple and effective sentences with no superfluous artistic drama added ... not that any is needed. Reading Burgin's book created an aura of sitting on a couch and listening to my grandfather tell stories of his youth. We're not only presented with the chaos, death and misery on places like Peleliu and Okinawa; we get a glimpse of his experience before and after the combat, aboard troopships and on the infamous island of Pavuvu. A major presence throughout the book is that of Florence, the woman he met while on leave in Australia (before he shipped off to Peleliu) who would become his wife after the war. The angst and pain experienced during a two-year courtship that ultimately depended on Burgin surviving Peleliu and Okinawa adds a point-of-view not common in many of the memoirs I've read. Additionally, I was left with the impression that Burgin's wartime experience had a less traumatizing effect on his life after the war (unlike E.B. Sledge), but then again, different people process horrible events in different ways.

"Islands of the Damned" is a lot like the books that veterans of Easy Company wrote following "Band of Brothers" in that Burgin adds clarity and a different perspective to the miniseries storyline (such as Burgin being wounded on Okinawa). His recollection of events are presented clearly and in a humble fashion ... even the action on Okinawa that earned him a Bronze Star is somewhat downplayed. As with most of these World War II veterans' recollections, the credit is always given to the men serving with them ... Burgin upholds this tradition. I see value in most veteran's memoirs, especially now that so few are left to tell us about their role in such an amazing historical event ... R.V. Burgin's story is definitely one that holds value.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great companion to E.B Sledge’s book, With the Old Breed. If you’re looking for some great piece of literature like Sledge’s book, this isn’t it. However, this read like a grandfather telling you a story which I loved. I never got to hear my grandfather’s stories of his time during WWll but this is how I would imagine he’d tell it.
R.V Burgin gives you a firsthand account of his time as a NCO during his time during the Pacific. He’s raw and honest in his storytelling. Sometimes too honest as he mentions a few things from Sledge’s book that he disagreed with which I thought could have been left out since war is an individual experience. Nonetheless, he still delivers a captivating and compelling read.
4.5 stars rounded to a 5 because I absolutely loved how he ended the book.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book facinating. A ninety year old ex-marine tells the story of his combat experience in the Pacific and interweaves a pleasant story of meeting his future wife in Australia. It is different in that it also spares no words about combat and some of the truth about how soldiers from each side were engaged in activities that would be outside the lines in our current politically correct world. The story is simple told, but gives a fascinating account of the day to day endurance and commitment of a mortor squad of U. S. Marines. The book is eloquently summaraized in the last paragraph when the author states, "What sticks with me now is not so much the pain and terror and sorrow of the war, though I remember that well enough. What really sticks with me is the honor I had of defending my country, and of serving in the company of these men, They were good marines, the finest, every one of them. You can't say anything better about a man. Semper fi!"

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.V. Burgin was the squad leader of Eugene Sledge, the Marine infantryman who wrote "With the Old Breed' and 'China Marine' - when I read Sledge's memoir, his admiration for Burgin was striking. Reading Burgin's account of the same history, it's clear that respect was mutual.
At the same time, Burgin was a very different kind of person. While Sledge fought with courage and distinction but was deeply disturbed by having to kill people and by seeing others killed around him, Burgin, while a good and decent person, fought equally well but adjusted comparatively easily and was less haunted afterward, though his war followed him home too. It's a good illustration of the varied impact of combat, and other traumatic situations, on different people, without that being a reflection on their bravery, character, or strength.

[Headraline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not quite as intense as Eugene Sledge's testimony -though maybe I might be biased because I got my hands on that one first, so I knew what to expect this time- but still a very powerful read. A bit more "individualistic", more like an autobiography of sorts than a war memorial; as in it doesn't just drop you on the scene of war, and it doesn't stop at the war.
Also, it's fuzzier on the details and a bit more "mitigated" on some things, in comparison... possibly because of a difference on views and characters (or possibly editors).
Still, it was amazing to recognise happenings and little details that occured with both men there to see, and how the two different account matched the same events, despite describing them with different eyes.
It really brings you in on these mostly untold stories; and it gave me even more awareness and respect of the times and lives described.

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, Mr. Burgin certainly seems to have a high opinion of himself. This book is not as good as With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, and it doesn't help that Burgin kind of dismisses Sledge (the author of that book) in his writing.

Also, either Burgin took extremely comprehensive notes 70 years ago, or he has an amazing memory... or he just made up a lot of the interactions in the book.

This book is worth reading for another perspective on being a Marine in the Pacific in WWII, but I wouldn't recommend reading it unless you've first read Sledge's book.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about combat against the Japanese in World War II. The author fought on New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa as a member of the First Marine Division and was one of the fortunate few to make it through virtually unscathed. He doesn't go into every little detail about combat, but there is certainly plenty to read about. The part of the book dealing with New Britain was really interesting because this campaign seems to get almost no mention or publication anyplace. If you've read Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed" (a classic you should read if you haven't already) this book will provide you with a slightly different perspective of some of the same action since Sledge and the author were in the same unit. A quick read and well worth it!

[Janine Spendlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the WWII Museum in NOLA, and I extremely glad I did. Really, this thing was a page turner & made me truly in awe of my Marine predecessors. I could never have done what they did. If you want to read pretty much the BEST personal account of a war, this is it. He speaks plainly, doesn't try to airbrush anything at all. Amazing book. Amazing man.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a character portrayed in the HBO miniseries The Pacific. Really enjoyed his opinions and perspective as a Marine in WWII.

[Zane · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Islands of the Damned” is the story of R.V. Burgin, an American Marine, and his time serving in the Pacific Theater in World War II. And that story itself is quite compelling. He saw action in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, survived, and came home to marry his Australian love. However, the execution of this book leaves much to be desired.

I hesitate to even call this work a memoir, for it’s so plainly obvious that Burgin himself did not write it. Burgin merely told writer Bill Marvel his story and then the latter compiled that into a narrative from Burgin’s point of view. This is not an editorial choice I can criticise in and of itself. It’s quite common, especially when the subject is not a writer. But what arises from this is a lack of rawness. The incredible life of a man is muddled down to milquetoast retelling, lacking any flavor or heart.

I can’t help but see “Islands of the Damned” for what it so clearly is: a quick attempt to capitalize on the experiences of a man and to coincide with the release of HBO’s “The Pacific” miniseries. Burgin’s story needed to be heard, this book was not the way to tell it. To have dinner with Burgin and listen to him tell his story would’ve been an incredible experience. To read Bill Marvel tell the story he heard, less so.

“Islands of the Damned” fails to get at the heart of Burgin’s experience. There are plenty of anecdotes that show you the hell of combat and the bonds it forges, but it all feels surface level. The depth that comes out of Robert Leckie or Eugene Sledge’s work is absent here. Being his squad leader in the war, Burgin references Sledge’s “With the Old Breed” often. At times I liked this, at other times it felt like “Islands of the Damned” was a companion piece to Sledge’s memoir, rather than its own standalone work.

Still, “Islands of the Damned” is a good war “memoir”. It should be read by those with interest in the war, fans of “The Pacific”, or those like me who got it for cheap at their local bookstore. It’s a very easy read, which is a problem. It needed more depth to fully showcase and tell the horrors that were just shallowly depicted.

Read this book, but read Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge first.

[Jeff Mauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been on a bit of a WWII kick lately (currently I'm re-watching Band of Brothers for what must be the 50th time and I'm also reading Dick Winter's memoirs) and decided to read yet another soldier's perspective on the war in the Pacific. My understanding of the Pacific side of the war has greatly improved over the past few years due to some really well written memoirs and accounts of it from all levels of the conflict. This is one of the better memoirs, though I still think I like "Helmet for my Pillow" by Robert Leckie best. Burgin follows the same path to war and Eugene Sledge, whose tale is told in both his own book, "With the Old Breed," and in the HBO miniseries The Pacific. What's interesting here is that Sledge is a replacement and Burgin is his commanding officer. Burgin even critiques Sledge's account a few time's here and references his observations. It's interesting to see how two men that essentially saw the same battles on the same islands from the same places with differing perspectives. Burgin is much more the typical soldier that does his duty and thus doesn't question orders and purpose to the extent that Sledge does. For this I enjoy Sledge more, he doesn't always toe the line and seems to have come out of the war with a much more introspection on the events and his part in them. That said, this is a very well written recollection that is concise yet full of those gritty details of the everyday that make these memoirs so fascinating.

[Zella Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting counterpoint to the more famous Pacific Marine memoirs of Leckie and Sledge. Burgin was actually Sledge's sergeant in the mortar section of their companies, so it was interesting to have an NCO perspective versus the private's view of the war. In general, Burgin seems to have somehow been both more laidback and more aggressive than Sledge, so their memories and perspectives on many events and personalities markedly differ, especially in relation to their officers.

Burgin's memoir is much less philosophical and probing than either of the other memoirs. It's a pretty straightforward accounting of his life before the war, as well as his wartime service at Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa. But I still found it compelling. Burgin was a farm boy from Texas, and I found his blunt, take-no-shit attitude pretty entertaining. His wartime romance with an Australian girl he married after the war was also surprisingly sweet.

I wouldn't consider this memoir the quintessential one of its subgenre, but I still consider it a valuable addition to it and one well worth reading.

[Alex Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic war memoire! I’ve watched “The Pacific” through at least 10 times and Burgin always seemed a calming presence. It was great to read his memoire and hear his stories. The war in the pacific was insane…it is still incomprehensible to me what these soldiers went through. And their admiration for their superiors, Hillbilly Jones and Capt Haldane, and then you look them up and they died at age 27…so young with so much responsibility leading companies in war. Just an absolutely different time.

[Mark Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Written by a veteran of some of the most difficult battles of World War II, by a Marine who was there. The author, R.V. Burgin passed away last year at 96. He was the platoon sergeant of the Mortar platoon, K Company, 5th Marines. He was portrayed in the mini series The Pacific a few years back, and had much good to say of his fellow Marines that were with him.

Not a hero, just a Marine doing his job. Make no bones about it, it’s men like Mr. Burgin that won the war. It’s men like these we will always need in difficult times.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. It is a great look into a marine’s experience in the pacific. Would highly recommend reading Eugene Sledge’s “With the old breed…” beforehand, as Burgin references the book several times. But it is nice to see a second perspective on the events that Sledge wrote about. All in all a great book, worth a read

[Mike Mangalea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking account of combat in the South Pacific during ww2. Everyone should learn about Peleliu.

[Andrew Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective of the war in the pacific

[Denis Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes you feel the terrible conditions that they had to fight under. This book make me appreciate my freedom even more. He gives excellent details of things such as the rotting coconuts and dead bodies in the areas he must fight in. It was difficult for me to stop reading when I had to do other things. Excellent writing and description of the war in the Pacific theater.

[Andres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this while reading E.B. Sledge's With the Old Breed and watching the HBO miniseries The Pacific. The author of this book is featured in both, and his experiences are worth the read. The before, during, and after of joining the Marines, training, fighting, and going home will be familiar to anyone who has read any of the memoirs dealing with this area and time, but it's the details and unique point of view of the same events that will reward the reader.

Burgin basically wants to tell his story and succeeds, laying everything out simply and directly. He tells of the horror of fighting on New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa, the discomforts of Pavuvu, the wonders of Australia, and his life before and after the war. This is a great read for anyone interested in the subject, especially since there aren't too many first person memoirs from soldiers who fought these particular battles.

One other thing I liked about the book is that it showed just how much artistic license the HBO miniseries took with the facts. I really liked that the miniseries was made but showing untrue things for dramatic affect sometimes isn't for the better. It's a minor squabble but at the end, Burgin doesn't ride along with Sledge and Snafu on the train going home: he left long before they did and in fact flew home once he reached the states. My hope is that the movie version inspires people to read about what actually happened.

[Charlie Newfell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good personal recollection. Reads like someone telling a story, with the personal details, but without the bigger picture. Most of the WWII books are either historical, written at some distance by professionals or the personal recollections like this written by non-professional writers. Really makes you appreciate the really exceptional books by Eugene Sledge, a soldier who lived through these battles and then wrote about them wonderfully as a professional author.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sent to the Pacific as a Marine replacement after Guadalcanal, Burgin writes of his experiences as a Marine fighting from New Britian to Okinawa, especially the Battle for Peleliu.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

My biggest take away from this was to avoid friendly fire.

[Jean Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.V. Burgin’s book is one of many penned by aging World War Two veterans anxious to tell their stories while they still can. For many, including Burgin, this was a change in attitude; for most of their lives, they refused to talk about the war or be interviewed by journalists or historians regarding their experiences, but the realization of their mortality, combined with the chance at reunions to get together with other veterans of the same battles, theaters or campaigns, led them to finally open up. As a member of the First Marine Division, along with the better-known Eugene Sledge (who was his ammo carrier and later the author of “With the Old Breed” and “China Marine”), he participated in the battles of Cape Gloucester/New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa, and after war’s end was fortunate enough to be able to go straight home instead (like Sledge) to China for occupation duty. His Australian fianceé followed him in 1947, one of thousands of war brides of American servicemen.

Burgin has been accused of capitalizing upon his wartime experiences merely to make money at a time when interest in the war has peaked because there are few veterans left and many new books about the war are appearing. While the latter is true enough, I believe the accusation is unjust; as exemplified by Burgin’s remark after speaking with a much younger person that few people today have ever heard of Peleliu, his purpose was to try and ensure his experiences and those of men like him are not forgotten; and to serve as an encouragement to all those who may be called upon to fight today. And in this purpose he succeeds admirably.

He does so by writing in a simple, straightforward style from the perspective of a common soldier in a mortar squad whose focus was not on broader matters of strategy and tactics—for very little of this ever filtered down to the ground-pounders—but rather on simply following his orders and doing whatever was necessary to be victorious over an implacable, relentless and incomprehensible enemy while staying alive. His perspective is at the most basic level: what was it like to fight in 115-degree temperatures on a barren coral rock near the equator with little water, or in torrential rain in fields and trenches filled with mud? What if the water was contaminated with gasoline? How does one cope with the sight and smell of blackened, bloated, maggot-filled bodies on a battlefield turned into a veritable charnel house? And how does the loss, and then recovery, of such simple things as clean clothes, hot food, basic sanitation, and medicine change one’s perspective on life in general? And his answers can be applied to the experience of combat everywhere and at all times.

Burgin’s story, beginning with his origins as a simple Texas farm boy who after the war became a federal employee (Post Office), moved to a more urbanized setting near Dallas, made a decent living, worked his way up the civil service ladder, and enjoyed a comfortable retirement with his wife, family and old friends with whom he stayed in touch or communicated with again, epitomizes the profound changes wrought by the war upon America: its transformation from a rural to mostly urban society and to an economy based more upon industry than agriculture, and whose people enjoyed an increasing and unprecedented improvement in their standard of living as the decades progressed. Unfortunately this was accompanied (as the mere fact that this book needed to be written at all shows) by a decreasing awareness of what sacrifices were necessary in order to make this way of life possible. As the last of the World War Two veterans slip away, it is more important than ever that their voices be heard and their stories understood and appreciated. Congratulations to Burgin for doing his part!

***** review by Chuck Graham *****

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and engaging story of the war in the Pacific. I felt like this book was more honest than some about the fact that U.S. soldiers were not always angels. In 1967 I was privileged to study at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. We visited the thousands of graves of British, Australian, and Dutch POW's who were used as slave labor to build the "Death Railroad". This was, of course, in violation of the Geneva Convention, which the Japanese signed, but their government never ratified the agreement. On the way to 4 months of study we traveled to Japan and Hong Kong. I fell in love with Kyoto and Nara; it has been difficult for me ever since to accept the beauty and hospitality of the country and people with the atrocities of WWII. We also traveled to Penang, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam. I have been a reader of WWII history for many decades - my father and most of my uncles fought during the war. I had been reading primarily about the European Theater of Operations until a couple of years ago when I fianlly had a DUH!! moment.... I had visited the sites of great WWII significance. The hardest was Fort Santiago in Manila which was used as a torture / murder site. It was much more difficult for me to visit the caves / death chambers there than to stand on Omaha Beach and visit the American cemetery. This book is a lovely addition to the American Island Hopping battles of the South Pacific. Many people are not aware that the Japanese were bombing and planning to invade Australia.. The fortitude of the young Marines from Guadalcanal to Okinawa was amazing. They were so young!!! I was also happy that the author mentioned the Navajo Code Talkers and the Seabees. These brave young men were often some of the first in to a battle site for secret conversations and preparation of landing zones and airfields. The Seabees were on bulldozers and often unarmed as they also fought the war. I recommend this personal account of the war. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WW2 account from a marine who island hopped and survived several of the worst battles of the war. Others before him had written accounts and several are somewhat popular that became the basis for the miniseries The Pacific (2010). I consider this book an easier read than those as the action flowed smoother and more understandable.

I will say one thing about the author though. He had Eugene Sledge as an ammo carrier within his mortar squad. Private Sledge wrote a book of his accounts With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa during the war and some of the battles over lap as they were shared combat experiences. The author goes into differing accounts from Sledge's work and he also authored this work after Sledge death in 2001 so there can be no rebuttal or response on how battles fought by two marines literally side by side, see things differently.

The author even mentions in the closing pages of this book of his life after the war which I found most interesting. He mentions unit reunions and the other surviving marines recounting battle experience which the author had no memories of, yet they tell him not only was he there, but what he did. The author also mentions that seeing some marines buddies bring back a flood of memories that had been locked away. Without saying so, I believe this marine author had locked away memories of what we can't envision and he did have memory lapses which probably was a survival exercise for him after the war. I don't agree with his take on disputing other marines who fought along side him as this may be nothing more than petty jealously rearing it's ugly head.

If you want a good read on how the fighting was done and the battles of the Pacific Island were fought in all their splendid violence and gore; this is a book you may want to read.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this is a solid entry in the lone ground pounders perspective on the Pacific island campaign in WWII. Interestingly this is my third book from this Marine company on WWII. I previously read Eugene Sledge's With the Old Breed On Peleliu and Okinawa, which honestly is the best book of the three. In fact Burgis is rather critical of Sledge throughout parts of this book and it is obvious there was a certain unresolved tension between the two soldiers. I also read Hell in the Pacific by Jim McEnery another solid book about the Marines island hopping campaign during WWII. All three of these Marines were featured in the hbo series the Pacific. With humor and insight Burgis, in this book, takes us from his initial recruitment through the battles of Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and the horror of Wana Ridge at Okinawa. Burgis, like many of the marines during the island campaign did not receive the recognition he deserved in terms of medals and accolades, but many of his commanding officers were killed before they had the opportunity to recognize the bravery and heroics of these marines. However, as Burgis relates it really was not about individual heroism, it was about winning the war and taking it to the Jap. I recommend this book to honor the achievements of a special group of men and to always remember the sacrifices they made to preserve our Union in these garbage "woke" times.

[Mike Harbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Solid Memoir of WWII in the Pacific

RV Burgin gives a unique perspective on the U.S. Marine campaigns on New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. Most of the book focuses on the Fifth Marines and their fight on Peleliu - a truly horrific battle that is frequently only mentioned in passing, taking a secondary position behind the more famous battles of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

For those who have read E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" - Burgin was Sledge's squad/section leader. Burgin is not as eloquent (nor as visceral) as Sledge, but his story is important to understanding and appreciating both the impact of brutal close quarters combat on the mind and body, and the unbearable burden of leading men in combat as an NCO.

I definitely recommend this book in the same manner as Robert Leckie's "Helmet For My Pillow," William Manchester's "Goodbye Darkness," and Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed".

We need to read, study, and appreciate this period of history and the stories and sacrifices of men like Burgin and his comrades.