This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“The attitudes held toward the
Japanese by noncombatants or even sailors or airmen often did not reflect the
deep personal resentment felt by Marine infantrymen. Official histories and memoirs of Marine
infantrymen written after the war rarely reflect that hatred. But at the time of battle, Marines felt it
deeply, bitterly, and as certainly as danger itself. To deny this hatred or make light of it would
be as much a lie as to deny or make light of the esprit de corps or the intense
patriotism felt by the Marines with whom I served in the Pacific.” – E.
B. Sledge, Chapter 2: Preparation for Combat, Page 64
“Even though none of us had much appetite, we still had to
eat. A way to solve the fly problem was
to eat after sunset or before sunrise when the insects were inactive. Chow had to be unheated then, because no
sterno tablets or other form of light could be used after dark. It was sure to draw enemy sniper fire.” – E.
B. Sledge, Chapter 6: Brave Men Lost, Page 166
“The new officers bore a heavy burden. Not only were they going into combat with all
its terrors and unknowns for the first time – conditions even the best of
training couldn’t possibly duplicate – but they were untried officers. Combat was the acid test. Faced with heavy responsibilities and placed
in a position of leadership amid hardened, seasoned Marine combat veterans in a
proud, elite division like the First was a difficult situation and a terrific
challenge for any young lieutenant. No
one I knew in the ranks envied them in the least.” – E. B. Sledge, Chapter 10:
Into the Abyss, Page 241
Is This An Overview?
An American soldier, a Marine, tells
the story of the World War II experience fighting Japanese at Peleliu and
Okinawa. When the author joined the war,
there were already veterans who had experienced fighting Japanese, and taught skills
to counter Japanese tactics. The skills
had saved many lives, including the author’s, but no amount of preparations can
compare to actual combat experience. Each
side had many losses.
The Americans and
Japanese had mutually recriminating hatred of each other. Each had killed those they deemed friends and
family, causing each to commit atrocious acts on their enemy. Killing did not end during intense combat,
but continued at night. Staying alive depended on trust that others
would perform their duty, and even then, that was not enough. Soldiers also needed to survive the harsh
local environmental conditions, and allies who held different views on what
transpired.
Caveats?
As this is a personal account of
World War II experiences in Japan, there is a lack of information on the rest
of the war. This is not a political or
strategic analysis of the war. To
understand the events in context to the rest of the war, would require more
research.
