★★★★★ 5
The Island Of Death
Format: Hardcover
On August 7th, 1942, American Marines stormed ashore on Guadalcanal. What lay before them was a six-month odyssey of fighting against the best of what the Japanese had to offer. In this fine book, author Joseph Wheelan describes the battle that turned the tide in the Pacific War.
The Japanese had started construction of an airfield on Guadalcanal. If completed, Japanese aircraft would be able to harass American convoys and threaten Australia. The Americans seized the airfield and eventually, planes from the Cactus Air Force began attacking the Japanese.
Throughout the book, the reader learns about all phases of the Guadalcanal campaign, including the battles of Alligator Creek and Bloody Ridge. On the sea, the Americans and Japanese slugged it out at Savo Island, as well as the great naval battles of November, 1942. Names such as Chesty Puller, John Baslone, "Archie" Vandegrift, Joe Foss, and "Bull" Halsey became household names in the United States.
Each side lost many men, ships, and planes, but the tenacity and, finally, the industrial might and the ability to rapidly replace losses, led the Americans to victory. Never again would the Japanese regain the offensive in the Pacific War.
"Midnight in the Pacific" is a very good book, and the author has done a good job of describing all of the main points of the battle. Each chapter is broken down into a single month's worth of action, and the narrative is well-written. Highly recommended.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
