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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Story of the Human Side of War
Review: "The Long Road of War" is a wonderfully-written, highly-emotional story of Marine Corps combat from the "flat-trajectory" soldier's perspective. Johnston shares his own personal horrific views of World War II Pacfic combat. With stirring text, he shows the sudden transformation from Nebraska teenager to Green recruit to hardened veteran. This book is an excellent addition to any historian's bookshelf, once they can find the time to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Story of the Human Side of War
Review: "The Long Road of War" is a wonderfully-written, highly-emotional story of Marine Corps combat from the "flat-trajectory" soldier's perspective. Johnston shares his own personal horrific views of World War II Pacfic combat. With stirring text, he shows the sudden transformation from Nebraska teenager to Green recruit to hardened veteran. This book is an excellent addition to any historian's bookshelf, once they can find the time to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Should be read by all who want to know the Pacific War
Review: Destined to become a World War II Pacific classic. Like E.B. Sledge, James Johnston's war was spent with the First Marine Division, "The Old Breed". Both men fought through the same hellholes - Saipan and Okinawa. Unlike E.B. however, James joined in time for Cape Glouster and spent more time up on the line. Both books should be read by any student of the Pacific War; especially Marines. God bless both these men.
Rating:
Summary: Sorry - meant to say PELELIU and OKINAWA
Review: In my haste I incorrectly wrote Saipan....I meant to write Peleliu
Rating:
Summary: Good insights
Review: James Johnston gave a vivid, poignant and heroic account of his life with the Marines fighting in the Pacific during World War II. It was fascinating to read how it life was for the Marines in the Pacific as like he said, the media tended to focus on the European theater and thought of the Pacific theater as "easy." Using letters that he wrote home, Johnston managed to add a personal touch to his account. It was interesting to get a glimpse on how he felt emotionally, the friendship that was formed between the soldiers and how a lot of times, soldiers are fighting as hard as they did, for their friends because they did not want to let their them down. When Johnston was the section leader, he was able to show the burden of responsibilities as you were not just in charge of your life but of others too.
Lastly, how he was disappointed with the Marines. He found flaws with the system but at the same time, it was very much part of him.
Rating:
Summary: A brutally honest memoir from a front line Marine
Review: This was a book that I could absolutely not put down. Mr. Johnston's description of his transition from a Midwest teenager into a battle hardened, front line Marine is told with a grim honesty that is seldom found in books about war. This book does away with any glorification or self-promotion and gives you the tragic, ugly truth about the war in the South Pacific.
Rating:
Summary: A brutally honest memoir from a front line Marine
Review: This was a book that I could absolutely not put down. Mr. Johnston's description of his transition from a Midwest teenager into a battle hardened, front line Marine is told with a grim honesty that is seldom found in books about war. This book does away with any glorification or self-promotion and gives you the tragic, ugly truth about the war in the South Pacific.
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