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Rating: 
Summary: The Pacific Drive Continues
Review: Following the defeat of the Japanese at Midway and Guadalcanal, the United States launched a campaign to reclaim the two islands in the Aleutians which were occupied by the Japanese during the Midway operation, while also attacking the Japanese bases in Micronesia (Gilberts and Marshalls). Attu and Kiska were occupied by the Japanese and the thought of them on American soil outraged many Americans back home. Thus, a campaign was launched to retake them. After some hard fighting, the islands were recaptured, but the Japanese managed to evacuate their garrison from Kiska right under our noses, much the same way they did at Guadalcanal.Operation "Galvanic", the invasion of the Gilbert islands, got underway in November, 1943. The main objective was the island of Tarawa. The island is completely surrounded by a dangerous coral reef, and the tides are very unpredictable as well. It was against these obstacles as well as a dug in enemy that the Americans made their attack. As fate would have it, it happened to be low tide when the Americans attacked, thus exposing the coral reef and forcing the landing craft to unload much further from the shore as was preferred. The Marines had to wade as much as 800 yards to the beach under horrific fire from the Japanese. The bombardment by the Americans did little to the well-fortified Japanese defenses, and they made the landings extremely costly for the Americans. Although Tarawa was secured in less than a week, the Americans suffered terrible losses which shocked the folks back home. However, the Americans now possessed an excellent air base to further their operations. After the capture of Tarawa, the Americans moved to attack the Marshall islands, with the main objectives being Kwajalein and Eniwetok. The lessons of Tarawa had been well-learned. Both of these islands were subjected to a murderous bombardment by the American fleet and air forces, so the Japanese resistance; although spirited; was less effective here. The Americans managed to capture these islands in under a week and were now a step closer to Tokyo. As with previous volumes of this excellent series, Mr. Morison has included numerous maps and photographs to expand upon the text. There are some good personal narratives in this volume as well. I recommend this volume along with the others of this series. It gives an excellent first-hand account of one of the early amphibious assaults by the Marines.
Rating: 
Summary: History as it should be written for the non-historian
Review: This volume is outstanding, and brings the war in the central and north Pacific during the second half of 1942, all of 1943, and the first half of 1944 into clear and exciting focus. Admiral Morison, a distinguished scholar and a true man of the sea has given us the opportunity to live through the horror, fear, and victories of the Navy during our drive to defeat the Japanese. This book is truly a masterpiece, and is almost impossible to put down! I recommend it to all Americans who are living through our current crises.
Rating:
Summary: History as it should be written for the non-historian
Review: This volume is outstanding, and brings the war in the central and north Pacific during the second half of 1942, all of 1943, and the first half of 1944 into clear and exciting focus. Admiral Morison, a distinguished scholar and a true man of the sea has given us the opportunity to live through the horror, fear, and victories of the Navy during our drive to defeat the Japanese. This book is truly a masterpiece, and is almost impossible to put down! I recommend it to all Americans who are living through our current crises.
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