GUAM: The Battle for an American Island in World War II

1-247890

Drawing from extensive archival research and firsthand accounts, reconstructs this pivotal 1944 campaign that transformed a Japanese island fortress into a vital American base through the eyes of the Marines, soldiers, and sailors who fought there. Details the devastating pre-invasion bombardment that pounded Japanese defenses for 13 straight days; the bloody beach landings where frogmen teams led the way while under fire; the Japanese counterattacks that sometimes inflicted 50 percent casualties on American units; as well as the brutal combat through jungles, swamps, and cave networks in suffocating tropical heat. Weaves together strategic overview with intimate human drama, from the commanders who planned the invasion to the front-line troops who executed it. Contains 57 black and white photos and 9 maps.