Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific
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Book Overview
A remarkable eyewitness account of the most brutal combat of the Pacific War, from Peleliu to Okinawa, this is the true story of R.V. Burgin, the real-life World War II Marine Corps hero featured in HBO(R)'s The Pacific. "Read his story and marvel at the man...and those like him."--Tom Hanks
When a young Texan named R.V. Burgin joined the Marines 1942, he never imagined what was waiting for him a world away in the Pacific. There, amid steamy jungles, he encountered a ferocious and desperate enemy in the Japanese, engaging them in some of the most grueling and deadly fights of the war. In this remarkable memoir, Burgin reveals his life as a special breed of Marine. Schooled by veterans who had endured the cauldron of Guadalcanal, Burgin's company soon confronted snipers, repulsed jungle ambushes, encountered abandoned corpses of hara-kiri victims, and warded off howling banzai attacks as they island-hopped from one bloody battle to the next. In his two years at war, Burgin rose from a green private to a seasoned sergeant, fighting from New Britain through Peleliu and on to Okinawa, where he earned a Bronze Star for valor. With unforgettable drama and an understated elegance, Burgin's gripping narrative stands alongside those of classic Pacific chroniclers like Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge--indeed, Burgin was even Sledge's platoon sergeant. Here is a deeply moving account of World War II, bringing to life the hell that was the Pacific War.
When a young Texan named R.V. Burgin joined the Marines 1942, he never imagined what was waiting for him a world away in the Pacific. There, amid steamy jungles, he encountered a ferocious and desperate enemy in the Japanese, engaging them in some of the most grueling and deadly fights of the war. In this remarkable memoir, Burgin reveals his life as a special breed of Marine. Schooled by veterans who had endured the cauldron of Guadalcanal, Burgin's company soon confronted snipers, repulsed jungle ambushes, encountered abandoned corpses of hara-kiri victims, and warded off howling banzai attacks as they island-hopped from one bloody battle to the next. In his two years at war, Burgin rose from a green private to a seasoned sergeant, fighting from New Britain through Peleliu and on to Okinawa, where he earned a Bronze Star for valor. With unforgettable drama and an understated elegance, Burgin's gripping narrative stands alongside those of classic Pacific chroniclers like Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge--indeed, Burgin was even Sledge's platoon sergeant. Here is a deeply moving account of World War II, bringing to life the hell that was the Pacific War.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:B0057DB1SA
ISBN13:9780451232267
Release Date:March 2011
Publisher:Dutton Caliber
Length:320 Pages
Weight:0.77 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 6.1" x 9.0"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Postsecondary and higher
Customer Reviews
1 rating
An intimate look at the war in the pacific
Published by DanaMax , 5 years ago
Burgin does an excellent job balancing the smaller more intimate stories and fun they had when not in combat with his descriptive tales of what war actually is. He has a more simplistic writing style that makes it easy to dive right in and is perfect for those who want to know more about history but have trouble with historian's accounts. He makes the occasional reference to his fellow soldier E. B. Sledge's book With The Old Breed, but it is not necessary to read that first. There is surprisingly little crossover in the way the two recount the battles they fought together so reading both does provide a better view of the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa and with Burgin's book, he recounts a couple of other landings and fights Sledge was not a part of.
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