Rating: 
Summary: Good Seller, Would recommend
Review: they did a good job packaging and shipping and had a GREAT price. the only thing the didn't do is send an email confirming that they shipped the item. besides that little, they are a great seller and would recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Fanaticism in the Pacific
Review: This book covers in detail the course of the war between Guadacanal and Tarawa; strictly an analysis of combat techniques in the jungle environment. The Australian forces are given a rare forum to explain their contribution to the Pacific conflict; deservedly characterized by the author as "the best land army of the war". It was the AIF that patented guerrilla warfare, before the American material tsunami, in its most brutal, savage, and murderous aspect. Perhaps it is only the ANZAC's that had the most to loose in a Japanese victory. They clearly fought on the personal and intimate basis of hatred and survival. This is a rare '90's book that clearly focuses on the Japanese military as a demonic cult of death. That military managed an engine of war that would not accept conditional defeat, and insured the unnecessary deaths of millions of people. Battle histories are usually one-sided efforts because the loosing side is typically dead; in this conflict the Japanese military was exterminated in total by own their design. This book contains the recollections of dozens of combat veterans who quickly adapted to a new form of warfare in a punishing environment. Put this book up on your shelf next to your "The Pacific War" by J. Costello or close by W. Manchester's "Goodby Darkness".
Rating:
Summary: Good...but Repetitive
Review: This is generally a well written historical analyses of the combat environment in the South Pacific during WW2. Those looking for detailed descriptions of every battle will be disappointed as it gives only a brief overview of the numerous battles and campaigns. Instead it describes in some detail how such elements as the terrain, weather, ane even diseases influenced the battlefield environment. The evolution of combat tactics and weaponry is also presented in an interesting manner. The author does a convincing job in describing the horrid conditions faced by soldiers of BOTH sides in the South Pacific campaign. I found the book especially thought provoking in that it may cause one who has never been in a war to wonder how THEY would have conducted themselves in such a wretched environment. Thus, the book is rarely booring. My one complaint is the author too often fills the pages with lengthy quotes from cambat veterans who, with all due respect, usually say the same thing over and over again i.e. WAR IS HELL. Thus the book could have probably got it's point across with 100 fewer pages.
| 
