The Battle for Guadalcanal

Rating:
Summary: Excellent history of the Battle for Guadalcanal
Review: "The Battle for Guadalcanal" deals with the United States military's first offensive campaign in the Second World War. The six-month battle was a hard fought, viscous war of attrition where the U.S. military learned many valuable lessons. The first and most important lesson, was that the Japanese were not invincible.

Originally published in 1963, The Battle for Guadalcanal gives a very unique perspective of the conflict. Dr. Griffith was a Marine Lt. Colonel on Guadalcanal -- he won the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross before being evacuated due to shrapnel wounds. He even wrote about his combat experience (including being wounded) in the third person, which must have been a little strange!

Most importantly, Dr. Griffith (who retired from the Marines as a Brigadier General) interviewed many of his commanding officers and opponents. He even had his commanding officer, Brigadier General Alexander Vandegrift, as well as Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz read the final manuscript before it went to press. From an editorial standpoint, you can't go wrong with those gentlemen!

This unique perspective really leads to a well researched, historically precise work.

Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent history of the Battle for Guadalcanal
Review: "The Battle for Guadalcanal" deals with the United States military's first offensive campaign in the Second World War. The six-month battle was a hard fought, viscous war of attrition where the U.S. military learned many valuable lessons. The first and most important lesson, was that the Japanese were not invincible.

Originally published in 1963, The Battle for Guadalcanal gives a very unique perspective of the conflict. Dr. Griffith was a Marine Lt. Colonel on Guadalcanal -- he won the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross before being evacuated due to shrapnel wounds. He even wrote about his combat experience (including being wounded) in the third person, which must have been a little strange!

Most importantly, Dr. Griffith (who retired from the Marines as a Brigadier General) interviewed many of his commanding officers and opponents. He even had his commanding officer, Brigadier General Alexander Vandegrift, as well as Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz read the final manuscript before it went to press. From an editorial standpoint, you can't go wrong with those gentlemen!

This unique perspective really leads to a well researched, historically precise work.

Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: A complete and easy read of a unique campaign in WW II .
Review: I completely enjoyed this book by. Mr. Griffith. I found it an interesting narrative of actual historic events without a hint of bias. Further, the photos and scale drawings of the military equipment and colorful battle maps, both of the land conflict and the complicated sea battles were easy to understand. I wish I could buy another copy of this excellent book as my original is getting alittle frayed around the edges. This book covered all the bases for this historic battle was fought in the air, on land, and brother, some incredible sea battles were waged around this small island.