Amazon.com
The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.
One of those young Americans was John Bradley, a Navy corpsman who a few days before had braved enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to administer first aid to a wounded Marine and then drag him to safety. For this act of heroism Bradley would receive the Navy Cross, an award second only to the Medal of Honor.
Bradley, who died in 1994, never mentioned his feat to his family. Only after his death did Bradley's son James begin to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, which was but one of countless acts of sacrifice made by the young men who fought at Iwo Jima. Flags of Our Fathers recounts the sometimes tragic life stories of the six men who raised the flag that February day--one an Arizona Indian who would die following an alcohol-soaked brawl, another a Kentucky hillbilly, still another a Pennsylvania steel-mill worker--and who became reluctant heroes in the bargain. A strongly felt and well-written entry in a spate of recent books on World War II, Flags gives a you-are-there depiction of that conflict's horrible arenas--and a moving homage to the men whom fate brought there. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
In this unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history, James Bradley has captured the glory, the triumph, the heartbreak, and the legacy of the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America.
In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima—and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island's highest peak. And after climbing through a landscape of hell itself, they raised a flag.
Now the son of one of the flagraisers has written a powerful account of six very different young men who came together in a moment that will live forever.
To his family, John Bradley never spoke of the photograph or the war. But after his death at age seventy, his family discovered closed boxes of letters and photos. In
Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley draws on those documents to retrace the lives of his father and the men of Easy Company. Following these men's paths to Iwo Jima, James Bradley has written a classic story of the heroic battle for the Pacific's most crucial island—an island riddled with Japanese tunnels and 22,000 fanatic defenders who would fight to the last man.
But perhaps the most interesting part of the story is what happened after the victory. The men in the photo—three were killed during the battle—were proclaimed heroes and flown home, to become reluctant symbols. For two of them, the adulation was shattering. Only James Bradley's father truly survived, displaying no copy of the famous photograph in his home, telling his son only: "The real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn't come back."
Few books ever have captured the complexity and furor of war and its aftermath as well as
Flags of Our Fathers. A penetrating, epic look at a generation at war, this is history told with keen insight, enormous honesty, and the passion of a son paying homage to his father. It is the story of the difference between truth and myth, the meaning of being a hero, and the essence of the human experience of war.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
The story of Mt. Suribachi.......2007-10-09
It is one of the most iconic photographs ever taken. It has become the symbol for the valor and the attitude of the Marine Corps. IT is the photograph of six Marines raising a flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. All of us have probably seen this photograph and I know that I was always struck by it - it is a classic pattern in art and it also captures a moment in wartime. There are six soldiers raising a flag. you see the taut bodies, the focus and concentration. And, you see the debris all around them. The detritus of war.
This book tells the story of that photograph but also - and more importantly - the story of the men who were captured in the image and the photographer both before, during, and after the war. The story is pieced together and told by a son of one of the men in the photograph - "Doc" Bradley, the only Navy guy in the tale. The book follows the lives of all six men who are pictured from their hardscrabble beginnings, their decision to join the Marine Corps, and then their role in the Iwo Jima battle and beyond. Three of the men died on Iwo Jima; three survived. Of the three that survived, only two had children. One of those is "Doc" Bradley, and his son tells the tale of them all.
This book is not really about how glorious war is and what kinds of heroes these six men were. No, it portrays war in the ugly, brutal, tormenting fashion that it has without skimping on the details of how many ways men can be killed. Nor does it skimp on descriptions of the atrocities that the Japanese committed both before, during, and after this campaign. There is a lot of apologia given by the author for the Japanese behavior during the war. He describes it as a non-typical Japanese time period repeatedly. Towards the end of the book we find out that he spent several years in Japan and at one point in his life believed that the Japanese were forced to start the war by what Roosevelt supposedly did.
By focusing almost exclusively on the life of these six men, the author manages to paint a picture of World War II America and how "the whole country was one" which is an interesting contrast to today's situation.
The yearlong preparations for the battle are described. The battle itself is described in detail with every one of the six men's participation chronicled in exhaustive detail including the way three of them died. Many other stories are interwoven but only briefly touched upon. One of them, that could have been better served by being described more fully was the story of Bradley's "special buddy" Iggy who is also killed on Iwo Jima. Only in the latter parts of the book do we discover how he died.
Doc Bradley himself wins the Navy Cross on Iwo Jima. However, he never displays it and his eight children are astonished to find out about it after his death in the early 1990's. This launches his son to research the group, the photograph, and the lives of all six men.
The story covers the way they were treated after the photograph was published; how they became the main draw in a bond raising tour; how they behaved during the tour; and how they handled the rest of their lives. There is a strong pathos there and a lot of tragic awareness of how these shell-shocked young men were basically told to grin and bear it and how some of them did, and some of them did not. The story of Ira Hayes and his rapid deterioration into drink is a sad one while the story of Rene Gagnon is no better. Only Bradley lives out a normal middle class life but the author is careful to portray even his own father as suffering from the horrors of what he experienced.
This is a good book to read to find out how war affected young Americans during WW2. It is a good introduction to the horrors, atrocities, and pain of war. It is a good book to help you in understanding how America handled and survived WW2. And, it is also a good book to understand why people called it "the good war" and why we can probably never have that kind of feeling again. When I closed the book, I wiped a tear from my eye, laid it down beside me, and thought like Doc Bradley: the only heroes on Iwo Jima were those who did not come back.
A Masterpiece of History!.......2007-09-28
My grandfather fought on Bougainville and Guadalcanal which are both mentioned often in this book. To this day grandpa does not speak of the war. After reading this book, I understand why. This book embodies the human spirit and the fight to uproot evil at its core. It is interesting that such a brutal fight took place on an island that had no real life... just a desolate island of ash and embers that emulated a place of death. Deep within the bowels of the island held a garrison of approximately 22,000 Japanese that were determined to fight to extinction and that is what they did.
Bradley and Powers do a wonderful job describing the Marines training as well as the actions on Iwo Jima. The fact that I came away from reading this book more knowledgeable about the self-sacrifices all Marines made on Iwo Jima, makes my own service in the Marines (1993-1997) a worth while endeavor that I hold near and dear to my heart.
Semper Fi to those that served and especially to Ron Powers and James Bradley for taking the time to research and write an unforgettable and accurate masterpiece of history!
6 people. 1 flag, 1 photo........2007-08-21
James Bradley writes an amazing tribute to his father in this book about the "photo."
The book follows the lives of 6 men from birth until death. Each one of them is unique and has their own story. They all have something in common, and that is that they were all in the photo.
This is NOT a war book, it is a biography of 6 men. A great book!
WOW!.......2007-08-01
This book was AMAZING!!! I knew next to nothing about the Battle of Iwo Jima before reading this book and I learned SO much about the fight for Japan and about what it was like to be a U.S. Marine during WWII.
It is an INCREDIBLE read and a great education, too.
Disappointed.......2007-07-29
I am not sure if it is the fact that the Audiobook is an abridged version but I just didn't find the story that compelling. Somewhat repetitive and too concerned about details which I found boring and uninteresting.
I was looking for a historical account (like the much better "1776" or "Team of Rivals") but this is more like an afterschool special.
Book Description
The Battle of Iwo Jima has been memorialized innumerable times as the subject of countless books and motion pictures, most recently Clint Eastwood’s films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, and no wartime photo is more famous than Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer Prize-winning image of Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. Yet most Americans know only one side of this pivotal and bloody battle. First published in Japan to great acclaim, becoming a bestseller and a prize-winner, So Sad to Fall in Battle shows us the struggle, through the eyes of Japanese commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi, one of the most fascinating and least-known figures of World War II.
As author Kumiko Kakehashi demonstrates, Kuribayashi was far from the stereotypical fanatic Japanese warrior. Unique among his country’s officers, he refused to risk his men’s lives in suicidal banzai attacks, instead creating a defensive, insurgent style of combat that eventually became the Japanese standard. On Iwo Jima, he eschewed the special treatment due to him as an officer, enduring the same difficult conditions as his men, and personally walked every inch of the island to plan the positions of thousands of underground bunkers and tunnels. The very flagpole used in the renowned photograph was a pipe from a complex water collection system the general himself engineered.
Exclusive interviews with survivors reveal that as the tide turned against him, Kuribayashi displayed his true mettle: Though offered a safer post on another island, he chose to stay with his men, fighting alongside them in a final, fearless, and ultimately hopeless three-hour siege.
After thirty-six cataclysmic days on Iwo Jima, Kurbiayashi’s troops were responsible for the deaths of a third of all U.S. Marines killed during the entire four-year Pacific conflict, making him, in the end, America’s most feared–and respected–foe. Ironically, it was Kuribayashi’s own memories of his military training in America in the 1920s, and his admiration for this country’s rich, gregarious, and self-reliant people, that made him fear ever facing them in combat–a feeling that some suspect prompted his superiors to send him to Iwo Jima, where he met his fate.
Along with the words of his son and daughter, which offer unique insight into the private man, Kuribayashi’s own letters cited extensively in this book paint a stirring portrait of the circumstances that shaped him. So Sad to Fall in Battle tells a fascinating, never-before-told story and introduces America, as if for the first time, to one of its most worthy adversaries.
Customer Reviews:
Insightful look into a facinating figure in history.......2007-10-10
After seeing the film, I really wanted a little more insight into the General. Amazon had both 'So Sad' and 'Letters' but I knew that the latter basically just reprinted the letters while the former used some of the letters while giving you a sense of what was going on before and during the battle.
I was surprised that it was only about 200 pages and thus I burned through it on a friday night after opening the mail. A great read even if it's a little short.
Iwo Jima was as bloody for them as us........2007-10-02
A sad story about the perspective of war. In this book, we view the Japanese as also having families and loved ones. When the battle starts, they suffer as much if not more than the Americans. Over 20,000 Japanese died in this island battle, and they all had families too. The author views the perspective of the battle from the Japanese commander's viewpoint. He was not your usual general. He cared for both his soldiers and his family. He died leading them in battle, rather than committ suicide. He was a compassionate person.
This is a touching book. It shows the World War II Japanese soldier as concerned for his family as any American Marine. It also shows these soldiers doing their patriotic duty as any American would do. The book shows the human side of the Japanese Empire.
Poignant read.......2007-07-27
In the last two years, I have assigned my writing students the major project of writing a World War II veteran's biography. Because of this, I've been looking for good books these students could read in advance of the project. Having read Flags of Our Fathers and admired the two Clint Eastwood movies about the battle on Iwo Jima, I decided it was time to read the Japanese side of the story; thus, I orderd So Sad to Fall in Battle by Kumiko Kakehashi as well as the book which inspired her, Picture Letters from the Commander in Chief. I'm glad I did.
The book centers on Lt. Gen. Kuribayashi, the Japanese commander tasked with the defense of Iwo. In well-written prose, Kakehashi reveals a man possessed of both great courage and great heart. Basing her work on the general's own letters to his children and interviews with his contemporaries, this gifted young woman author shows readers a Japanese warrior with warmth, compassion, and a sense of humor. Intelligent and well-rounded, Kuribayashi was a brilliant military tactician who truly cared for the men under his command.
This is apparent from the opening pages of the book, as the general's tailor explains that the wealthy officer wanted him--the lowly civilian tailor--to appear in a staff photograph, something completely unheard of in the class-conscious Japanese culture of that era. When the general makes hospital calls on his wounded troops, the tailor jokingly mentions that such visits must make the soldiers nervous. As a result, Kuribayashi begins to send the tailor into the wards with small gifts for the soldiers while he, the great general, remains in the car. Later, Kuribayashi forbids his tailor from following him to Iwo Jima, knowing that he is saving the young man's life. The book is full of similar humanizing anecdotes, prompting me to I wish I could have known this great man.
As its title suggests, So Sad to Fall in Battle is a poignant read which I highly recommend, particularly to WWII buffs and those interested in Japanese culture.
A major, annoying disappointment.......2007-07-12
When asked to review this book, of course I read the other reviews. It seemed that other reviewers gush and gush about how courageous and brave the great leader, General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was. But to review this book, I have to comment of how poorly it is written. It starts out well enough, then degenerates into pandering about the poor Japanese and the terrible conditions under which that society and its military suffered during the war. Enough! It is exactly like reading those books by Nazis who would want sympathy for their suffering and would convince us of their victimization. Of course war is hell, but to use this book about Kuribayashi to champion such an issue is beside the point, a distraction and makes for tiresome and boring reading.. Then the middle portion of the book explores in great detail, family issues, and personal business--how many socks he didn't have, what his daughter ate for lunch and on and on and on. Quite a disappointment--both the book as well as reviewers who would have us believe this is an interesting and engaging book. I did not finish it, though I did spend good money on it--I regret that I bought it and I give it only one star. Buyer beware.
A wonder tribute to an exceptional leader........2007-07-06
The story of General Kuribayashi is the story of the defense of Iwo Jima, now Iwoto. It is the general's story and it is also the story of the thousands of men who lived on Iwoto and except for a few, died there along with him.
I knew a little of General Kuribayashi from other sources but this book told me so much more about the man, as a father and as a leader. He was given a forlorn hope assignment after others had passed it up. He did his duty for his country and was poorly honored for it. Even as he arrived on Iwoto, the Japanese military was writing it off.
Kumiko Kakehashi tells in a very basic way the story of the general's decision to defy tradition which had been defend the island from the beaches, regardless of the rapidity of being overrun. Instead he and his men turned the island into one massive gun emplacement and turned what had been planned as an assault that would take just a few days into a slog that took weeks to conclude. Generals and admirals who disagreed with him were sent back to the home islands. The general's decision to replace them thus spared thier lives - very ironic when you look at the fate of those who did follow his orders. Those who agreed with him died for the most part and those who doubted his wisdom lived on. I wonder if they ever thought of how thier lives were spared?
Kakehashi says at the end of her story ". . . he fulfilled his duty heroically". I'm not sure heroically is sufficient. Many Japanese soldiers died heroically in all out assaults on well defended sites on islands all over the Pacific and on the mainland of China and Southeast Asia. General Kuribayashi's death, to me, was different. Certainly it was heroic but more importantly to me, he died as a leader - with his men. He was with them to the end. Throughout his time on Iwoto and even now, he shared thier hardship, thier thirst and ultimately along with many, thier unmarked graves. I would have wanted him as my leader. At the same time I regret his death. I think he would have been an outstanding leader in postwar Japan.
Someday as bones and remnants of bodies are recovered on Iwoto, I hope that the bones of General Kuribayashi are found and returned to the family grave. It would be most fitting if the finders were Americans.
This is a very powerful book and I recommend it to all who want to learn more about this quite different Japanese general officer and leader of men.
Book Description
Even in as bloody and violent a war as Americans encountered in the Pacific, the brutality of Iwo Jima stands out for its unremitting savagery; it was arguably the hardest won and most memorable battle of the United States Marines in World War II in the Pacific. Remarkable photographs, many never before published, and text by acclaimed military historian Eric Hammel vividly recreate this iconic battle: the pummeling of inland targets, the strafing, and the rocket fire that accompanied the landing; the eerie silence that greeted the marines as they set foot on the island; and then, as the newly-landed marines regrouped on the shoreline, the horrors of all hell breaking loose. The fighting that followed34 of the bloodiest days of the Pacific Warcomes to harrowing life in this volume. Iwo is a uniquely fitting tribute to the valiant struggle that gave us our most enduring image of victory in World War II.
Customer Reviews:
Battle portrait.......2007-07-10
Simply put---one of the best battle depictions I have read anywhere.Stunning pictures.Day-by-day breakdown of gains and losses make you feel like you are right there.This book made an impression on me that has not abated.Definitely at the very top of the military battles that I have read.
Stark, spare, haunting, beautiful.......2007-03-19
Hammel's text is spare but precise, and tightly interwoven with the photographs. It is difficult to exaggerate the quality of the photographs in this volume, which is beautifully produced and bound. The large format and glossy paper do justice to the photos. The extreme resolution and fine detail of the black & white photographs are breathtaking and haunting; use of a magnifying glass reveals the faces and expressions of men wholly consumed in, and being consumed by, their fearsome tasks. This is a work of beauty and awesome respect.
Fabulous Book.......2007-03-13
This book is a treasure, especially for family members and children of the courageous men who fought and gave their lives during this battle. Through extensive use of text and photographs, Mr. Hammel thoroughly describes the conflict in a way that assists the reader in understanding the extreme sacrifice that those young men made for their country.
Great Book!.......2007-03-13
This book is very worth for the price, hundreds of photographs taken during the battle. For WW2 books collector, this book is a must!
Beautiful Book.......2007-02-22
This is a beautiful book. Iwo Jima is a perfect combination of photography and narrative. There is just enough written description to give the outline of events, but not enough to overpower the photographs. The photographs are very emotional. One gets sense of sadness at seeing the destruction and death and the overpowering odds against these men, but a sense of awe at their raw courage and determination. The written descriptions of the of Metal of Honor winners is difficult to appreciate. How could these men muster such courage and tenacity? Historians describe the Iwo Jima battle against the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete." You wonder if the current generation could do the same. Maybe so, if the cause was the same. In any event, this book is worth reading so we can appreciate what these men accomplished.
Product Description
I'M STAYING WITH MY BOYS... is a first-hand look inside the life of one of the greatest heroes of the greatest generation. Sgt. John Basilone was lauded by General Douglas MacArthur as ...A ONE MAN ARMY and awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic defense of a vital airfield early in World War 2. It was the turning point of the war and Basilones foxhole was the site of the turning point in that battle. Distinctive among military biographies, the story is narrated by Sgt. Basilone himself allowing readers to experience the development of Johnny Basilone, the aimless youth, into Gunnery Sergeant MANILA JOHN Basilone, the clear-eyed warrior, undefeated light-heavyweight boxer and nationally revered war hero. This publication is the only family-authorized biography. The story is woven with surprising personal details such as Sgt. Basilones uncanny premonitions. Three times he confided to his family unlikely visions of his future. All three times the visions came to pass - including the final one that foretold his death. In spite of his final revelation, and true to his unwavering dedication to his men, he returned to battle and was killed on the beach at Iwo Jima - an emotional true story
Customer Reviews:
A MUST READ ! ! !.......2005-09-15
My friend loaned me this book to read and I must say that it gave me a new found appreciation of what those men and women did for us in WWII. This book was very easy to read, and should be included in the curriculum of every Recent American History course taught in High School or College. I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy of this book. I have already purchased a copy for myself after reading my friends copy.
It sounds so prophetic.......2005-01-26
He knew he was going to die, and he just kept on fighting. He never abandoned his marines and thats just what he should have done. Its how the writer makes this so real that is so inspiring, not that his deeds werent great, but there have probably been thousands who have done just what he did, they just werent famous. But overall this is a good book. I like how it takes us to a time when being "patriotic" didnt get us arrested or sued.
A must read.......2005-01-06
Wonderfully moving and well written insight into a true American hero. It is a must read for all patriotic Americans and almost a responsiblity for us all to be aware of one of the US Marine's best.
Excellent.......2004-10-25
If you are interested in a personal story of WWII, then this is an excellent book. Rather than getting into the details of the conflicts this book focuses on the personal story of John Basilone - one of the handful of true American Heroes from WWII.
Written in the first person with an ample dose of personal details from his family, this book truly brings Manilla John back to life for many. I've been studying WWII for only 10 years and have read my share of the technical assessments of the important battles in WWII. This book stands out in my mind because it puts the reader in touch with the qualities of America's best young men and women of the 1940's; selflessness, courage, a supreme sense of duty, and in Basilon's case, a supreme sense of destiny.
Highly recommended for anyone with a passing interest in WWII, or for anyone who wants to learn about what made America's young people "tick" 60 years ago.
An Extraordinary Biography and Full Frontal View of War.......2004-08-28
Author and Film Producer Jim Prosser has created a richly detailed, raptly written, devastatingly powerful book about the life of American War hero John Basilone. This book is especially pungent at this time in history because it revives a lost tradition of the country's view of maritime heroism. Since the atrocities of the Vietnam mistake to the present harrowing details of a similar (or worse) war in Iraq the concept of war is now very much in a negative light. Even the words 'war hero' seem an oxymoron, so strident are the feelings about America's latest aggressions. But to appreciate this fine book requires a return to the mindset of the US during World War II when not only was Europe under the vile threat of Hitler and Mussolini, but the Japanese warriors were annihilating China, Korea, and ultimately the Philippines in the mission to own the Pacific Ocean. And even in those early years the threat seemed frightening but distant until the Japanese successfully decimate the US Pacific Fleet on December 7, 1941. That incident unified the country, creating a fighting force and support system at home that eventually resulted in the defeat of the massive evil outside the borders of the USA.
Given that atmosphere of over a half century ago, author Proser has created one of the most convincing portraits of a military hero in literature. And the intensively researched and detailed approach results in a biography that fully restores the ambience of WW II. John Basilone was a nice Italian boy form Raritan, New Jersey, a lad who quit school to follow his recurring visions. He caddied for Japanese businessmen at a country club, seeing in his prophetic mind that at some day he would be at war with Japan. After trying multiple jobs he finally enlists in the Army, makes the best of boot camp by gambling and boxing, and is shipped to the Philippines where he spent time waiting, boxing (becoming a champion nicknamed Manila John), running a little bar with his Island sweetheart, and finally returning home. Frustrated once again with the boredom of work and the embarrassment of not having finished his education, Basilone finally returns to the military by signing on with the USMC, trains hard at Quantico, Cuba, and other US training camp swamps, and finally is shipped to Guadalcanal where his brilliance and dedication to his commanding officer ("Chesty" Puller) through one of the most devastating battles in the Pacific arena earned him not only the respect of his men, but also the Medal of Honor - the highest commendation offered by his country. Returning home form this mission he ride the waves of adulation form the American people, hobnobs with movies stars, sells War Bonds, and falls in love, only to be shipped out once again to the Pacific where he is killed in action in the battle for Iwo Jima.
The amazing (that is, ONE of the amazing) aspect of this book is that Proser has elected to write it in the first person of John Basilone. Everything is told as Basilone perceives it, lives, feels, and survives it. Rarely has a story been written with such clarity and perception: we truly feel that Basilone has written his memoirs. The language of the period is exactly right, the descriptions of the various battles and conditions of being a soldier under tremendously adverse conditions are vivid, and the soldiers' mentality of being in the thick of war are written with such bulls-eye focus that no matter what the reader's opinion of War might be, this book makes it all understandable form the point of view of the soldiers who fought. Some of the battle passages are tough to read: "On October 23, a light tank and infantry attack across the mouth of the Matanikau ran right into the teeth of Vandegrift's defenses. It was chewed up in short order with over 600 Japs killed, many of them trapped in a jungle clearing where US tanks just drove over them instead of wasting ammunition. They ground the poor bastards up like sausage under the tank treads until the entire clearing was covered in gore and left to rot in the sun." And a soldier's impressions: "We all heard a lot about the bravery of the Japanese soldier before we got on the island. They were supposed to be the most fearless warriors ever to fight. But I kept thinking what kind of bravery it was that sent them, one after the other, right into the same guns that mowed down dozens before them. I don't know if that was bravery. I don't know what it was. Either they were crazy or they just didn't care. So I didn't care either. They weren't even men anymore. They were dumb animals who wanted me dead and had killed all my friends."
Proser very cleverly weaves snippets of Iwo Jima from the opening of the book to its finish, which in an act of brilliance makes the whole story more pungent in retrospect. There is little doubt the Sgt. John Basilone was an extraordinary soldier and military hero along with the thousands of others who lost their lives in the incomprehensibly vast WW II. I think this is a very important book that everyone should read, and I say that as a pacifist, as a Vietnam Veteran convinced that war on any level is simply not an option. This book is vastly important, well written, and contains a story and moment of history we all should face and incorporate. And perhaps then we can all better empathize with soldiers form throughout history to the very present. Recommended without reservation!
Product Description
From their heroic performance in the Pacific War, against Japanese troops on godforsaken islands, to their tip-of-the-lance leadership in key operations in the two Gulf Wars, the Marines have proven again and again that elite men with elite training are worth entire armies. James Warrens battle-driven history shows how this elite culture has produced the best warriors in the country, through six decades, several open wars, and many smaller interventions.
Customer Reviews:
Cheerleading At Its Worst.......2007-01-11
I found this book in my local library while searching for information on the activities of the modern United States Marine Corps. While it goes pretty far in meeting this interest, its got some really annoying baggage.
The basic premise of Mr. Warren's story seems to be the United States Marine Corps is the only organization capable of defending the interests of the nation. The other services are failed organizations lacking in the martial skill, charisma and intelligence to do much more than thwart Marines in their activities and to occasionally produce a leader who will praise their greatness. To apparently reinforce this, the author almost always uses lower case terminology when referring to members of the supposedly inferior branches. I really don't see the point of all this. The Marines have an illustrious history which does not need the belittling of other services to help it along.
If Mr. Warren could have proved his premise, I would not be so harsh. But the man just does not seem to have much of a clue when it comes to the background of the "lesser" services and their histories. This can best be seen in his take on activities in Somalia in the early 1990s. From the author's vantage, the Marines pretty much had Somalia stabilized when the Army took over and screwed up everything by not using Marine techniques. This is a massive oversimplification given that the Marine and Army missions in Somalia were so different comparisons just do not make sense. Perhaps if he delved into a little Army specific research he might have realized this. Sadly, it appears the author just relied on official Marine sources such as one would get from Public Affairs Officers. How does one otherwise explain the author's bizarre comment that Marines pioneered the use if helicopters in warfare (yeah, Marines were first to actually use them but most of the innovations came from the Army during the Vietnam War).
The only part I liked was Warren's recounting of recent Marine combat activities. While a bit dry at times, he does managage to pull together the big picture and a foxhole view pretty well. But even then, youve got to put up with lots of propaganda.
a bit revisionist of marine history.......2006-06-25
begins with wwii works forward. has many of the standard historical errrors of the tet and misses most of the final victories in the late sixties.
A thoroughgoing history of the Marines.......2006-04-08
If you're interested in the history of the Marines and how they have maintained their independence and their relevance, this is a great book for you. I enjoyed learning more about how the Marines train their recruits to instill Marine values. Some elements of the military think this sort of thing is outdated; this book makes a good case that it's not.
The book makes an interesting point that in some ways the Marines are diverging more today than they used to from the mainstream civilian American lifestyle. America today has fallen for the idea that happiness lies in buying more stuff. The Marines reject this in favor of loyalty, duty to country, hard work, etc. Materialism is not part of the ethics they teach. I had not thought of the Marines as a force for good in this area before. In a way it gives me hope. As an ecological economist I put a lot of effort into trying to get people to understand that the present American way of life centered around driving to the mall is not making us happier. That lifestyle has no future in any case; the passing of the oil peak and the end of the cheap oil era will see to that. It's great to know that there are some unexpected allies out there. For more on this, see "The Long Emergency" by Kunstler.
One thing the book left me wishing is that the Marines would play more of a role in asking questions about when, where, and why America should fight wars. The Marines have lost a great many good men fighting in utterly pointless wars like Vietnam. The war in Iraq, sadly, looks to be going down the same tragic pathway. Our nation simply cannot afford this sort of war. The Marines clearly love their country. Why aren't they doing more to see that America spends its money and men where they will do some good, instead of pouring them down rat holes?
The first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts.......2006-04-03
Students of World War II will want to read a different view in American Spartans: The U.S. Marines: A Combat History From Iwo Jima To Iraq. It's the first modern battle history of the Marines in a generation and examines how they performed in key conflicts from World War II to modern times - and how they've changed. The evolution of their strategies and tactics have really undergone transformation over six decades, and American Spartans traces these changes using dozens of interviews, hundreds of print sources, and firsthand observation of modern Marine exercises.
Sixty years of Marine Corps History.......2006-04-03
Americna Spartans relates sixty years of the 230 year history of the Marine Corps from Iwo Jima to Iraq. After reading the first seventy pages it seemed that the book was an antithesis to the creed of MTSgt Percy Webb, a pioneer public relations type from the early 1900s who said, "I had the utmost faith in the service I was writing about and so I did not need to "gild the lily. Warren was writing a masterful tale of "cheerleading". But from that point on it became increasingly evident that the author does not "gild the lily". American Spartans is not written in the gray areas of history. It is written in black and white, reciting the bad along with the good.
The Ribbon Creek Incident in 1956 is reported by telling what happened, how it happened and what resulted from its happening. The excesses in training experienced by recruits are also realted with no excuses offered. Casualities from friendly fire are included in the battle summaries. The dismal "State of the Corps" in the period of 1972-1975 is brutal, but accurate in stating that 50% of the recruits were non-highschool graduates, just under 50% of those who joined in this period "washed-out" prior to completing their first enlistment and 20% were mental group IVs (borderline intelligence). Keep in mind that this 20% was in part forced on the Corps by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's 100,000.
The Corps was in danger of losing it's reputation as an elite force. The sociological attitudes of the junior leaders within the Corps at that time contributed to this sad state of affairs. Warren also brings to the fore a number of SNAFUs, such as Mayaguez, of the Corps. This mess and others were generally brought about by combining the Marines with their sister services causing errors in coordination and control. Splitting of the air and ground elements of the Corps lead to many of these errors and unnecessaary casualities resulted.
The leadership of the Marines became cognizant of this state and brought the Corps back from the ashes of the Phoenix Bird to it's rightful position of being the nation's "force-in-readiness".
As the history proceeds from World War II to Korea, the author shows an increasing knowledge of what occurred between the lines. The early years are reported factually but without great depth. As the distance in years is shortened the author includes more and more insight for the reader. This insight adds excitement and thrist for more of what makes history live and breath. The in-depth detail of the post World War "China Marines" creates a beginning of the thrist for more in this history of the Marine Corps and it then continues to the last page.
James Warren shows that the Marine Corps is unique over it's sister services by instilling in its leaders a "can-do" attitude expressed by Elbert Hubbard in "A Letter to Garcia" written in 1899. The senior (at whatever level) issues the order to the junior but does not tell the junior how to compete the mission. The senior expects the junior to employ his own imagination and resources to accomplish the task. This attitude is paramount in the philosophy of the United States Marine Corps.
Warren uses 50-cent words from time to time which created a need for trips to the "Webster". The author may have used these words to keep the readers attention and to insure that alertness was maintained. Warren uses "won" in place of "awarded" in reference to Medals of Honor or Silver Stars which irratates many within the "Brotherhood".
American Spartans expresses a value stated in an axion of Col. John W. Thomason, Jr., "The profession of the military is a noble one and I chose to follow it".
The United States Marine Corps has had its ups and downs but will continue to live in concert with a quote of President Teddy Roosevelt's:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out where the strong stumbled, or how the doer could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is in the arena, his face marred by dust, sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and falls short again and again: there is no effort without error.
But he who tries, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause, at best knows the triumph of achievement, and at worst, fails while daring. His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat". The book does "cheerlead" but it does not "gild-the-lily".
Amazon.com
In the winter of 1945, on the tiny island of Iwo Jima, a ferocious, epic battle was fought, resulting in the loss of more than 48,000 lives and producing what was to become one of the most recognizable symbols of World War II: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the peak of Mount Suribachi. One of the six, Navy corpsman John Bradley, came away from this historical moment with a deep and mysterious silence about his role in the flag raising. Even his wife heard him speak of it only once in their 47-year marriage. After Bradley's death, his son James began to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, as well as that of the other five men, all of whom became reluctant heroes because of their presence during that fateful instant when the shutter clicked and created a wartime icon.
Based on James Bradley's Flags of Our Fathers for adults, this abridged version for younger readers retains the somewhat terse drama, intense heartbreak, and bittersweet triumph of the original narrative. Through his research on the event and the soldiers (three of the men were killed in combat within days of the flag raising), Bradley explores the dubious nature of heroism and the devastating effects of war. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
Now abridged for young people, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U. S. flag at Iwo Jima. Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America.
In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle for the Pacific’s most crucial island.
Customer Reviews:
Down to earth truth behind the Second World war> Sacrifice,and enduring American spirit.......2007-06-28
Who were these brave young men that fought for their country, nation, and civil liberty? Freedom, fought and paid for by the lives of American youth, veterans of our country's legacy. We didn't back down when the odds were to great; we had fear it would decimate of what we loved, our liveliehood, ideals, and what we stood for. Heroes that proved essential to the wellbeing and life of America. Find out who were the six that raised the steel pole to enstill hope for marines upon that desolate island of Iwo Jima.
World War II.......2007-04-25
A great story about a horrific, but successful battle. Written by the son of one of the flag raisers, it gives a realistic view of the horrors endured, and the magnificent bravery of our boys who went forth in droves to give of themselves, that the rest of us might live in freedom.
Captivating and Honest Truths About Leadership and Devotion To Brothers Lost in War.......2007-04-04
I was given this book by one of my patients and I simply could not put it down. I read it cover to cover in about a day and half. The descpriptions of the War and the men who fought in the battle raged on Iwo Jima were brought alive in this story. It is incredible to think so many people were deceived by the efforts and the spin tallied by the United States during World War 2. Yes, the spin was in the name of a good cause, but it is unfortunate it took so long to tell the real truths about the men who lost their lives and the bloody sacrifices made in the name of freedom in this country. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read and better understand what really happened on Iwo Jima and the aftershocks that rippled through our Country for years following this war.
Dr. Warren Bruhl
A great book to read by Trevor Williams.......2007-04-02
This book is a salute to all the men of WWII and especially to those that served in Iwo Jima. It is an awesome book, one of the best books that I have ever read. I couldn't put it down.
James Bradley, the "Author", started to investigate his father Jack's service record, after his death. He never spoke of his time in service and especially what happened on the peak of Mount Suribachi. His father was one of the original 6 people in the famous photo from WWII taken during the flag raising in one of the bloodiest battles in history. The book was very descriptive and graphic, I could picture the battle in my mind.
Wrong book.......2007-03-09
It was not the book I thought was ordered. It was a student version which I didn't want. It is a good book otherwise, was delivered on time with no issues
Book Description
A riveting combat memoir of an Iwo Jima hero-the youngest Marine in history to win the Congressional Medal of Honor
Here is an eloquent, plainspoken combat memoir of a young soldier who belongs in a class with World War II combat hero Audie Murphy. At the height of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Jack Lucas and three other Marines attacked a Japanese pillbox. When two enemy grenades landed in their midst, Private Lucas jumped on both grenades, just as they were exploding. His buddies were saved, but Lucas was torn apart. Miraculously, he survived-but just barely. For this brave action seventeen year- old Jack Lucas from North Carolina became the youngest soldier in the twentieth century, and the youngest Marine in history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. In Indestructible, we learn of the rocky road that led Jack Lucas to Iwo Jima-from his lying about his age to join the Marines to his going AWOL in order to join the action in the Pacific-and his arduous, frightening recovery following his heroic sacrifice. Today, wherever Jack Lucas speaks crowds gather to honor him and pay tribute to Marine heritage and pride as well as to pay their respects to one of America's greatest generations.
Customer Reviews:
Tough Story about a Tough Guy.......2007-02-15
Despite what some other reviewers had to say, it should be noted at the outset that Jack Lucas didn't finish high school, and obviously didn't go to Columbia for a writing degree. He simply lied his way into enlisting in the Marine Corps at the age of 14, and ultimately conned his way into frontline units until he finally reached combat at Iwo Jima. Having wanted to be a Marine and fighting since he was 11, his dedicated pursuit of his goal seems impossible to believe, but it did happen, and this is his story.
Having met Jack, he is exactly like what the story sounds like. He is proud, patriotic, and unabashed in his belief that his actions that day were less significant than those who never returned. I found the story of his life after the war to be interesting, especially what his own wife would attempt later.
This is not going to tell the story of the whole war, and isn't a literary work that rivals Shakespeare, but it is one man's story, and well worth the time to read it.
212 Pages of Self-Praise.......2007-02-06
Mr. Lucas has just spent 212 pages doing nothing more than patting himself on the back and telling the public how big a hero he is. He also spends a great amount of time in stating how he relishes the limelight he is in and will go to any length to exploit the Medal of Honor to his own use. From some of key phrases in the book, the reader would think he was the only Marine on Iwo Jima. While I highly respect him for the action for which the medal was awarded, I do not respect the idea of using it to ones advantage. The author also seems to think that what he cannot accomplish with the Medal of Honor around his neck, his two fist will get for him.
Not a perfect story, but interesting nevertheless........2006-11-26
There can be little doubt that this book wouldn't have been written if this aging hero had not been singled out by President Clinton during his presidency in a nationally televised State-of-the-Union address. Mr. Lucas was the President's special guest for the occasion, and one can understand why. While Lucas is an unquestioned military hero, he was less of a hero to his children and his first wife. (Those who were on the receiving end of his quick and violent temper may not view him in the hero light either.) A self-described womanizer, Lucas was the perfect foil for the Clinton plot to bolster the President's image by profiling a man who is living proof that no matter how badly you conduct your private life, it doesn't have to interfere with your service to country. This book will read like a poem to Clintonites, but may blanch a bit to the few of who still believe personal morality matters to whatever task you set yourself to.
Lucas is a hero, and his professions of faith in the Lord who protected him not only on Iwo Jima but in several other major life crisis redeems this book and makes it worthwhile. But if your looking for the ALL American hero, better look elsewhere for reading material.
good, but less than I expected.......2006-08-26
I am a retired Marine and I generally read several books on the Marine Corps each year; I had never heard of Jack Lucas before this book. But, I came to believe that his discplinary issues, has resulted in the Marines excluding him from the general USMC history, we teach our young Marines at recruit trainng or OCS.
I am glad I bought the non-abridged audiobook edition (part of daily commute). Its audio quality was pretty good. It is a good recounting of history, but someone should have listed to it before it was finalized on CD. There were repeations of several sentences which made we wonder if my CD player was on the blink. In addition, references to "126" should have redone they should have been redone as "1st Bn, 26 Marine Regiment". Better for non-Marine listeners.
The Best War Story Ever!.......2006-08-07
If people are expecting another war story, they are going to get a whole lot more. D. K. Drum does an unbelieveable job telling the incredible story of the youngest Medal of Honor recipient in the Twentieth Century. Jack Lucas is so humble about the glory that has been thrust upon him. He handled fame as well as any 17 year old could be expected too, but after all we have no one to compare him too. He is unique and spectacular. If you don't like this one, you aren't a true patriot. By far the best war story ever!
Book Description
It remains the U.S. Marine Corps.' bloodiest battle. Fifty years later, it is A.P. photographer Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer-winning photo of Marines raising the American flag on Mt. Suribachi that keeps the memory of Iwo Jima alive.
Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue is a full account of the battle itself and of Rosenthal's ten days on Iwo Jima as Marines fought against a murderous Japanese onslaught. It recounts the enduring legacy of "the photograph"-most recently in the historic picture of three firemen raising the American flag at the site of the World Trade Center, recalling Rosenthal's timeless image of steely resolve in the face of tyranny.
Customer Reviews:
Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue.......2006-11-06
The pictures and the book itself is a must for any Marine Corps historian. But the C.D., encluded with the book should either be deleted or revised as it contains an interview with a Coast Guardsman, which after listening to his account and that of Capt. Dave Severance, I'm not sure the Coast Guardsman was really at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Nimitz would be proud.......2006-06-19
"Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue" is a must read for anyone interested in the battle for Iwo Jima. Hal Buell does a magnificent job of placing the reader in the boots of the courageous American marines that stormed the desolate island of Iwo Jima over 60 years ago. Through a rare collection of photos from the AP and National Archives and brilliant quotations from the leathernecks on the front lines, the reader follows the heroic marines from D-Day on February 19th, 1945 through the hellish days that followed on a small volcanic island barely visible on most contemporary maps.
Although the overriding theme is the memorable photo taken by Joe Rosenthal of the marines raising the stars and stripes on Mount Suribachi, Buell successfully incorporates the progression of the battle in great detail, disclosing such little know facts as the unfriendly weather that the marines had to endure and the daily measurement of the tough-won terrain captured by the marines on the island.
Through quotations and photos by Rosenthal and the many other unsung heroes of Iwo Jima, this book gives an excellent first hand account of the gruesome battle that paved the way for American victory in the Pacific.
Helps to Understand the Great Struggle of WWII.......2006-06-06
"A picture is worth a thousand words," goes the old saying; "Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue" with its 120+ photographs about Iwo Jima and associated verbal explanations provides an invaluable start for one trying to understand the intensity of battle during WWII and the sacrifices made daily by those involved.
Iwo Jima was bombed and shelled for 70 days prior to the Marines landing, using an armada of some 450 ships. For 36 days and nights during February-March of '45 100,000 Americans and Japanese fought across the 4.5 mile volcanic island. Nearly 7,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese lost their lives.
D-Day + 4 brought the famous flag-raising and its photograph - since memorialized in statues, stamps, coins, etc. The famous photograph actually involved a second flag-raising - a colonel wanted the first flag replaced by a larger one visible across the island. Unfortunately this led to later (untrue) charges that the second photo was staged.
Regardless, fighting continued on for weeks after the photo - only 1,200 Japanese were taken prisoner; most fought to the death, many trapped by flame-throwers inside caves and bunkers, blown up by naval shelling, or killed in hand-to-hand combat.
Only three of the six flag-raisers in the photograph survived to see it; they subsequently traveled across the U.S. serving as War Bond ambassadors or attending ceremonies (often seated at the rear) after the war. Sadly post-war life was not good for two of the survivors - Ira Hayes died in an adobe hut on the Gila River Reservation (Sacaton, AZ) in 1954 of alcoholism, and Rene Gagan also died of alcoholism in 1979. Only John Bradley lived a reasonably good life (until 1994), though he mostly declined interviews.
Every American should spend time with books like "Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue" to better appreciate the sacrifices of our WWII servicemen.
Super Photos and information.......2006-05-25
I have read nearly everything written about this epic U.S. Marine Corps battle. My father was a member of the 4th Marine Division and survived to come home as one of "The Greatest Generation". I also spent a career in the US Navy first as a corpsman with the 1st Marine Division in Viet Nam and then as a member of the Navy Nurse Corps. This book is another "must have" for anyone interested in the history of WW II in the Pacific. We all have seen the flag raising photo that became symbolic of the US in WW II but this book tells us much more about it and also tells much more about this battle. As we get farther away from 1945 and those brave warriors pass from this earth it is of extreme importance that we have documentation to remind us of the sacrifices made on those small islands in the Pacific ocean. If you are interested in the Pacific Theatre I highly recommend this book as an addition to your library.
Book Description
Richard F. Newcomb is one of the true masters of military storytelling. In researching Iwo Jima he interviewed hundreds of Iwo veterans, both American and Japanese; read the diaries and letters of fighting men; and combed through masses of official navy and marine records to write the full story of one of the most famous battles in U.S. history. With exceptional depth, intelligence, and emotional power, Newcomb recounts the events of February 19, 1945, in which common men were thrust into impossible circumstances, demonstrating valor and even humor amid the horror and chaos of war.
Customer Reviews:
Iwo Jima Vet.......2003-01-07
As a Marine veteran of the battle for Iwo Jima and having read many books on the battle I feel that, "Iwo Jima" by Richard Newcomb is the definitive book on what the battle was all about. The first time that I read it, it brought the whole thing back, it was almost like being there again.
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