Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific |
| Author: Larry Smith
Creator: Dick Hill
Publisher: Tantor Media
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $18.99
You Save: $6.00 (24%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1567953
Format: Audiobook, Cd
Media: Audio CD
Edition: MP3 Una
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 1400157218
Dewey Decimal Number: 940
EAN: 9781400157211
ASIN: 1400157218
Publication Date: July 1, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
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Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The men who fought and survived the deadliest battle of the Pacific come to life in this powerful oral history.
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Customer Reviews:
Superb collection of personal histories July 1, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Author Larry Smith says it himself in his introduction: "This book does not presume to offer a definitive account of what has been called the thirty-six days in hell of Iwo Jima . . . Rather, it is a series of snapshots offering a glimpse into the lives of twenty-two men who took part in various aspects rof the conflict and how they have faired since."
It is a remarkable and remarkably well done effort.
Smith groups the twenty-two stories into seven topical sections, each dealing with a specific aspect of the battle, except for two which deal with the aftermath and the use of Iwo Jima as a base for fighters and emergency landing field for B-29s flying back from bombing Japan.
Smith is both an excellent interviewer and writer. He truly does let each of the veterans speak for themselves and tell their stories. What is a bit unique in Smith's approach is that he lets the veterans tell of their experiences on Iwo Jima and their lives since then.
It is sad in a way to see the contrasting photographs for most of these men as they appeared when young and in their warrior prime and now when they are in their eighties and nineties.
It is good that Smith reached these men before they passed taking their stories with them. It was a different America back then, an America when young men were willing to give their lives in the name of freedom. Smith doesn't ask these veterans for their opinion of today's American society.
Several of the men received major awards for valor. Almost all received the Purple Heart, the medal signifying that the holder was wounded in combat.
From the pre-invasion jitters to the post-conflict burying of the dead by the graves registration unit, Smith and the veterans recall the battle. Pilots who flew after Iwo Jima was won tell their stories as well.
All in all, a unique and well done collection of personal histories and well worth reading.
Jerry
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