New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester: The U.S. Marines in World War II: A Pictorial Tribute

Along with the pictorial there was excellent background regarding the strategy, the mistakes and the paths chosen and references to units actions primarily of the Marine Air and Ground Units in addition to the Army participation. It doesn't include much about the Naval units involved but it explains the Japanese mistakes and the American approach including choices made to select an approach to getting at Japan through New Guinea and the Solomon Islands versus going through the Central Pacific.

It was well written and contained photographs which provide some feel for the terrain and the conditions on the ground.

Well done and very interesting. I am old enough to remember many of the pictures and events at that time

Though there have been dozens of books written on Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Tarawa, the campaigns for Bougainville, New Georgia and Cape Gloucester have been poorly documented. Noted military historian Eric Hammel offers up this striking 'pictorial tribute' to the Marines in action. It's a wonderfully done and long overdue tribute to those South Pacific warriors of long ago.

Following the Marine triumph on Guadalcanal, American forces advanced up the central and northern Solomons, 'Operation Cartwheel' aiming at isolating the major base at Rabaul. Airpower would play a decisive role in the long haul northward; hence the never-ending Allied need for new airfields such as the Japanese field at Munda, New Georgia. The first steps to capture Munda began in June 1943; by August, Munda was operational. In November Marines landed on Bougainville island with the aim of establishing air bases. In December, Marines went ashore on Cape Gloucester, New Britain and so on. Fighting was often as bitter as it had been on Guadalcanal, the weather just as inhospitable and the terrain even worst.

Eric Hammel's book is sub-titled 'A Pictorial Tribute' and it is that and much more. Hammel tapped a variety of agencies, museums and individuals to assemble what is probably the largest collection of photographs of Marines in the Solomons ever published. The book features hundreds of shots of gyrenes on the battlefield, landing under fire, rear area scenes, Marine aviation pix, etc. Many of the frontline shots are riveting.

Yet Hammel's book is far more than a collection of photos. He does an excellent job of summarizing those largely unheralded campaigns, emphasizing the important role each played in the Allied advance along with the cost in men.

Pacific War enthusiasts and anyone interested in Corps history will want to add this excellent volume to their collection. Highly recommended.