CHALLENGE FOR THE PACIFIC

by Robert Leckie ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 18, 1965

Challenge is the Guadalcanal installment in the ""Crossroads of World History Series"" edited by Orville Prescott. Former Marine machine-gunner Leckie, who was on Guadalcanal, has woven a dense account that sees the campaign from both sides of the fence. His point of view constantly alternates between the Americans and Japanese, between grand strategy and the worm's eye view of the riflemen. Oddly, the ground troops fare less well on these pages than the brass, and the two heroic figures who emerge are General Archer Vandegrift and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Admiral Yamamoto was against the whole Pacific war before it even started. After smashing successes', his navy was stopped at the battles of Midway and the Coral Sea. Then came Guadalcanal, after which both sides knew who would win the Pacific. Guadalcanal insured our eventual victory. Ironically, while high brass went through various failures of nerve, only the Marine Infantryman doing the fighting was absolutely convinced we would take the island. And the Japanese foot-soldier was Just as self-confident. If this is not the definitive account of Guadalcanal, it is still thoroughly exciting.

Pub Date: June 18, 1965

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1965

Categories: NONFICTION