By Dammit, We're Marines! Veterans' Stories of the Heroism, Horror, and Humor in World War II on the Pacific Front - Hardcover

Gail Chatfield

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 097790394X ISBN 13: 9780977903948

Publisher: Methvin Publishing, 2008

Synopsis

Technology changes with every war, but the universal human experience of combat remains the same. Marines and soldiers from the battlefields of Valley Forge to the streets of Fallujah understand patriotism, fear, death, loneliness, and the humor that helps them through the rough times. By Dammit, We're Marines! is a collection of eye witness accounts by 52 veterans who served on the Pacific Front during World War II. When ordered to secure another Japanese-held island, these Marines grabbed their M-1 rifles, climbed down rope ladders into the waiting landing craft, and hit the beaches. They faced not only an embedded, well-equipped enemy, but also flesh shredding coral reefs, malarial and dengue fever-ridden jungles, mosquito and crocodile-infested swamps, and a noxious moonscape sulfur island. The author's father was one of those Marines who fought on Bougainville, Guam, and Iwo Jima. He died when she was 15 and never shared his wartime stories. Wanting to learn more, Chatfield sought out veterans of those conflicts. Their stories offer a literary archeological dig of sorts into 1940's culture and technology. Body armor was a canvas shirt with a metal covered copy of the Bible in the breast pocket. Camouflage clothing was do-it-yourself burlap suits stippled with Max Factor women's make-up. Cutting edge medicine was sulfa tablets to treat infection and blood plasma shipped in glass bottles to field hospitals. Canvas hammocks stacked 8-10 high served as bunks aboard overcrowded ships. They used salt water soap for salt water baths and were issued OPA tickets, V-mail, C-rations, K-rations, and helmets that served as sinks and saucepans. Creating the safest foxhole took some ingenuity and a few discarded tank parts. Most of the veterans interviewed in this book are Marines, but war is a collaborative effort. Marines were transported by the Navy, relieved by the Army, and most of the time their job was to secure airfields for the Army Air Corps. No story of the Marines would be complete without hearing from those branches of service. Chaplains, corpsmen, sailors, soldiers, and B-29 bomb crews share their stories of serving with the Marines. These veterans offer their stores as a part of our historical record with the hope that battles like Saipan, Bougainville, and Iwo Jima will never happen again.

About this title

About the Author

Gail Chatfield is a native of Southern California and received her Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State University courtesy of the G. I. Bill. A degree in Anthropology, the study of man and the role that culture exerts on individuals or groups, thoroughly prepared her for working in the exotic, fertile fields of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Positions at AFTRA, the William Morris Agency and for nearly a decade the personal assistant to Farrah Fawcett, confirmed the theory that nothing beats reality for a good story. Currently living in San Diego, Gail is a freelance writer and an opinion columnist for the North County Times. She is an associate member of the Third Marine Division Association.

Review

The best stories about Marines are the ones told by Marines themselves. The essence of what it is to be a Marine can only be understood either by a Marine or by someone who takes the time to hear their stories and allows them to tell them in their own way. By Dammit, We're Marines! is a first-hand, combat account from over 50 veterans, across the spectrum of ranks from private to general. It is a raw and unfiltered account of the greatest generation of Marines as they fought with pride, honor, bravery and and uncommon valor against a determined Japanese opponent in the battle for the Pacific in World War II. Gail Chatfield has compiled an unprecedented account from Marines who survived the deadliest battles in Marine Corps history and provided the legacy which today's Marine continues to live up to. Every Marine understands the name and significance of Iwo Jima. One year after fighting on the streets of Iraq, I found myself with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, steaming towards Iwo Jima for a commemoration ceremony. Nearly every Marine in my unit served multiple combat tours in Iraq and every Marine stood on the black sandy beach of Iwo Jima with tears in their eyes as they understood the significance of what these Marines suffered through and triumphed against. By Dammit, We're Marines! is a must-read for anyone who want to understand what it means to be a Marine in combat. This book will make you laugh and cry and swell your heart with pride for those Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice in the most unforgettable battles that are now part of the great history of the world's finest fighting force...The United States Marines! --First Sergeant Patrick M. Tracy USMC Author of "Street Fight in Iraq".

What is it that makes Marines different? Marines know what it is but can't quite explain it. To them it is very real and precious--perhaps the defining force in their lives. By Dammit, We're Marines! comes as close as any book or study I have read in 'catching' what it is that makes that difference. It is the personal and unfiltered story of Marines of all ranks and skills in brutal combat. They speak of their loyalty to buddies, the training which changed their perceptions and sustained them, their fierce pride in their Corps, their leaders, and fighting units. Their stories will most certainly inspire Marines and their families. It will also inspire those who have not worn the globe and anchor. It is a rare and privileged glimpse into the wonderful mystic of what it is that makes that elusive difference. --Major General Wilbur F. Simlik, USMC (Ret.) Veteran of Iwo Jima

Edition details

• Publisher: Methvin Publishing
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 097790394X
• ISBN 13: 9780977903948
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 337