To the Far Side of Hell: The Battle for Peleliu, 1944 - Softcover

Wright, Derrick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1861267517 ISBN 13: 9781861267511

Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd, 2005

Synopsis

The battle for the Pacific island of Peleliu in the autumn of 1944 is far less well known - even among US Marine Corps veterans - than Tarawa, Iwo Jima or Okinawa. Yet in the savagery of the fighting, the courage and determination displayed, and the casualty rates suffered by the units of the 1st Marine Division, it can claim to stand beside them all. Peleliu was a jinxed operation. It is arguable that it need never have been mounted in the first place, since the fast-moving situation in the Central Pacific removed any pressing need to occupy the Palau Islands. When the 1st Marine Division landed they came up against Japan's new defensive technique - a garrison determined to die where stood in deep, complex bunker systems. The predicted 'three-day quickie' turned into a bloody nightmare that lasted for 71 murderous days. Brought to life by the words of the men who fought there, the story of Peleliu is an epic of the Second World War.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"A concise narrative overview of the American conquest of the island of Peleliu during World War II in an easy to read, appealing format. The maps and photographs are generally excellent, and the illustrations by Tom Lea are superb."--Lance Janda, author of "Stronger than Custom: West Point and the Admission of Women
"In searing heat and exposed to the dug-in Japanese guns amidst the ridges and gulches of a labyrinth of concrete-hard coral, the men of the 1st Marine Division, weary from earlier campaigns, found that the predicted short conflict would turn inot a protracted, bloody 71-day battle. Although this battle is far less well known--even amoung the U.S. Marine Corps veterens--than Tarawa, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa, the savagery of the fighting, the courage and determination displayed, and the proportional casualty rates suffered by the units of the 1st Marine Division can claim equal significance.
Derrick Wright is an independent scholar and author of "Tarawa--A Hell of a Way to Die" and "Iwo Jima 1945: The Marines Raise the Flag on Mount Suribachi".""

About the Author:

Since retirement in 1992, DERRICK WRIGHT was able to devote more time to his lifelong research into the Pacific campaigns of the Second World War. This is the third of his campaign studies: in 1996 he published A Hell of a Way to Die - Tarawa Atoll and has since written an account of Iwo Jima.

About this edition

• Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1861267517
• ISBN 13: 9781861267511
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176