US Infantryman in World War II (1): Pacific Area of Operations 1941-45

This title deals with the experiences of the American soldiers who fought the Japanese across the Pacific islands, and the specific nature of this combat environment. It follows a hypothetical soldier, ‘Michael’, through his enlistment into and training with the 165th Infantry Regiment (New York National Guard). It takes him through the 1941 maneuvers the 27th Infantry Division participated in, the transfer to Oahu, and into the reality of daily life and combat in the Pacific theater from 1942 to 1945, including Makin, Saipan and Okinawa. It also looks at the PTO administrative procedures for replacements, and medical and psychiatric care of the ordinary soldier. Whilst the focus is on one individual, the experiences of the many are examined and woven into an intricate and meticulous narrative.

Robert S. Rush PhD is a retired Command Sergeant Major, who served in the US Army from 1969 to 1999. He has worked as a historian to several key policy review teams for the United States Army. He is the author of ‘The Soldier's Guide 5th Edition’ as well as numerous magazine articles. His PhD (Hell in Hurtgen Forest: Ordeal and Triumph of an American Infantry Regiment) focused on US and German units in the Hürtgen Forest, Fall 1944. Robert currently works at the US Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair.