Bloody Tarawa: The 2d Marine Division, November 20-23, 1943 - Hardcover

Hammel, Eric M.; Lane, John E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760324026 ISBN 13: 9780760324028

Publisher: Zenith Pr, 2006

Synopsis

On the morning of Saturday, November 20, 1943, the 2d Marine Division undertook the first modern amphibious assault against a well-defended beachhead. The objective was tiny Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, and the going was supposed to be easy a target already ""pounded into coral dust"" by a massive naval and air bombardment. But what the Marines discovered was an island garrison alive and well, the Japanese defenses intact and manned by foes who would rather die than surrender. The battle that followed three full days of terror during which more than 3,000 died to ""secure"" an island half the size of New York’s Central Park is fully told in words and pictures in this dramatic book. Building on the updated text of their 76 Hours: The Invasion of Tarawa, the authors use more than 250 photos and combat drawings from the U.S. Navy and Marine archives and private collections to reveal the graphic horror of warfare at its worst. Their book follows every terrifying step as the Marines, failed by the invasion’s planners, are forced to wade more than 500 yards through fire-swept, knee-deep water, reaching land only to face what many historians agree was the best, most concentrated defenses American troops encountered in the entire Pacific War. The result is an immortal story of certainty shattered and courage recovered against overwhelming odds, of victory culled from near-defeat, and its terrible cost.

About this title

About the Author:

Eric Hammel is a critically acclaimed military historian and author of more than thirty combat and pictorial histories, including the extremely popular Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle (Zenith Press 2006). He lives in Northern California.

Review:

Marine Corps Gazette, September 2006

“The [over 250 photos and illustrations] constitute one of the most complete published collections of the pictorial record of the battle and include some photos never before seen in print ... the strength of the book remains its heavy use of recollections from those Americans who fought in the operation. It is a gritty grunt’s-eye view of combat that gives the reader a feel for the confusion, courage, and terror that reigned on that confined, bloody battlefield ... a useful addition to anyone’s military history library and a worthy replacement for 76 Hours.”

Leatherneck, October 2006“In their newly revised treatment of the legendary battle, Eric Hammel and John E. Lane have produced a photo-enriched collector’s edition. Hammel, a renowned military historian, is noted for his excellent coverage of many ferocious Marine battles and conflicts. In this coffee table-size edition, the authors skillfully combine their unique narrative with a multitude of never-before-published photos and combat drawings...Many History Channel viewers think they have seen all there is to see concerning the Battle of Tarawa. No, armed with Hammel and Lane’s new book, Bloody Tarawa, the reader will come much nearer to the battles’ indescribable fury.”

Military Trader, December 2006

"This book pulls no punches in describing in graphic detail the horrendous combat on Tarawa."

About this edition

• Publisher: Zenith Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0760324026
• ISBN 13: 9780760324028
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 298