I Company: The First and Last to Fight on Okinawa (1st Books Library) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

George Nelson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1410732193 | ISBN-13: 978-1410732194 | Publication Date: July 1, 2003 | Edition: illustrated edition

This is the story of I Company, 305th Infantry Regiment of the 77th Division. Follow I Company and its men from its activation in March 1942 until it was disbanded four years later. Two years were spent preparing them for their combat role including seven months in the Arizona desert in the summer of '43, only to be assigned to the Pacific Theater. Once in the Pacific they helped liberate Guam and Leyte. They were the first American soldiers to land on Imperial Japanese soil and helped to take the last hill on Okinawa. They were typical American fighting men who dealt with training and combat as best they could. It describes the humor and ingenuity the men used to protect themselves against Army rules, regulations and life as a combat infantryman. These men were older than most found in other divisions; one of the men killed on Guam was 39 years old. The 18 year old Marine riflemen nicknamed them the 'Old Bastards,' but thought enough of their fighting ability to dub them the '305th Marines.'

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Nelson worked thirty-five years for Grumman Corporation in a variety of management positions. Since retirement he has devoted time to his abiding interest in military history, especially World War II. His uncle was killed in action while a member of I Company and he always wanted to know how it happened. He spent the first several retirement years researching I Company including traveling to all their battlefields and many of the US training sites. He has interviewed and corresponded with 40 former company members and still remains in contact with them. George also teaches military history at the Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement and has been a guest speaker to civic groups in the Raleigh Durham area. George and his wife now live in Durham, NC.

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse; illustrated edition edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410732193
• ISBN-13: 978-1410732194
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,166,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'I' Co., The First and Last to Fight on Okinawa, September 4, 2004

By 

uriah1970 "uriah1970" (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Company: The First and Last to Fight on Okinawa (1st Books Library) (Paperback)

Col. E. Chalgren, Jr. USA (Ret.), Former commander 3rd Battalion, 305th Infantry, 77th Division wrote the following after reviewing the draft:

Your book is marvelous in so many ways. First, it is truly a soldier's story-second, it is remarkably accurate-third, it provides professional substance of "instructive value"-as well a citizen soldiers' devotion to comrades and victory-and the many miseries & hardships endured plus the fun of occational beating the system some harmless way or sharing in some hilarious escapades. What a meaningful contribution, what a reminder of what dedicated, strong men we were then over fifty years ago.