Customer Reviews

D-Day in the Pacific: The Battle of Saipan (Twentieth-Century Battles)

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The importance of the capture of Saipan is two-fold. First, to most Japanese military strategists, Saipan represented the outermost reaches of the defenses of the Japanese Empire itself. Thus, its loss meant that it would only be a question of time before Japan itself was invaded and all was lost. Second, to the Allies, Saipan represented air bases from which the new B-29 planes could reach and bomb Japanese cities, including, and especially, Tokyo.

"D-Day in the Pacific" is an extremely well-written account of the actions and politics leading up to the decision to invade Saipan (and Tinian, adjacent to it), including the clash of wills between Admiral King and Gen. MacArthur, the strategies and tactics of the invasions (e.g., the separate landings by the 2nd and 4th Marine divisions), the major personalities involved on both sides, and the battles on the islands, including the well-known suicidal tactics of the Japanese, as seen not only from the perspective of the commanders but the front line troops as well. Numerous photos are also included.

As I researched the death of my Marine uncle on D-day , June 15, on Saipan Island, it became clear that Professor Goldberg's well-written and documented book would be a valuable source of information to go with all the other books I had read, including the excellent 1946 edition of the 4th Marine Division Association's historical account of the battle. In fact, in Dr. Goldberg's book, I learned of accounts from others in my uncle's company that help confirm what my family had long believed about the circumstances of his death, and a contradiction of statements of mortuary graves registration personnel at the time that were recorded in my uncle's official military personnel record I obtained.

At a recent family reunion, I obtained a copy of the unit commander's letter to my grandfather which corroborated Dr. Goldberg's account and the testimony of a member of my uncle's company contained in the book as to how he almost certainly died (despite efforts to contact this veteran from information supplied graciously by the author, I haven't gotten a response and I fear he may be one of the 1,000 WWII veterans who die each day).

Nonetheless, the book's account and the letter of my uncle's commander, written in September of 1944, match the time he went ashore and circumstances of the hostilities at the time. I was able to almost pinpoint the time of his death from the book, but most illuminating, I learned of his unit's activities during the day. His unit was part of a "feint" or diversionary tactic and was not part of the initial landing that faced murderous fire, because his unit was compensated for being part of the first wave in the assault at Namur, a previous battle. (It was traditional for combat troops seeing first combat or bearing the brunt to be made part of a reserve or backup force in the next battle)

During the reunion, I was able to give a factual account of this hero to 50 family members & descendants as we stood at his gravesite to commemorate his sacrifice at age 22.

My one lament regarding the book: I gave it away this week to my first cousin named for my uncle. Now, I have to buy another - which will make the author happy, too.

This book is a great overview on one of the lesser known battles of ww2. there is a lot of background information on the saipan and the events leading up to the invasion. recommended reading for anyone who would like to know more about saipan

The Battle of Saipan screams for a solid review that lays out the plans, organization, and orders and actions of the troops that fought this battle. This book does not look at the battle critically. It misses discussions of the adaptive tactics being experimented with after Tarawa and other amphibious landing conducted under fire. The book is a rehash of previous half hearted attempts to analysis this key pacific battle, even the pictures are the same - all USMC combat photographer based. If you are a USMC in action geek buy the book, if you are looking for a critical study of the battle keep looking.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I found it to be very well written with sufficient detail of units involved to satisfy the military historians, and also the person who wants to know the overall details of the battle and how it developed. This book takes a very honest look at General "Howlin Mad" Smith and his decision to relieve Army Gen Ralph Smith of his command of the 27th infantry division. It appears that this was a travesty of justice. I throughly enjoyed the book, and i highly recommend it to anyone who choses to learn more about the war in the pacific.

I was a seagoing Marine at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. I served with the Marines in combat against the enemy on Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. I can only say that Harold J. Goldberg has done a remarkable job in compiling the the data of our unit movements and presenting it in a way that takes me back to those combat days. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants understand what some of us went through and how important it was that our military make the sacrafices that were neccesary to achieve victory in the Pacific.

This was a very well written book of an account of battle that seemed to keep you not wanting to put the book down!

recieved the above title in good order, well packed many thanks. I felt the info available was quite adequate for what i wanted to know before purchase. It is interesting to note the number of military history books now coming on the market, so many years after the even-and mostly those written by men with front line experience.Their honesty makes interesting reading.

... as well as the Mariana Turkey Shoot. Before covering the battle action, the author takes the first three chapters to give background info in order the reader to have a better understanding of the islands and the hardships the Marines and GIs will have in taking them.

A description of the general history of the Marianas that involves the Germans, Spanish, the US and the Japanese that goes back for hundreds of years. The author gets down to specifics when the Japanese became involved. During the first couple years of the war Saipan wasn't considered important except for its economic value but when the US started taking back islands, the Marianas became very important and in 1943 Japan started a crash course in fortifying the islands.
The Marianas became critical in Japanese strategy as part of their last lines of defense that must not be penetrated by the US if Japan had any chance of winning the war. The author does a nice job of describing the preparations; he also describes all of the weaponry that was part of that defense that wasn't installed in time. If the invasion had been later in the year, taking the island would have been much harder than it was.
The American plans for the invasion is then discussed in good detail as well as the complicated command structure. These opening chapters were very deliberate and much can be learned from it.

The battle action begins with the Marine 2nd and 4th Divisions riding the amtracs into shore and the harrowing job of fighting the rough seas, getting over the reef and dodging the blizzard of small arms fire and mortar fire just to reach the beach. The author uses many first hand experiences to describe the awful time these Marines had in not only the landing but throughout the whole campaign. For many of these men, two, three or more landings were experienced throughout the war. To experience this horror once is bad but to do it several times is unimaginable.
Once landed, the author takes you through the ordeal of these two divisions plus the 27th Infantry Division had in clearing the enemy from a rugged terrain that favored the defenders.
While the battle on land was escalating, a major sea/air battle was taking place that was part of Japanese Plan A-Go to destroy the American Fleet under Adm Spruance. The Americans called it "The Mariana's Turkey Shoot" for the Japanese lost over 400 planes, a carrier and other ships. Besides the battle coverage, the controversy between Mitscher and Spruance when Spruance conservatively called an end to the offensive when Mitscher wanted to continue.
An even larger controversy erupted over two generals on Saipan that the author covers very well. It concerns a Marine General relieving an Army General for lack of positive results. (Holland Smith vs Ralph Smith) The author does a nice job of describing the specifics between the two generals as well as the escalation that occurred throughout the system.

In Conclusion, the author discusses the casualties of the war and the importance of cracking the Japanese critical line of defense. Japan lost many planes and experienced pilots and a carrier which were irreplaceable. From the Marianas, B-29s could now reach Japan. Holland Smith, Ralph Smith and others are also discussed as to their fates after the Marianas.
There are 10 maps and 24 photos as well as a competent Notes section, Bibliography, Appendix which includes principal military units and officers and Index. The Bibliography includes the many people interviewed who contributed to the book.

This is an engaging story and anybody interested in the battle for the Marianas should definitely read this book. Its highly recommended.

This is not one of the best books on the subject of the pacific war. Many of the facts contradict many of the facts i have learned from other books i have read on this subject. One main fact is the marines, amry and navy did not work well together. Well, after reading with the old breed and some other books that have fighters in the pacific points of view that yes, in the begin they did not work well but after some time they just all had the same goal fight and get out alive. so, with this motived in common they would want to work together to win. Also, way to much of European info not enough on the Pacific war. The last thing he jumps thoughts to much it make it hard to keep up a little.