Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal (Hellgate Memories Series) [Paperback]

William J. Owens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010 | Series: Hellgate Memories Series

This is the story of thousands of Melanesian, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese and American men who fought for a poor insignificant island in a faraway corner of the South Pacific Ocean. For the men who participated, the real battle was of man against jungle. This is the account of land, sea and air units covering the entire six-month battle-stories of ordinary privates and seamen, admirals and generals, who survived to claim the victory that was the turning point of the war in the Pacific.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

On 7 August 1942, the amphibious assault on Tulagi and Guadalcanal was the first American offensive in World War II against the rampaging forces of the Empire of Japan. The enemy retaliated from the sea, air and on land. It was swift, fierce and bloody. Yet many soldiers contend the greatest struggle of all was confronting the "Green Hell" - a reeking, rotting, malaria-infested jungle that tested any soldier's strength and courage.

Against all odds, the young and inadequately trained and supplied 1st Marine Division, commanded by Lt. General Archer Vandergrift and the Army's equally inexperienced 164th Infantry Regiment held onto Guadalcanal for four awesome months against the best trained and seasoned forces that Japan sent in. Every aspect of the battle remains impressive, from the assistance of the Australian Coastwatchers who hid away in dangerous observation points along the Solomon Islands to the Army and 2nd Marine Division's actions in the last two months of the campaign.

About the Author

William "Bill" J. Owens was born in Alabama and grew up around Naval and Marine bases in a military family. He attended Northwestern University and earned his M.S. in Journalism, with minors in History and Political Science. Owens is also a Korean War Army Security Agency veteran. After traveling throughout the South Pacific, as well as interviewing many of the surviving veterans who fought in World War II, Owens was prompted to focus on Guadalcanal as the pivotal Pacific Ocean battle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hellgate Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555714986
• ISBN-13: 978-1555714987
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,655,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best comprehensive coverage, January 14, 2000

By 

Robert J. McLeod (Darien, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

Since my father served on Guadalcanal, I have naturally been interested in this epic, six month struggle, for many years. I have read many books on the subject including the "classics" dealing specificaly with the Marines, Army, and "Cactus Air Force" as well as stories of the coast watchers (Martin Clemmons).

I have found Mr. Owens works the best, one source, book on the subject. It is a very thorough, well researched, chronological work on the battle. It treated all branches of the service equally and evenhandedly.

Two particular techniques Mr. Owens uses very well are his "close ups" of various combatants, letting us know them as individuals from their hometown with mothers, families and the such, and his WW-II "snapshots" where he "zooms-out" to give us insight into what is happening elsewhere in the war at a specific time. I have never seen the struggle for Guadalcanal shown in time relation to the fighting in Africa, etc.

If you choose to read one authoritative work on this pivital battle of the second world war, Green Hell by William Owens is the book to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts on the Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal, May 7, 2001

By 

Norman E. Tracy, Staff Sargeant (Erie, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

It was the most comprehensive book on Guadalcanal that I've ever read. As a World War II veteran, I really appreciated and related to Owen's coverage of personal stories. I still remember landing with the 35th Regiment and Division Hqs. of the 25th Division on December 17, 1942. Our Division released the first Marine Division. There were still two months of jungle fighting ahead for the army. The book so accurately recounted my experience of reducing the GIFU pocket and the Galloping Horse, plus several other strong points. We pushed the Japanese all the way back to Cape Esperance where they evacuated their troops over two nights in early February. Overall, this is certainly one of the best books I've read on this subject and would recommend it for history buffs, veterans and interested parties alike.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars William J. Owens' Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal, November 3, 2000

By 

Osher Doctorow, Ph.D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Hell: The Battle for Guadalcanal (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

This book by Army Security Agency veteran Owens of the Korean War is like Audie Murphy's To Hell and Back. It's the story of people who'll live again, like General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine of World War II (also of the Korean War) who inspired his men by one of the most unusual philosophies in history - he fought alongside them. You'll find Marine Captain Joseph J. (Joe) Foss from Sioux Falls South Dakota who won the Medal of Honor and was the first aviator in World War II to exceed the record of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in WWI and kept surviving his planes being shot down. You'll find Admiral Halsey here and the whole 1st Marine Division and the Second Marine Division and Army who relieved them later on and the Navy that lost so many men. You'll find Sergeant "Manila" John Basilone of Buffalo, New York, who did an "Audie Murphy" and won the Medal of Honor.