Customer Reviews

Nightmare on Iwo

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I have a 76-year old neighbor who lasted 3 days on Iwo Jima as a young Marine radioman, until a mortar explosion ended his military adventures for good. His term for the parts of the battle he experienced -- "unbelieveable, simply unbelieveable". Caruso's book adds to the litany of cries against the agony that was the battle in early 1945 for this awful place in the middle of nowhere. The author also reminds the reader of the youth and determined heroism of our fighting men brought to this terrible scene. Young junior officers like Pat Caruso were only months older than the men they led, and both troops and leaders suffered as they watched their ranks diminish. This is another good personal account of a famous battle; these tend to be the best, and we need them to fill in the blanks for future generations. A worthy addition to any history library.

I found this book to be very readable. It has an easy flow from beginning to end that keeps your attention. The author is a good story teller. He includes rich details of his memories of individual personalities he met along the way, as well as vivid descriptions of the battle as he experienced it. This is another good memoir of the struggle for Iwo Jima. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this campaign from the perspective of the soldiers who were there.

Nightmare on Iwo should be required reading in our high schools. So many take so much for granted, ignorant of the sacrifices that bought their comfort today. In plain-spoken terms, Caruso tells the story of Iwo Jima from the perspective of a junior line officer left wounded on the field of battle until two ammo bearers happened upon him and carried him to the safety of a field hospital. From that point, Caruso pieces together the accounts of others there while he recovered. Decades later, he would translate the mind-boggling casualty rates at Iwo into human terms, one Marine at a time. Though not a book of grand military strategy, most readers will have their eyes opened by this author's description of things like the Japanese soldiers' tunnel network beneath the island's surface, and American efforts to seal their fate. I know of no finer tribute to the skill and sacrifice of the American fighting man than this account. As only one who was there could, Caruso makes this tribute all the more powerful by never glorifying war. B.K., author of "HEROES or Something"

Nightmare on Iwo by Patrick F. Caruso--I promised my friend before he passed, the son of the author, that I would read this book. I'm so glad that I did! The book arrived in near mint condition and on the day promised. A great read...Nightmare on Iwois a truly engaging and amazing experience. Thanks to Patrick's wife for keeping his notes! Definitely a suggested read.

I recently lost my father who served as a US Marine in the Pacific in WWII. Although he was not in the battle at Iwo Jima, since his passing I have come to become more familiar and appreciate the sacrifices and hardship his generation endured during WWII. I find myself reading as much as I can about the events he and his comrades took part in and I recommend this book above all others to anyone with a desire to learn more about this generation. I could not put this book down. It should be mandatory reading for all students old enough to learn about what these men endured on this tiny island. Sempher Fi....

An unbeleivable story. A personal account about the battle of Iwo Jima told with great humility and an obvious love for America. The highlight of this story is when Caruso was shot in the chest, and his life was saved by a bible placed in his breast pocket, A picture of which is shown in the book.