Customer Reviews

One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa

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Most of us live 76 hours with little thoughts of danger, but as readers of this book will quickly find out, the 3 days the U.S. Marine 2nd Division spent on Tarawa atol, and especially Betio, was just about the most dangerous place a person could ever be.

Several people have said, including the two commanding generals of this operation, that next to Iwo Jima, Betio was the most fortified war zone they had ever seen. In fact General Smith said he had never experienced anything in WWI to compare to how the Japanese had fortified the island. The commanding Japanese Admiral Shibasaki, later killed in the battle, expressed his opinion just prior to the battle that "A million men cannot take Tarawa in a hundred years." Several thousand Marines from the 2nd Division at great cost would soon prove the Japanese admiral wrong.

The U.S. Navy bombarded the island prior to the landings, but not as much as the Marine generals would have liked. However, after the battle, it would be seen that no amount of shelling would have been able to destroy the defending Japanese troops, they were just too well fortified. In the end, it took the combined efforts of the U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, and the air force to take and hold, as Robert Sherrod said, an island no larger than 1 square mile.

I served with the Navy & USMC so this book immediately caught my attention, though I have two others on the subject, also. My opinion after reading this heart rending book is that it very well may be the best of recent times, and may be the best of any future books on the subject. The author has written a very readable book, whereas some books of military subjects are not; and he has built his book not only on individuals that were there, but also on their statements today, 60 plus years after the battle. And as anyone who has read this book can testify, two of the main characters in the drama: the activities of Gene Seng and Charles Montague may never be forgotten. Along with Stanley Bowen, Norman Hatch, William Hawkins, and William Chamberlin, among many others, their heroics will be forever burned into one's mind.

Out of the thousands of Japanese who defended Tarawa, only 17 lived past the battle; while the American losses were 1,027 killed, 2,292 wounded, and 88 recorded as missing. On Tarawa's D-Day the losses of the Marines were close to the 30% range, out of 5000 landed, the losses were 1500.

This Central Pacific island saw much hand-to-hand fighting with bayonet, KaBar knife, and close in shooting. The only way to dislodge the Japanese from their spider webs and pill boxes was with explosives and flame throwers. Snipers existed all thoughout the battle, and even after the island was considered 'secure' fatalities from snipers still occurred by the burial details. The Marines were at times very surprised to see Japanese standing well over 6 feet in height, for these Japanese were special naval landing forces much on a par with our Marines. There was no where to run, no where to hide, and for a large part of the battle we were at times close to being thrown back into the sea. It got so bad that towards the end no prisoners were taken.

Much went right by training and luck, and more went wrong; with both the Navy and Marines learning from this battle. Since it differed from the earlier Guadalcanal fighting both USN/USMC were surprised at it ferocity and casualties. One of the main issues during the critical hours of the battle was logistics: supplies, especially ammo could not reach the Marines due to tides and reef. Later when such a necessary item as water made it ashore in 55 gallon drums, it was discovered that the drums, used prior for gasoline storage, were not properly cleansed so the water both tasted and smelled of gasoline.

This is such a fact filled book that a reviewer could almost seemingly go on forever, but this review is long enough. I give this book a high rating where military and line of departure books are concerned. One doesn't have to have served to read this book and come away with a feeling what it was like to be on Tarawa for three days in November, 1943. And sadly the American public of that time was kept in the dark about the battle and did not find out what WWII island fighting would be like until weeks after the battle.

Semper Fi.

Tarawa was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Pacific War. The Marines' successful invasion set a precedent for amphibious assaults to come -- including Normandy, seven months later -- and provided the Allies with a crucial staging area for the drive on Japan.

It's a wonder why Tarawa is not better remembered today. The ferocious three-day battle resulted in nearly as many casualties as SIX MONTHS of fighting on Guadalcanal.

John Wukovits brings the horrors and heroics of Tarawa to a new generation of readers. Like Stephen Ambrose, Wukovits relies on vivid, first-person accounts to describe the harrowing amphibious landing and the vicious, close quarter combat that followed. Wukowits offers up some of the most engaging writing on warfare I've ever encountered, surpassing even Ambrose.

In late 1943, Tarawa was not without its controversies. The high death toll had some people questioning the strategic necessity of taking the atoll as well as the tactics employed in capturing it. TIME correspondent Robert Sherrod wrote a highly acclaimed book about Tarawa in part to rebut criticisms of the campaign and bolster home-front morale. Can you imagine a journalist with such motivations today?

The battle's aftermath also saw Frank Capra direct an Academy Award-winning documentary, using footage shot by Norman Hatch, a cameraman who, like Sherrod, accompanied the Marines in the Tarawa campaign. Both Hatch and Sherrod are central players in Wukowits' excellent book.

I don't think there'll ever be the perfect Tarawa book, that combines all the technical/human interest/personal experiences! It's like waiting for the 'next Dr.J' or 'next Hendrix!' But this one is the best so far for combat & 'before the war' stories. I was thinking, everyone has worked on cars & chased girls, why not put in more vet's stories. Maybe there's not that many Tarawa vets around anymore willing to open up - all of them need to, for the generations to come.
So, you'll want to add this to your Tarawa collection, along w/ Alexander's 'Utmost Savagery' for the technical, Hammel's '76 Hours & 'Bloody Tarawa' for the whole story & photos, Wright's 'Hell of a Way to Die' for the cover photo (!) and Sherrod's 'Story of..." for the reporter's view , along with the official Marine/Battery Press 'Battle of Tarawa.' Read about REAL American heroes and the toughest foe America ever fought, & defeated with little outside help!!

This is one of the best, possibly the best, accounts of battle that I have ever read. By being the first amphibious landing against an entrenched enemy, the success of the Tarawa operation paved the way for continued success in the Pacific theater of WWII. It conveys a belief that the writer was actually there.. Particular individuals are followed throughout the account; some survive, some do not. It is a heartbreaking but inspirational story. Highly recommended for those interested in the war in the Pacific.

Well researched and written. It was especially meaningful for me because my older brother fought and was wounded at Tarawa. He was in the 1st Bn, 8th Marines that came ashore on D+2 and had to wade in across 800 yards of the lagoon because there were no more Amtracs to take them in. The Navy coxswain of his boat panicked and said this is as far as I go. When he dropped the ramp the Marines stepped off in to 15 feet of water (the Higgins Boat had a draft of only 4 feet!). My brother went right to the bottom, but he was a good swimmer. He dropped all his gear and came to the surface. With only the clothes on his back and his helmet on his head he started wading in toward the battle. Some of the men in his boat never came to the surface. He made for the pier and when he reached the seawall he picked up a rifle and ammo from a dead Marine and got back into the fight. He was wounded the next day.

My only criticism of Mr. Wurvitz's book was the short narrative he gave to that second day of carnage when the Marines of the "Hollywood Eighth" waded ashore through the lagoon. That day and the courage of those Marines as they kept coming through the withering Jap fire is a story all its own.

As a career Marine I'm frequently critical of war books written by those without a military background (though that's no guarantee of a good book). John F. Wukovits obviously doesn't have a military background, or at least not much of one. He has written on what I consider to be some embarassingly trite topics (Ben Affleck, Miley Cyrus, etc) in addition to many hard-hitting, serious books. However, that being said, this was a great book. It's not a military history study and doesn't go into tremendous detail on strategy, preparations, logistics, etc, although he does address those topics. His focus is more on individuals, their contributions, and their sacrifices than the overall tactical and strategic picture. In a few places he confuses regiments with battalions (8th Marine Regiment becomes 8th Battalion, of which there is no such thing), but I think there were only two instances of this and one typo mispelled word. Those minor issues aside, Wukovits does an outstanding job of bringing individuals to life and documenting their lives, deaths, and the legacy left to their families. He also specifically addresses some issues on the home front that don't get much attention, like the affect of labor union strikes on morale, the detached indifference of many Americans to the real war being waged thousands of miles away, and the general consesus amongst civilians at home that Tarawa was a tragedy rather than a great victory.

Being born and raised in San Antonio, this book is that much closer to my heart as some local heros are featured in great detail. This book was difficult to read at times as it is heartbreaking to see the suffering and sacrifice of so many and for so long. Freedom is not free, but the price for freedom has a name, a face, a family and a legacy. Wukovits does an outstanding job of paying homage to individuals, 2nd Mar Div, and the families that still suffer from loss over 65 years ago. I highly recommend One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa.

Being a former Marine and Central Catholic graduate this book has a special meaning. It brings to light the sacrifices made by Americas young men at the time, and describes in detail the conditions that the individual Marines lived through daily. When I bought this book I expected to get a better understanding of why the island of Tarawa was so important, and I got that and more. I submit that it should be required reading at Central Catholic for the students there now, and or for all young High School students. The only thing missing in this book is the odor of the battle field, however it is described in graphic detail. A must read for any True American.

I think that "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge, is the best WWII book ever written. In my opinion, "One Square Mile of Hell" is second best. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Military History.

Based upon the The Ratings and Reviews of this book, I figured I would broaden my knowledge of the WW2 battles most Americans dont often hear of. Battle of the Bulge, Normandy, Midway We all hear about and rightfully so.
Tho I am ashamed being an American I never heard of the Island of Tarawa and its contibution to victory against Japan in the Pacific.

I must say It was a great read, altho horrific in how Men lost and how they sacrificed there lives for their country.
The books details on the Marines approach to the island could make you break out in a sweat. It was so intense and brutal.

I am sad to say I dont think we will ever see this kind of courage and dedication in the USA again.
The Men of WW2 were one of a kind and to this I am grateful. For those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so others could appreciate freedom.
To all those who served as well, Thank You!!
Freedom isn't Free!
READ this BOOK America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peruse all the technical manuals, strategic narratives and overall battle histories you'd like. Then a book like "One Square Mile of Hell" comes along and takes you to the inner hearts and minds of those who participated in the fullest measure of devotion to their country and it's people, and the cause of Freedom. Measures of devotion that took them to places like Tarawa, where dreams of the future can be so quickly and terribly whisked away. To know the childhoods, lives and aspirations of the men who waded ashore applies an emotional attachment you cannot deny upon learning their fates or futures. Their story, so tenderly and eloquently put by John Wukovits, will move you to tears.