Operation Iceberg : The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II [Mass Market Paperback]

Gerald Astor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

A unique re-creation of one of the century's most decisive battles--the terrible, four-month conflict that preceded by a scant eight weeks the Japanese surrender on V-J Day.  Operation Iceberg, as it was known, saw the fiercest attack of kamikazes in the entire Pacific Theater of War.  The U. S. fleet suffered severe losses: 34 ships sunk, 368 damaged, 5,000 sailors killed and 5,000 more wounded.  Before the Japanese, with a garrison of 100,000, finally surrendered, 7,700 American soldiers were killed and 31,800 were wounded.



In Operation Iceberg Gerald Astor draws on the raw experience of marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen under fire, from generals and admirals to correspondents, line officers and enlisted men on both sides of the battle lines.  Their accounts are dramatic and graphic, brutal and awe-inspiring.  Based on these first-hand accounts, and presenting a view of the battle that places it in the greater context of the entire Pacific theater, Operation Iceberg  is a remarkable account of the last great battle of World War II.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

On April 1, 1945, a combined Army-Navy-Marine force landed on Okinawa for what turned out to be the last major battle of WWII. In Astor's panoramic overview, nearly 100 American and Japanese survivors recall the fighting, each voice bearing out the author's contention that "the savagery of combat on Okinawa over a period of three months epitomized war at its worst." By June 20, 1945, General Simon Buckner's Tenth Army had conquered the island, though Buckner himself had been killed two days before. Statistics alone convey the epic scale of the battle: 12,520 American and 110,071 Japanese killed; 763 U.S. and 7700 Japanese planes destroyed. In this first-rate account of the tactical ebb and flow, Astor (Battling Buzzards) brings into focus the bitter rivalry between the Army and Marines during the campaign. And he incidentally tells the story of the last days of Ernie Pyle, the war's most celebrated correspondent, including details of Pyle's little-known sojourn with the Marines. Pyle was killed by a sniper on April 18, 1945. Photos.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

On this 50th anniversary of the battle of Okinawa (April to June 1945), we can expect an avalanche of titles about this last major battle of World War II. Okinawa was an epic amphibious-air-sea-land battle the likes of which may never be seen again. The conflict raged for 83 days; 13,000 Americans and 100,000 Japanese perished. Kamikazes sank 34 and damaged 361 U.S. vessels. Both Astor and Leckie are experienced military historians who tell their stories in the words of participants. Astor interviewed numerous veterans and compiled a masterful account of the battle as seen through the eyes of both American and Japanese survivors. He explores the history, training, and morale of the army and marine divisions and demonstrates why each was bound to succeed or fail. On the other hand, Leckie has written a "Monarch Notes" version of the battle that tells us nothing new. For the best history of the Okinawa campaign, readers should consider James and William Belote's Typhoon of Steel: The Battle for Okinawa (1970).?Stanley Itkin, Hillside P.L., New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Dell (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440221781
• ISBN-13: 978-0440221784
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for anyone whose father fought in the Pacific, January 18, 2001

By 

Kathy (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Iceberg : The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II (Mass Market Paperback)

My father was a member of the 77th Division which fought in the Pacific. He never talked about the war and I have always been interested in learning more about how he survived. This book is a MUST read for anyone whose father fought in the Pacific, especially on Okinawa. It is not a history lesson as other books are, but actual memoirs of the soldiers who fought there. You are even given their names and brief biography. You hear and read so much regarding the D-Day invasion and how terrible that was but after reading Operation Iceberg, you will come to understand how much worse the fighting in the Pacific was. I find it hard to believe that anyone came home unwounded from those battles, but they did, including my father. My knowledge of World War II has been greatly expanded after reading Mr. Astor's book. Thank you, Mr. Astor, for writing this book and for giving me some insight into what my father lived through.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its Like You Are There, February 9, 2000

By 

Shogun Len "tokieyasu" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Iceberg : The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book about a great and important battle. Astos is a master of oral history. This book will make you think you are on the battlefield. If you like military history, this is a book for you. If you want to know why we used atomic bombs on Japan, then you need to read this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Oral History, March 12, 2005

By 

Air Force Member (Fort McPherson, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Iceberg : The Invasion and Conquest of Okinawa in World War II (Mass Market Paperback)

Operation Iceberg is a masterwork of the oral history approach to telling a story. Astor ably edits and arranges the various oral accounts into a quick-paced, yet comprehensive account of a rather complex and important battle. Astor has collected inputs from Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen who were there and made victory possible. But the accounts would be nothing if they weren't arranged into a pattern that the reader could follow. Astor does that, and provides his own brief narrative to fill in any gaps that the oral accounts have left. As a result, the book becomes a text on the Battle for Okinawa and not just a collection of personal reminisces.