25 Best World War II Sites Pacific Theater (Greenline Historic Travel) [Paperback]

Chuck Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Greenline Historic Travel | Publication Date: December 1, 2002

Follow the footsteps of history with the world's first and only comprehensive guide covering the entire Pacific Theater. Directions to everything from jungle relics and city museums to landing beaches and hallowed battlefields. More than 500 individual points of interest and detailed histories. With maps of all sites and more than 40 color photos. In-depth travel information and Insider tips. Accommodations close to major sites and spectacular beaches. Never before documented sites. For the casual traveler or dedicated war buff, this unique, all-encompassing guide is an essential part of any trip to Asia or the Pacific. Meticulous, up-to-date research makes getting to sites easy, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the beaches and other fabled attractions of some of the most beautiful islands and vibrant cities in the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Breathes life into museums, monuments and battlefields. -- The Oregonian

Impressively researched. -- WOR, New York

More than just a travel guidebook--a worthy addition to your history library. -- pacificwrecks.com

Perfect planner for a foray into the front lines. -- Maxim

The definitive hip-pocket book. Never been done before. Don¹t go to any of these places without it. --KKCS, Colorado Springs

About the Author

Chuck Thompson is the author of The 25 Essential World War II Sites: European Theater and the travel memoir Smile When You re Lying. He is the former editor in chief of Travelocity magazine and features editor of Maxim magazine, and his writing and photography have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Esquire, National Geographic Adventure, Playboy, Reader s Digest, The Los Angeles Times, and many other publications and on television, including MTV. Originally from Juneau, Alaska, Chuck has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Pacific.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Greenline Publications; 1 edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966635264
• ISBN-13: 978-0966635263
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #852,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Requried reading for historic travel buffs., December 16, 2002

By 

Roger Migdow (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 25 Best World War II Sites Pacific Theater (Greenline Historic Travel) (Paperback)

Chuck Thompson has done an excellent job in THE 25 BEST WORLD WAR II SITES, PACIFIC THEATER of informing and recommending, to war buffs and casual travelers alike, the best World War places to see including Pearl Harbor on Oahu, the route of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines, and the original Bridge on the River Kwai in Thailand.

Hundreds of points of interest are revealed in the book, and Thompson provides comprehensive directions for each site, including detailed maps, guides to hotels, insider tips and photos of the sites.

This was the first book I've read by Chuck Thompson and I am definitely interested in checking out some of his other work because of the throughness of his research and the objective tone throughout.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference for Travelers, Historians, June 9, 2003

By 

Justin Taylan (Hyde Park, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 25 Best World War II Sites Pacific Theater (Greenline Historic Travel) (Paperback)

Ever consider traveling to the real Pacific battlefields of WWII? If so, this is the essential travel and history reference for 25 of the best sites in the 20 million square miles of the Pacific theater. As this book proves, even for those who only dream about travel, it is still an impressive reference to the history and sites today.

25 Best Pacific Site
Author Chuck Thompson draws from his vast travel experiences to present the best sites of the Pacific. He begins the book by explaining the criteria for rating the 'best' sites of the Pacific, by three equally important criteria: historical significance, the amount of attractions at a give site, and finally on its merits as a travel destination (services, natural beauty, desirability). Although subjective, it is a excellent rating system. That includes Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Battan, Tokyo, Tarawa, Saipan, River Kwai, China, Alaska, Hiroshima, Corregidor, Singapore, Peleliu, Marshalls, Guam, Okinawa, Leyte, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, Manila and Nagasaki, to name a few. The final chapter covers North American Pacific WWII sites - including museums and memorials, and general details on auxiliary sites that are more difficult or expensive to get to, such as: Burma, Indonesia, Eniwetak, Midway, Wake and Iwo Jima.

Travel Guide Reference
A chapter is devoted to each of the 25 locations, complete with sites of interest and detailed maps. A one to five 'star rating' system rates each site, in terms of its interest level. Although all sites are important, the star system helps travelers with limited time, or budgets choose what they will want to see. Also, Thomoson draws upon his own travel experiences and suggests the ranges of time required to see the WWII sites - everything from a single full day in some locations, to several days in order to reach all sites.

Well Known & Obscure Location Details
Each chapter covers a wide range of both well known sites, and more obscure ones. For instance, in the Ohau chapter, the natural importance of Pearl Harbor Memorial is fully detailed, but also, lesser known sites, like the "Natsunoya Teahouse" where Japanese spy Takeo Yoshikawa conducted much of his surveillance of Pearl Harbor. Also, lesser known and out of the way sites, like the barracks, airfields and forts of signifigance. Each details any special permissions, limited access, contact information, entry fees and other related information.

More Than A Travel Guide
Author Chuck Thompson has done more than just write a travel guide book, in the traditional sense of the term. Each chapter begins with an informative, concise and well researched historical summary of each of the 25 best sites. Also, a list of suggested reading & references related to that location, that includes history books, veteran memoirs and reading.

For those that dream of exotic Pacific travels, and even those who have already been to some of the 25 best sites, this guide book come highly recommended, and a worthy addion to your history library too, for prespective on the wartime sites today. After completing the book, any reader will be tempted to travel to one, or all 25 of these sites - as soon as possible!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, January 23, 2003

By 

lynnkoliver (Bishop, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 25 Best World War II Sites Pacific Theater (Greenline Historic Travel) (Paperback)

Chuck Thompson has compiled a great book on World War II sites in the Pacific. After living in the Phillippines and visiting several of the sites described in his book, I can definetly state that the descriptions in this book are 100% accurate. This is a must have book for anyone travelling in the Pacific.