Customer Reviews

Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War

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I've always had an interest in the Pacific front and I find this book a wonderful edition to the previous books I have read. What I really like is the way the author brings in the personal stories. You can tell that Bruce Petty is a compassionate person who cares about the subject AND the people he writes about. I hope to see more work by this author and will definitely buy his next book.

Bruce Petty does a wonderful job of drawing people out and letting them tell their own stories about the battle of Saipan, which was one of the fiercest in World War II's Pacific Theatre. The narrators include both residents of Saipan whose peaceful existence was shattered by the war and American military men who came away from the fighting changed forever. All the survivors seem well aware that only blind luck separates them from those who perished. This book is a timely reminder that even a just war is truly Hell.

Very interesting book...

As host of Chamorro. com, I've received literally hundreds of inquiries re our Mariana Islands, Chamorro culture and tradition, our language and on and on. The Pacific War is of particular interest.

I find Mr. Petty's book very interesting and believe it is a good place to start. What better way to know about the past, even if it is only the recent past and only a small part of the past, than to hear about it from those who were there and in their own words?