Semper Fi, Mac: Living Memories Of The U.s. Marines In Wwii [Paperback]

Henry Berry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 1996

Semper Fi, Mac brings to life the Marines of World War II -- the tough, battle-trained troops who stormed the beaches of Bougainville, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa -- in some of the bitterest and bloodiest fighting of the war. Compilied from over seventy-five interviews with surviving officers and enlisted men, these powerful firsthand accounts give us a soldier's-eye portrait of the Marine Pacific war experience -- the camaraderie, the women, the loneliness, the fear -- and the profound emotional as well as spiritual rewards that resulted. Former machine gunners, riflemen, mortarmen, and engineers share the horrifying and humorous stories that defined their days in the Pacific. Through this filter of recollection, one truism is reflected time and again: "there is no such thing as an ex-Marine." A tour-de-force that pays tribute to the spirit of the nation's premier fighting force, Semper Fi, Mac is a multifaceted portrayl of men, war, bravery, honor -- and, as "The Marines' Hymn" so proudly proclaims, fidelity to the military tradition that inspired them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Henry Berry, a World War II Marine, is the author of the critically acclaimed Make the Kaiser Dance. He lives in Darien, Connecticut.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (October 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688149561
• ISBN-13: 978-0688149567
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #990,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about the Marines by a Marine for the Marines., March 7, 1998

By 

Stephen L. Poirier (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Semper Fi, Mac: Living Memories Of The U.s. Marines In Wwii (Paperback)

Henry Berry's 'Semper Fi, Mac" is an oral history of the Marine Corps in the Pacific in World War II. Berry interviewed about 75 Marines who had fought in some of the toughest battles and places in the Pacific. There is a rough chronological order to the interviews but most of the stories start on or about Dec. 7, 1941. The stories most of the men tell start with either this date or shortly before, coupled with with some background material, their training, the trip to the Pacific, and then their personal experiences in combat. There is misery and death, heroism and tragedy, but overall a sense of comradeship comes from every story. Berry sprinkles his work with humorous tidbits of Marine history and stories about famous Marines, such as Chesty Puller, the only Marine to win five Navy Crosses. Also there are sections on Marine lingo and a brief historical synopsis of the Marines' Pacific battles. Berry himself was in the Marines near the end of the war and gives a proper perspective of all events and personalities. But this book is about the men who fought and died on such places as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Its their book, their story, their history, and it should never be forgotten.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all!, December 6, 2001

By 

Will "eaglebill" (N.Y.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Semper Fi, Mac: Living Memories Of The U.s. Marines In Wwii (Paperback)

This books title sums up the story inside. Every Marine's story in this book carries a similar thread. They were scared as hell in combat but never regretted joining the core. Mr. Berry, (a WWII Marine himself, which is probaly the reason they opened up so much to him) brings a personnal story from every Marine battle during the war. The confusion and deprivation of Guadalcanal, the bloodbath of Tarawa, the Japanese suicidal frenzy of Saipan, the slaughter of Peleliu and Iwo Jima up to the conclusion at Okinawa. It is all here: death, disease, and destruction; all first hand accounts told by tough Marines. It is amazing any of them survived, yet 75 of them share there memories here in short personnal histories. These men are remembered here for their supreme sacrifice so many years ago.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough combat detail, September 4, 2008

By 

Calliopeguy (Mankato, Mn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Semper Fi, Mac: Living Memories Of The U.s. Marines In Wwii (Paperback)

Most of the book involves biographies of officers rather than the enlisted grunts. There was a lot of information on who commanded what unit, other officers they knew, and higher command info that was extremely boring. It seems like the majority of the writing is about the pre-war homelife of the individuals, including where they went to school, their marriages, where they worked, etc. I was hoping for detailed combat information about the Pacific war, but the majority of this book will keep you looking someplace else.