Customer Reviews

"I'm Staying with My Boys..." The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This was, quite simply horrible, it purports to be a biography of one of the legends of the USMC, Gunnery Sgt. " Manila" John Basilone. Basilone was a machine gunner at Guadalcanal who was instrumental in breaking the back of the massive Japanese assault on Henderson Field on 24/25 October 1942. For his bravery and effectiveness Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor and sent on a War Bond tour. After the tour, Basilone was assigned to train Marines for later amphibious assaults. In 1945, he gave up his safe state-side training billet, demanding to accompany his trainees into combat. He was killed on the first day of the Iwo Jima invasion after single-handedly destroying a Japanese bunker that was pinning down his unit.

The book was not nearly worthy of Gunny Basilone. In the first place, somebody decided to write the damn thing in the "first person" as if Basilone himself were the author. Since everyman and his dog knows that Basilone died in combat, this is just creepy. Second, there is a lot of "mental explanation" in the book (the authors, one of whom is Gunny Basilone's cousin, probably chose the "first person" perspective so they could put this crap in the book), but it is largely stuff the authors had no way of knowing. Stuff like How Basilone felt about a particular girl back home, or how he ended a "friends with benefits" type of relationship he had with another woman.

The book in short on facts, but long on made up stuff about what GySgt Basilone was thinking or about how he felt, which stuff the authors have no way of knowing since the man has been dead for 65 years.

Don't be suckered by the blatant attempt on the cover to tie in with the new HBO. This book just sucked. GySgt Basilone deserves a better biography.

This is a very bad book. It is billed as "The Authorized Biography of the Legendary Marine Featured in HBO's The Pacific", but in reality should be sold as A Novel Based on the Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC.
As stated in previous reviews, the use of first person narrative is very wrong. Proser justifies this approach "based on hundreds of hours of interviews with people who knew John well and spoke with him frequently". But he does not give us any sources stating with whom and when he conducted these interviews, and the specific citations used from them. We are supposed to just take his word that these interviews took place and support his contention that this work accurately reflects Basilone's innermost thoughts and beliefs.
First person can only be legitimately used in autobiographies and novels. Since Basilone is dead this cannot be an autobiography, and so it is a novel.
The second major problem, again previously cited, is the constant and glaring mistakes in period facts and details. The authors should have used a good technical editor who knew the period detail to weed these out.
For example, one of many really bad mistakes can be found on page 266: "From the Army was Sgt. Schiller Cohen, the Navy man was Bosun's Mate Second Class Ward Gemmer and the Air Force threw in Machinist Mate First Class -which was their grade name for a pilot- Robert Creak".
Machinist Mate was, and is, a Navy grade for personnel who work with the power plants in ships. The Air Force has never used that grade and it certainly was not what they called pilots. Anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of the WW II military would have spotted this.
The military is in general very detail orientated, and the Marines particularly so. Military members judge their peers by how well they know their jobs, organizations, and equipment. If John Basilone had survived the war and written this book in the 50's or early 60's, these constant, basic, and glaring inaccuracies would have made him look like a fool to his then very numerous WW II peers.
Further, to me this book reads like a modern movie script that was not sold or be produced. The cover states that Proser is a "film producer" and Cutter is working on "documentary and feature film versions of his uncle's story". If this is true, by turning it into a hopefully successful book and tying it to HBO's The Pacific the authors could be trying to increase its chances of being made into a feature film.
Overall the authors did very poor research, and the editors' very poor fact checking, to produce this book. They were probably banking on modern readers not knowing, and/or caring enough, to expect accuracy in what they are reading.

It is interesting that Amazon asks whether one is over 13 years old when you are going to review a book here. I am sure a thirteen year old would LOVE this book. I know I would have if I were 13. It is just the kind of book I read back then (early 1960's) AND enjoyed.

I feel sorry thst the Basilone family could not find a better writer than Mr. Proser to write this book.

FIRST the attempt at first person NARRATIVE is off putting. Mr. Proser did not do enough research into actual military history, OR the history of the period to be able to pull his trick off. I find it outrageous (bordering on sacriligeious) that he felt competent to insert himself "into" the head of John Basilone- one of the Marine Corps' GREATEST heros.

Mr. Proser has a mighty high opinion of his writing skills that I do not share.

He mixes up facts, introduces wording/phrases that are not only incorrect for the period, but lifted almost directly from Hollywood "Marine" movies from the Sands of Iwo Jima to Heartbreak Ridge. He should be ashamed of himself.

He also makes the mistake, in trying to set scenes, of ascribing to Basilone information/knowledge he could not have known at the time that Proser has him saying them.

Second, when ANYONE writes military history, you need to have MAPS that allow one to understand the Strategic AND Tactical situation. This book is woefully inadequate in this department.

Someday, someone will write a definitive, respectful biography of this great American Warrior - THIS AIN'T IT!

With the HBO series "The Pacific" currently being shown on Sky here in the UK I have been reading a number of books trying to get a feel for the Pacific war and those featured in the series.

Having already read the superb "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge, I immediately looked around for a book featuring Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, who served with distinction during the Pacific war and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his exploits on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, October 1942 and after his death at Iwo Jima, 19th February 1945, was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Wanting to learn more about John Basilone I chose "I'm Staying With My Boys" by Jim Proser, a book which apparently is highly regarded by members of John Basilone's family.

Straight away I found it strange that the author has written this book in the first person, even though John Basilone died over sixty five years ago. Jim Proser apparently felt confident presenting the book in this manner after extensive research, learning much from the Basilone family and having access to information about John Basilone and letters he wrote during his life etc. Jim Proser also writes extensively about the thoughts and motivations John Basilone had, as though he had written them down before he died or had exclusive access to the mind of John Basilone. It simply felt very odd to me, after all who can really know the mind of another person?

In fact this book feels like reading a film script which has been converted into a book, a novel style book based upon John Basilone, as opposed to a serious history book considering the life and military career of John Basilone. The author Jim Proser admits at the start of the book that many of the experiences contained in the book cannot be verified, so there will be doubts naturally whether many of the experiences actually took place or are cases of exaggeration or outright fantasy.

But where this book really falls down is the way it handles historical facts. For example after the attack upon Pearl Harbor, December 7th 1941, the United States Government held back the full facts of the Navy's losses and they were not fully released until much later. But Jim Proser has got John Basilone writing/talking about the full losses at Pearl Harbor even though he could never have known about them fully because they would have been released after he died!

Then there are other examples which demonstrate that Jim Proser has only a tentative grasp of the events surrounding the war against Japan. On page 147 for example Jim Proser states: "The Japs had been stopped at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway where the Navy had fought them to a draw but they hadn't been turned back." Mostly total rubbish. At Midway the Japanese were planning the invasion of Midway but were taken by surprise by the US carriers. In the ensuing battle the Japanese lost four carriers and the US lost only one carrier - hardly a draw. Furthermore the Japanese were turned back from their proposed invasion of Midway, totally contrary to Jim Proser's claims.

On the same page Jim Proser claims: "The Japs were already bombing Point Moresby on the southern tip coast of New Guinea, and Australia's front door was left open. Her troops were with the British in Africa. They had no defence, except us." Australia had no defence? Not all Australia's forces were in North Africa and many Aussies were fighting alongside MacArthur's troops in the struggle against the Japanese. Indeed the efforts of Australia's finest fighting men were vital in pushing the Japanese back over the Owen Stanley Range in 1942, during the New Guinea campaign.

Personally I was so disappointed with this book, out of frustration I gave up about half way through. The book does contain some interesting facts about John Basilone's early life, but if it had been presented in some other way and if the facts could have been relied upon then it would have been a much better book. There are hardly any books on John Basilone currently available which is a shame, because his story is inspiring and provides a shining example to other young people today. Hopefully at some point a book will be produced which does justice to the life of John Basilone.

Sgt. Basiline does indeed deserve better, as several reviewers have noted. I am surprised and disappointed that the Basilone family would think it ok to have this book get their blessing. There is so much soap-opera-ish nonsense that cannot possibly be verified after all this time. It is written as if Basilone is speaking/writing the words, but he's not. Skip this tripe and stick with With the Old Breed and Helmet for My Pillow.

I would have to side with those who believes that a historical fiction disguised as a biography is not a very good way to go. This book tells the story of Medal of Honor winner, Sgt. John Basilone from a first person viewpoint, as if Sgt Basilone wrote the book himself, reflecting on his feeling, his outlooks, his choices and his motivations. All that is totally fictionalized since this brave Marine died at Iwo Jima over 65 years ago. Nobody would know what he was actually thinking or feeling back in those days, not even his own family.

If this book came out as a historical fiction, I would have no problem but it is touted as "authorized bigoraphy" on the book cover and the back cover stated that it was the only family authorized biography. I can see the James Brady's Hero of the Pacific did not get the family's blessing here. However, on the plus side, after filtering out the fictional aspects of this book, there is a lot of information relating to John Basilone, far more then James Brady's book.

One of the accolades in the back cover written by Colonel Ken Jordan stated that this book "seem so authentic". Probably for a historical fiction format, I think this book seem very authentic. But as a biography, there is too much free play with conjectures for any one take this book seriously. There are nice photos here in this book that wasn't available in James Brady's book but at least Brady's book didn't try to reinvent John Basilone by fictionalizing him.

Rarely has a Medal of Honor winner has been so poorly served by historians and others. It looks like everyone wants a piece of his legacy, thanks to that HBO mini-series, The Pacific that is currently running. If anyone is taking this "biography" seriously, I would recommend that you watch that HBO series as gospel on Basilone's life. Both been fictionalized enough to complement each other. As one of the previous reviewers wrote, this book is more like a movie script turned into a book, an ironic misfortune for Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone who deserves a better fate in history.

This is the life story of Sgt. John Basilone, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism on Guadalcanal and a true American hero. What makes this book strange is that it is written in the first person even though it is understood from the beginning that Basilone was killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945. The style and technique of this account of his life in no way diminishes his great contribution and sacrifice to this country but it was eerie to read his life story "in his own words" knowing that he has long ago passed on.

The first half of the book deals almost exclusively with his life before joining the Marines. It includes his early years in Raritan, New Jersey and through his Army career, part of which was served in the Philippines where he was known as "Manila John". This part of the book is somewhat tedious as it depicts a confused young man desperately trying to find his path in life. Many will relate to his fallibility and humanity as Basilone struggles with the competing impulses within him to find himself and settle down or continue to wander carefree and aimlessly through life.

The book picks up steam in the second half as he finally finds the meaningfulness in his life as a United States Marine. The many battles on Guadalcanal are capably described in this section along with the utter depravity and ghastly conditions on the battlefield. The author needed to do better research so he would know the difference between "The Slot" and "Ironbottom Sound".

Basilone resorts to his aimless and restless ways when transferred back to the States on a War Bond Drive tour and had to leverage his celebrity with senior Marine brass to wangle a training assignment back to the "fleet" with the newly formed 5th Marine Division. That assignment leads him ultimately to his untimely death on the black sulfur sands of Iwo Jima. While this book was at times both difficult and unsettling to read, it by no means detracts from the heroism and devotion to duty and to country that was the hallmark of Sgt. John Basilone.

John E. Nevola
Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

If you are interested in a personal story of WWII, then this is an excellent book. Rather than getting into the details of the conflicts this book focuses on the personal story of John Basilone - one of the handful of true American Heroes from WWII.

Written in the first person with an ample dose of personal details from his family, this book truly brings Manilla John back to life for many. I've been studying WWII for only 10 years and have read my share of the technical assessments of the important battles in WWII. This book stands out in my mind because it puts the reader in touch with the qualities of America's best young men and women of the 1940's; selflessness, courage, a supreme sense of duty, and in Basilon's case, a supreme sense of destiny.

Highly recommended for anyone with a passing interest in WWII, or for anyone who wants to learn about what made America's young people "tick" 60 years ago.

Author and Film Producer Jim Prosser has created a richly detailed, raptly written, devastatingly powerful book about the life of American War hero John Basilone. This book is especially pungent at this time in history because it revives a lost tradition of the country's view of maritime heroism. Since the atrocities of the Vietnam mistake to the present harrowing details of a similar (or worse) war in Iraq the concept of war is now very much in a negative light. Even the words 'war hero' seem an oxymoron, so strident are the feelings about America's latest aggressions. But to appreciate this fine book requires a return to the mindset of the US during World War II when not only was Europe under the vile threat of Hitler and Mussolini, but the Japanese warriors were annihilating China, Korea, and ultimately the Philippines in the mission to own the Pacific Ocean. And even in those early years the threat seemed frightening but distant until the Japanese successfully decimate the US Pacific Fleet on December 7, 1941. That incident unified the country, creating a fighting force and support system at home that eventually resulted in the defeat of the massive evil outside the borders of the USA.

Given that atmosphere of over a half century ago, author Proser has created one of the most convincing portraits of a military hero in literature. And the intensively researched and detailed approach results in a biography that fully restores the ambience of WW II. John Basilone was a nice Italian boy form Raritan, New Jersey, a lad who quit school to follow his recurring visions. He caddied for Japanese businessmen at a country club, seeing in his prophetic mind that at some day he would be at war with Japan. After trying multiple jobs he finally enlists in the Army, makes the best of boot camp by gambling and boxing, and is shipped to the Philippines where he spent time waiting, boxing (becoming a champion nicknamed Manila John), running a little bar with his Island sweetheart, and finally returning home. Frustrated once again with the boredom of work and the embarrassment of not having finished his education, Basilone finally returns to the military by signing on with the USMC, trains hard at Quantico, Cuba, and other US training camp swamps, and finally is shipped to Guadalcanal where his brilliance and dedication to his commanding officer ("Chesty" Puller) through one of the most devastating battles in the Pacific arena earned him not only the respect of his men, but also the Medal of Honor - the highest commendation offered by his country. Returning home form this mission he ride the waves of adulation form the American people, hobnobs with movies stars, sells War Bonds, and falls in love, only to be shipped out once again to the Pacific where he is killed in action in the battle for Iwo Jima.

The amazing (that is, ONE of the amazing) aspect of this book is that Proser has elected to write it in the first person of John Basilone. Everything is told as Basilone perceives it, lives, feels, and survives it. Rarely has a story been written with such clarity and perception: we truly feel that Basilone has written his memoirs. The language of the period is exactly right, the descriptions of the various battles and conditions of being a soldier under tremendously adverse conditions are vivid, and the soldiers' mentality of being in the thick of war are written with such bulls-eye focus that no matter what the reader's opinion of War might be, this book makes it all understandable form the point of view of the soldiers who fought. Some of the battle passages are tough to read: "On October 23, a light tank and infantry attack across the mouth of the Matanikau ran right into the teeth of Vandegrift's defenses. It was chewed up in short order with over 600 Japs killed, many of them trapped in a jungle clearing where US tanks just drove over them instead of wasting ammunition. They ground the poor bastards up like sausage under the tank treads until the entire clearing was covered in gore and left to rot in the sun." And a soldier's impressions: "We all heard a lot about the bravery of the Japanese soldier before we got on the island. They were supposed to be the most fearless warriors ever to fight. But I kept thinking what kind of bravery it was that sent them, one after the other, right into the same guns that mowed down dozens before them. I don't know if that was bravery. I don't know what it was. Either they were crazy or they just didn't care. So I didn't care either. They weren't even men anymore. They were dumb animals who wanted me dead and had killed all my friends."

Proser very cleverly weaves snippets of Iwo Jima from the opening of the book to its finish, which in an act of brilliance makes the whole story more pungent in retrospect. There is little doubt the Sgt. John Basilone was an extraordinary soldier and military hero along with the thousands of others who lost their lives in the incomprehensibly vast WW II. I think this is a very important book that everyone should read, and I say that as a pacifist, as a Vietnam Veteran convinced that war on any level is simply not an option. This book is vastly important, well written, and contains a story and moment of history we all should face and incorporate. And perhaps then we can all better empathize with soldiers form throughout history to the very present. Recommended without reservation!

No further points to add that has not already been said by the other 1 and 2 star reviews. There are far better accounts of Marines in the Pacific Theater available (e.g. Leckie, Manchester, Sledge . . .). It's too bad and would not recommend you spend your cash on this one.