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Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific | 
 enlarge | Author: Larry Smith
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $7.45
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Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 47036
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.5
ISBN: 0393062341
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.542528
EAN: 9780393062342
ASIN: 0393062341
Publication Date: May 19, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Brand New!!!
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Product Description
The men who fought and survived the deadliest battle of the Pacific come to life in this powerful oral history.
On February 19, 1945, nearly 70,000 American soldiers invaded a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific. Over the next thirty-five days, approximately 28,000 soldiers died, including nearly 22,000 Japanese and 6,821 Americans, making Iwo Jima one of the costliest battles of World War II. Best-selling oral historian Larry Smith dug deep for exclusive stories from Iwo Jima veterans, including the last surviving flag raiser on Mount Suribachi, a Navajo "Code Talker," a retired general, two Medal of Honor recipients, B-29 flyers, and other die-hard Marines who secured the island. Along the way, Smith investigates the controversy surrounding the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal and presents the groundbreaking story of Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, rumored to have committed suicide rather than submit to capture. With dozens of photographs and maps, Iwo Jima is an unprecedented look at this pivotal battle and an inspiring study in courage, perseverance, and humanity. 50 photographs, 2 maps.
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| Customer Reviews:
"Old men forget, yet all shall be forgot but he'll ... August 19, 2008
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
remember, with advantage, what feats he did that day."
Shakespeare was prescient with respect to 22 men who participated in this great battle, at least if they have an superb reporter like Larry Smith to listen to their stories and record their memories. Smith interviewed 22 men who were teenagers during that battle, "all in their eighties now." Somehow these 22 men -- and Smith -- make their memories fresh and true.
The book is divided into seven sections, each section focusing on from two to five participants. Throughout, Smith emphasizes four main themes: "the landing, the raising of the flags on Suribachie; the at times seemingly hopeless attempt to conquer the rest of the island; and the arrival of the B-29s, which had been one of the two major objectives of the invasion."
In the end though, Smith focuses on the stories of the 22 heroes of his book: "it is a series of snapshots offering a glimpse into the lives of twenty-two men who took part in various aspects of the conflict and how they have fared since. Their stories speak for themselves."
The words speak. The photos from 1945 speak. The recent photos speak.
Read and look. You won't be able to forget the "feats they did that day."
Robert C. Ross 2008
Superb collection of personal histories July 1, 2008
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
Author Larry Smith says it himself in his introduction: "This book does not presume to offer a definitive account of what has been called the thirty-six days in hell of Iwo Jima . . . Rather, it is a series of snapshots offering a glimpse into the lives of twenty-two men who took part in various aspects rof the conflict and how they have faired since."
It is a remarkable and remarkably well done effort.
Smith groups the twenty-two stories into seven topical sections, each dealing with a specific aspect of the battle, except for two which deal with the aftermath and the use of Iwo Jima as a base for fighters and emergency landing field for B-29s flying back from bombing Japan.
Smith is both an excellent interviewer and writer. He truly does let each of the veterans speak for themselves and tell their stories. What is a bit unique in Smith's approach is that he lets the veterans tell of their experiences on Iwo Jima and their lives since then.
It is sad in a way to see the contrasting photographs for most of these men as they appeared when young and in their warrior prime and now when they are in their eighties and nineties.
It is good that Smith reached these men before they passed taking their stories with them. It was a different America back then, an America when young men were willing to give their lives in the name of freedom. Smith doesn't ask these veterans for their opinion of today's American society.
Several of the men received major awards for valor. Almost all received the Purple Heart, the medal signifying that the holder was wounded in combat.
From the pre-invasion jitters to the post-conflict burying of the dead by the graves registration unit, Smith and the veterans recall the battle. Pilots who flew after Iwo Jima was won tell their stories as well.
All in all, a unique and well done collection of personal histories and well worth reading.
Jerry
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