quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
Helmet for My Pillow is good. Robert Leckie.

Yes, not completely about Guadalcanal but a great book for all ages. I always recommend it to tanagers as I don't want the memory of this horrifical battle to wane.

Those are all great books. Best book on the air war in the Pacific
is Fire in the Sky by Bergerud.

Not completely on Guadalcanal. However, the following book was the best account I have found on the "Long Patrol" that happened on Guadalcanal.

American Commando: Evans Carlson

If you're interested in the Japanese perspective, check out John Toland's 'The Rising Sun'. While the book covers the entire war, there was a good, and lengthy, section on the Japanese experience on Guadalcanal. The author doesn't try to paint them as victims or put them in a positive light. He just shows what the average soldier experienced, and how they suffered more than most people realize.

When I was a kid I didn't realize that as an adult I would absolutely crave knowing about the experiences that my father had gone thru in WWII in the South Pacific. Well, needless to say -> now it's too late to ask. I would strongly urge any of you "youngsters" out there to get your grandfathers (and in some instances your fathers) to share their memories with you. The day will come when you will be happy that you did so....FredT