US Infantryman in World War II (1): Pacific Area of Operations 1941-45

Osprey Warrior #45

by Robert S. Rush, Elizabeth Sharp (Illustrator), Ian Palmer (Illustrator)

This title deals with the experiences of the American soldiers who fought the Japanese across the Pacific islands, and the specific nature of this combat environment. It follows a hypothetical soldier, 'Michael', through his enlistment into and training with the 165th Infantry Regiment (New York National Guard). It takes him through the 1941 maneuvers the 27th Infantry Division participated in, the transfer to Oahu, and into the reality of daily life and combat in the Pacific theater from 1942 to 1945, including Makin, Saipan and Okinawa. It also looks at the PTO administrative procedures for replacements, and medical and psychiatric care of the ordinary soldier. Whilst the focus is on one individual, the experiences of the many are examined and woven into an intricate and meticulous narrative.

Genres: Military History

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2002

Reviews

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest take: US Infantryman in World War II (1): Pacific Area of Operations 1941-45 is better in theory than in practice. Robert S. Rush has a great setup and some sharp lines, but the follow-through is shaky and the ending left me shrugging. Still, I never hated reading it. Fine for a casual weekend read, not one I'd push on friends.