Guadalcanal: The First Offensive

by John Miller Jr

"" The First Offensive"" is a historical account of the first major offensive by the United States against Japan during World War II. The book, written by John Miller Jr., details the events leading up to the battle, the strategies employed by both sides, and the intense fighting that took place on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.Miller Jr. provides a comprehensive analysis of the military tactics used by both the American and Japanese forces during the six-month-long battle. He also delves into the political and strategic factors that influenced the decisions made by military leaders on both sides.The book is based on extensive research, including interviews with veterans who fought in the battle, official records, and personal accounts. Miller Jr. presents a vivid and engaging narrative that brings the reader into the heart of the conflict.Overall, "" The First Offensive"" is a gripping and informative account of one of the most significant battles of World War II. It is an essential read for anyone interested in military history, the Pacific theater of the war, or the strategies and tactics used by military leaders during this pivotal moment in history.United States Army In World War II, War In The Pacific. This Account Of The First Victory Over Japanese Ground Forces, Told At The Level Of Companies, Platoons, And Even Individuals, Demonstrates The Relationship Between Air, Ground, And Surface Forces In Modern Warfare.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, World War II, Military History

434 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 1983 reprint in hardcover, which I cannot find, and not the kindle.

This is a volume in the U.S. Army’s “green book” series that was produced after World War II ended. The series was written by professional historians who had wide-ranging access to materials. It was produced for a military audience, as well as the general public. Emphasis is on the subjects of logistics, planning, tactics, operations, and effectiveness/outcomes. Because it was published by the Army, ground and air operations dominate the text. Naval operations are briefly mentioned. Maps are top quality. The photographs are black and white. Some are difficult to make out. There are a couple of primary documents in the appendix. While it recounts some experiences from individual soldiers, it is not a foxhole-to-foxhole narrative. It is very informative and well worth reading.

[Blair A Ohler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Reading and History

There were several garbled designator a of units. At times I had trouble with Unit numbers, locations,and placement on maps. The book seemed to give a fair representation from several perspectives. Many names in this book correlated to those in other books I have read on the South Pacific campaign.

[Bill Lenoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Official histories don't have to be dry reading. This is an excellent overview of the ground war in the Solomon's campaign.

[John Budish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaudalcanal... The First Marines are the first in the Pacific

A great resource book... Full of great historical information on this vital American involvement in the War Against Japan. A n easy read... However lots of grammatical errors which hinder the reading... Needs a good Copy Editor ...

[Bill V · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an OK book. The book does focus on the ground combat, which is understandable since the subtitle does say, " U.S. Army in World War II". It is a bit odd the American Army would include this campaign since it was the U.S. Marines which carried out the initial invasion of Guadalcanal and was involved in most of the key initial battles of the campaign. The army, apart from air units, gradually built up its presence and eventually took over the campaign once the critical points were over.
There are several maps but almost all don't show many of the key points mentioned in the text, so it's a bit difficult to follow the narration. There are several interesting photos but this is not a great book. The subtitle notwithstanding, it could have focused more on all the of aspects of the campaign. All the facets (air, ground and naval) played important roles in the campaign and the book could have focused more on overall balance.

[John F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crammed with facts and somewhat boring writing of another era, it's still a good read. At Guadalcanal, the sun set on the Japanese Empire. The combat was intense and often continuous in a remote part of the Pacific. I recommend that Guadalcanal Diary be read concurrently to make things more interesting.