Guam (The Battle for an American Island in World War II) - 9780811776899

From the award-winning author of Saipan comes the definitive account of one of World War II's most brutal yet overlooked battles—the American reconquest of Guam, where 20 days of combat would claim over 18,000 mostly Japanese lives and mark another important turning point in the Pacific War.

Drawing from extensive archival research and firsthand accounts, James H. Hallas masterfully reconstructs this pivotal 1944 campaign that transformed a Japanese island fortress into a vital American base for the final push toward Tokyo.

Experience the harrowing invasion through the eyes of the Marines, soldiers, and sailors who fought there:

• The devastating pre-invasion bombardment that pounded Japanese defenses for 13 straight days
• The bloody beach landings where frogmen teams led the way through murderous fire
• The desperate Japanese counterattacks that sometimes inflicted 50% casualties on American units
• The brutal combat through jungles, swamps, and cave networks in suffocating tropical heat

With the same gripping detail that earned his previous works critical acclaim, Hallas weaves together strategic overview with intimate human drama, from the commanders who planned the invasion to the frontline troops who executed it. This meticulously researched narrative stands as the authoritative history of a battle that helped secure ultimate victory in the Pacific.