Saipan: Japan's Defeat in WWII and the Impact of the Battle

Umberto: the author provides a very detailed and highly readable account of the Saipan battle of WWII. He gives details of many marines' and soldiers' experiences including detailed descriptions of their fates on saipan. it is a remarkable book that gives a clear cogent telling of the history and progress of the battle and the stories of many individual marines, soldiers and sailors. it is unusual to have both in a single book done so well. I also have a big interest in the American Civil War. the Civil War is often compared to WWI , but i found many similarities in this book to Civil War battles such as Spotsylvania, Antietam, and Gettysburg. I found similarities between Saipan and the bloody cornfield of Antietam, the Horseshoe of Spotsylvania, and Little Round Top at Gettysburg. I did not expect to read about WWII marines and GIs making direct charges against dug in Japanese positions in open fields with no cover, but they did it over and over again. there was little regard for casualty rates in the Civil War or on Saipan. The descriptions of fighting in Saipan's Death Valley reminded me of the Valley of Death at Gettysburg. Fighting in mud and rain like Spotsylvania. Bodies piled on...

United States on May 11, 2023

grejmuck: My father landed on Saipan (D+7) and served in the army Signal Corps there, so I felt compelled to learn more than he was able or willing to tell me. The book contains a large number of detailed descriptions of what the young men on the fighting lines endured in order to take the island. It also describes the inter-service squabbling within the US leadership that did little to help the effort.

It is not a book for those with a weak stomach.

United States on Apr 18, 2023

Amazon Customer: Good account off the fighting during this savage offensive. A real anti war account

United Kingdom on Jul 23, 2021

WryGuy2: Occurring only 9 days after the invasion of Europe in Normandy, the US Marines invaded Saipan (an invasion often called the D-Day in the Pacific). Expecting to take the island in only a few days, it took three grueling weeks, which also saw the Marine V Amphibious Corp commander, Lt. Gen Holland M. (Howling Mad) Smith controversially relieve a US Army General (Ralph Smith) for a perceived lack of aggressiveness (in actuality, it was probably a combat doctrine difference between Marine and Army combat philosophy.) Marine casualties were very high, especially for such a short period of time, while Japanese casualties were near total, confirming to the Americans that the Japanese would typically fight to the death rather than surrender. The battle was important, as by securing Saipan (and the other nearby Mariana islands, such as Guam and Tinian) as it provided bases in the Pacific from which US B-29's could attack the Japanese homeland. (The nuclear bombings were also later launched from Tinian.) The research is impressive, the writing both lucid and entertaining, and the book does a great job of covering this titanic struggle. If you're interested in WW II in the Pacific, this book...

United States on Apr 03, 2021

I. D. Hopwood: A fantastic book about a crucial invasion

United Kingdom on Jul 26, 2020

D Wang: Great book!

I’ve read several other books on the Saipan battle, including Harry Gailey’s ‘Howlin Mad’ vs The Army; Victor Brooks’ Hell Is Upon Us; and, Harold Goldberg’s D-Day In The Pacific. Also served five years at Camp HM Smith where Holland Smith is considered something of a deity (one walks by a larger than life size bust of HM Smith when entering FMFPAC Headquarters). I thought I was pretty knowlegible about both the battle and the controversial firing of Major General Ralph Smith. With that background I found James Hallas’s Saipan to be the best of the bunch. The author does a masterful job of providing a “big picture” perspective while at the same time giving the reader a Marine/GI level view of the battle (which was absolutely horrible). I also found coverage of the Holland Smith – Ralph Smith controversy to be fair and probably accurate – the 27th Division wasn’t especially aggressive and did have battalion and regiment leadership issues but at the same time Holland Smith was unlikely to be satisfied with much of anything the Army did on Saipan (and had his own leadership shortcomings). Highly recommended!

United States on Mar 13, 2020

Mr.F.J.Surridge: Good book

United Kingdom on Sep 27, 2019

Jeffrey T. Munson: In June 1944, American forces had their sights focused on the Marianas islands. Located about 1,500 miles from Japan's major cities, these islands would be used as bases for the new Boeing B-29 heavy bomber which could strike Japan's most important cities.

The first island to be invaded was Saipan. Enemy resistance was heavy, as Marines from the 2nd and 4th divisions encountered bunkers, pill boxes, and other fortifications. The invasion started a month-long odyssey that would result in thousands of American casualties as well as the almost complete destruction of the defending Japanese forces. Names such as Purple Heart Ridge and Death Valley would become entrenched in the lore of this battle.

Author James Hallas does a good job of describing all events in the battle, including the Marianas Turkey Shoot, where over 400 enemy planes were shot down, to the severe losses suffered by the Japanese navy in terms of shipping. Also discussed is the great "Smith vs. Smith" controversy where Ralph Smith, an Army general, was relieved by Holland Smith, a Marine general, for "lack of fighting spirit" by his division. There are many recollections from men who actually fought in...

United States on Jul 25, 2019