Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific
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- ISBN13: 9780451229908
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
An unvarnished and moving memoir of a Marine veteran who fought his way across the Pacific Theater of World War II-whose tale is featured in the upcoming HBO(r) series The Pacific
This is an eyewitness-and eye-opening-account of some of the most savage and brutal fighting in the war against Japan, told from the perspective of a young Texan who volunteered for the Marine Corps to escape a life as a traveling salesman. R.V. Burgin enlisted at the age of twenty, and with his sharp intelligence and earnest work ethic, climbed the ranks from a green private to a seasoned sergeant. Along the way, he shouldered a rummage though as a member of a huge gun squad. He saw friends die-and enemies killed. He saw scenes he wanted to forget but never did-from enemy snipers who tied themselves to branches in the highest trees, to ambushes along narrow jungle trails, to the abandoned corpses of hara kiri victims, to the final howling banzai attacks as the Japanese embraced their inevitable defeat.
An unforgettable narrative of a young Marine in combat, Islands of the Damned brings to life the hell that was the Pacific War.
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As a high school student, the Viet Nam war kind of loomed on my horizon. My father’s generation faced WWII head on. His is called the Greatest Generation. Decades after WWII a few of the Greatest are left telling their experience. Not one piece of this history should ever be lost.
Ernie Pyle was in Europe. His war correspondences are a treasure to read. He made a hero of every American GI. But the best accounts of what our fathers and uncles veteran in the Pacific war are told by persons engaged in the battles.
Mr. Burgin tells us his tale, pre-war through post-war. His perspective is real; first person as a participant, not an observer, historian, or literary. (Can a history professor tell you how fantastic a pest a land crab or coconut can be?) Through all the horrific experiences, dread beyond dread, courage beyond courage, sacrifice beyond sacrifice, his hope and like endured. Guess how long it took to get his Austrailian girl to the U.S. after the war. Here’s some history I hadn’t read before.
This is one of the few books I’ve read in recent years that I counld’t place down. I read it from my Kindle, but I recommend getting the hard copy. The maps aren’t readable on Kindle II.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Have you ever watched Tim Allen’s ancient show, where he is Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor? Remember the hardware store scenes? Well, we have a Barber Shop in my town that is frequented by a bunch of retired cops and retired Marines, including a couple of WWII and Korean veterans. The barber shop has been owned and operated by the same man for 50 years, so this is a place where everyone truly knows your name. I’m really one of the kids in the group, having enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1964. There’s a half dozen or so Vietnam era vets like me that come in, so I don’t feel too terrible about being a kid among the Ancient Salts. Any way, we sit around the ancient pot belly oven, drinking coffee, maybe having a donut, and telling a tale or two, while waiting for a haircut (or not). Even the guy in the barber chair manages to keep up with the conversation. This book, Islands of the Damned, reads like one of our barber shop tales. No Gung Ho pep talks, just matter of fact conversations of things that happened. I read this book in two evenings, which just shows that I couldn’t place it down. Thank you, Sgt. Burgin !!
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Personal account of both a warrior/gentleman’s practical view of the horrific Pacific War conflict, in which he fought. Though Burgin comes across as a by-the-book Marine, he also shares his inner thoughts and on occasion, steps outside the box to fix issues(such as an incompetent commander)that saves lives. Touches on the everyday inconveniences, that we all take for granted now. Very simple and enjoyable to read.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
R.V. Burgin’s book is a must read for persons who are interested in a first hand account of some of the hellacious Pacific Battles. Burgin did an brilliant job detailing his first hand experiences in some of the Pacific battles. He meshed the battles nicely with the USMC life in between the battles on Pavuvu.I painstakingly loved this book and I am so glad that I bought it. This is a certain keeper for my book collection! The book was a very quick paced read that left me with chills at times. I have also read Leckie’s, Helmet For My Pillow. With all do respect to Leckie, read Burgin’s account if you are looking for more information about the actual battles.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
The soldiers in WWII went through HELL and the book helps place you in the middle of the action. Recommended reading for history and battle fans. Helped me follow the TV series.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5