Synopses & Reviews
Between late 1942 and early 1944, the Marines took part in a series of major campaigns in and around the Solomons--including New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester--all part of the effort to reach the Japanese at Rabaul. Eric Hammel has scoured the National Archives to unearth every extant combat photo of these campaigns that paved the way to victory in the Pacific.
Although the 1st Marine Division had broken the back of the Japanese on Guadalcanal in furious combat in October and November of 1942, there was still much hard fighting up the "slot" in the Solomons first in New Georgia, then Bouganville, and finally Cape Goucester on the west end of New Britain, where the 1st Marine Divsion returned to battle at the end of 1943 after being restored following its grueling fight for Guadalcanal.
The Marines campaigns in the Solomons and onto New Britain resulted in the mighty Japanese fortress at Rabaul on the northeast coast of New Britain being isolated and the flank of the continuing army campaign for New Guinea under MacArthur being secured from attacks from Fortress Rabaul. The high watermark of the Japanese in the South and Southwest Pacific had now passed, and the Marines would continue their island hopping in the Central Pacific all the way to Japan.
Synopsis
Photo history of the Marines in the Solomons, fighting to neutralize the Japanese fortress at Rabaul and paving the way to victory in the Pacific.
About the Author
Leatherneck Magazine, August 2008 "Eric Hammel's work is more than exceptional. He ties in his collected photos with a sage narrative that illuminates each shot. In an easy-to-understand package of words and photos."Midwest Book Review, July 2008
"Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor -- everyone knows of those battles, but there was much more to World War II in the Pacific. New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester is a pictorial history of these forgotten battles and the men who fought and died, only to be lost in the sands of time. Filled cover to cover with countless black and white photos and accompanying explanations, New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester is a top pick for community library photography and history collections."USNI Proceedings “The operation at New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester have, according to some, ‘been poorly documented.’ Hammel remedies this with a striking pictorial tribute to these South Pacific warriors. His first-class research adds much to this fascinating collection of photos.”Military Trader
"This book comprises the most complete collection of combat photos of U.S. Marine Corps operations in New Georgia, Bougainville, Cape Gloucester and Rabaul that we are likely to see, with photo reproductions of impeccable quality. These campaigns have not received the coverage of more 'glamorous' Marine Corps battles, such as Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa. Thus, this generaously illustrated work is a most welcome tribute, and treat."
Table of Contents
Contents
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
Glossary and Guide to Abbreviations
Maps
Chapter 1: After Guadalcanal
Chapter 2: The Central Solomons
Chapter 3: Bougainville
Chapter 4: New Britain Chapter 5: Rabaul