Synopses & Reviews
A powerfully wrought WWII memoir by a member of the fabled 1st Marine Division depicted in HBO's "The Pacific."
Battleground Pacific is a dramatic “under the helmet” view of some of the worst action of the Pacific War, from the seldom-seem perspective of a rifleman at the point of attack.
Sterling Mace's unit was part of the so-called “K-3-5” (for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the fabled 1st Marine Division), famously depicted in HBOs “The Pacific,” as well as several bestselling accounts of the war. But this powerfully wrought memoir stands proudly with the best of all of them. Its filled with indelible moments, from his love of his oldest sister, who died of polio when he was four, to his run-in with the law that led to his enlistment. But mostly, this is a combat tale--as violent and harrowing as any that's come before. Mace traces his path to learning that killing another human comes just as easily as staying alive, and that bravery often equates to stupidity, leading to the death of close friends, but that life goes on, with death on its heels. Battleground Pacific will stand as one of the most important and entertaining memoirs about the Pacific theater in WWII.
Review
“Battleground Pacific is another great tribute to 'The Greatest Generation.' During much of the book, and especially the daily grind of combat, I found myself comparing Maces ordeals with those of my uncle, Sgt. John Basilone, the Medal of Honor hero from Guadalcanal. Both Mace and Basilone suffered the physical and mental hardships of battle and the frustration of the seemingly endless conflict with the enemy. Maces tale is written in the language of a grunt speaking for all the unsung heroes who lived and died in the Pacific. A good read from this Marines perspective.”
—Jerry Cutter, former Marine, nephew of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC, and author of the authorized biography of Basilone, Im Staying with My Boys
"Battleground Pacific is more than a book. Its a virtual minicam on a riflemans helmet, riveting home the sights and sounds of war in a realness you expect to find only in a movie theater."
—Bob Welch, co-author of Easy Company Soldier: The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from WWII's "Band of Brothers"
Review
“Engrossing account of the vicious combat encountered by U.S. Marines in the Pacific theater of World War II . . .Will appeal to fans of The Pacific or Band of Brothers.” —Kirkus
“Two years after enlisting in 1942, hes in the Pacific — invading the island of Peleliu with his K Company, 3rd Batallion, 5th Marines. You see the word ‘hero tossed around a lot these days, but Mace and his comrades were the real deal.” —New York Post
“Battleground Pacific is another great tribute to ‘The Greatest Generation. Maces tale is written in the language of a grunt speaking for all the unsung heroes who lived and died in the Pacific. A good read from this Marines perspective.”—Jerry Cutter, former Marine, nephew of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC, and author of the authorized biography of Basilone, Im Staying with My Boys
Synopsis
A POWERFULLY WROUGHT MILITARY MEMOIR BY A MEMBER OF WORLD WAR IIS FABLED 1ST MARINE DIVISION
Sterling Mace's unit was the legendary “K-3-5” (for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division) and his story takes readers through some of the most intense action of the Pacific War, from the seldom-seen perspective of a rifleman at the point of attack.
Battleground Pacific is filled with indelible moments that begin with his childhood growing up in Queens, New York, and his run-in with the law that eventually led to his enlistment. But this is ultimately a combat tale—as violent and harrowing as any that has come before. From fighting through the fiery hell that was Peleliu to the deadly battleground of Okinawa, Mace traces his path from the fear of combat to understanding that killing another human comes just as easily as staying alive. He learns that bravery often equates to stupidity, leading to the death of close friends, but also that life goes on, with death on its heels.
Battleground Pacific is one of the most important and entertaining memoirs about the Pacific theater in WWII.
Synopsis
A POWERFULLY WROUGHT MILITARY MEMOIR BY A MEMBER OF WORLD WAR IIS FABLED 1ST MARINE DIVISION
Sterling Mace's unit was the legendary “K-3-5” (for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division) and his story takes readers through some of the most intense action of the Pacific War, from the seldom-seen perspective of a rifleman at the point of attack.
Battleground Pacific is filled with indelible moments that begin with his childhood growing up in Queens, New York, and his run-in with the law that eventually led to his enlistment. But this is ultimately a combat tale—as violent and harrowing as any that has come before. From fighting through the fiery hell that was Peleliu to the deadly battleground of Okinawa, Mace traces his path from the fear of combat to understanding that killing another human comes just as easily as staying alive. He learns that bravery often equates to stupidity, leading to the death of close friends, but also that life goes on, with death on its heels.
Battleground Pacific is one of the most important and entertaining memoirs about the Pacific theater in WWII.
About the Author
STERLING MACE enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was stationed at Parris Island, Camp Lejeune, the Brooklyn Naval Yard, and then finally Pavuvu, before experiencing the toughest fighting the Pacific war had to offer, as a rifleman in K/3/5, at Peleliu and later on Okinawa. He was a consultant on E.B. Sledges book, With the Old Breed. He lives in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
NICK ALLEN is the son of a combat rifleman who served in Vietnam and has been interviewing combat veterans for most of his life. He lives in Bellaire, Texas.