Synopses & Reviews
A book worthy of any Marine's coffee table, or that of fanatics of things that are simply Marine. . . . One viewing of Hammel's book is worth a thousand of anyone's tellings.—Leatherneck Magazine
Even in as bloody and bluntly violent a war as Americans encountered in the Pacific, Iwo Jima was in a class by itself, the ultimate expression of death and mayhem. Relying upon a purely attritional strategy of “defend-and-die,” Iwo’s Japanese commander oversaw the construction of thousands of concrete bunkers, pillboxes, blockhouses, and other fighting positions as well as multistory underground command centers and barracks, some as deep at seventy-five feet.
By D-day, February 19, 1945, most of these formidable defenses had been interconnected by eleven miles of underground passageways. Manning these positions were twenty-three thousand Japanese army and navy troops, many of them elite veterans of combat in the Pacific and China. Hundreds of mortars, artillery pieces, and rocket tubes had been painstakingly preregistered, allowing them to hit virtually any spot on the island with their first shot.
Hammel has done his homework. His text, enhanced by several pages of maps, sets the stage for the battle and records its progress in considerable detail … Iwo Jima provides a single source for much detail—text and pictures—of that faraway conflict and should be included in the library of anyone interested in what has become a memorable time in the American experience.—Naval History
Following a seventy-four-day air and naval bombardment that the American high command believed had put the bulk of the Japanese defenders at least temporarily out of action, two veteran regiments of the 4th Marine Division alongside two regiments of the newly formed 5th Marine Division—eight battalion landing teams in all—led the way toward the island. Aircraft, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers pummeled ground targets near and far from the landing beaches. As the first wave of Marine-laden amphibian tractors climbed ashore, nearby gunboats fired hundreds of rockets to suppress enemy fire. Then Marine Corsairs strafed the ground just behind the beaches.
This book is as close to the battle as you can get without being on the island.—Marines Magazine
Nothing happened. There was no return fire. No Japanese fired at the ships offshore, nor at the oncoming waves of amphibian tractors, nor at the Marines. Shortly, when the nearly eight thousand newly landed Marines had stopped along the shoreline to regroup, every Japanese gun and mortar within range opened fire on the exposed invaders. The gunfire did not die for thirty-four of the bloodiest days of the Pacific War.
The shots of Marines under fire, wounded and dead are particularly evocative, especially following the sobering pictures of hardened Japanese defensive positions. Just as important: Hammel’s straightforward essay and his revealing captions, which filigree detail around the pictures, deepening their visceral resonance yet anchoring them in research. . . . [T]he book is beautiful, powerful and stuffed with information.—World War II Magazine
Eric Hammel is a critically acclaimed military historian and author of more than thirty combat histories, including several on the U.S. Marines in World War II. He lives in Northern California.
Review
World War II, October 2006 “Without the right words even the most powerful pictures can lie. Witness the iconic flag raising photograph and its tangled trail of misrepresentations…Eric Hammel understands that, so this is far more than just a picture book—although it’s magnificent as that too. “Built around 500 incredible photos, including stills from motion picture footage, the elegantly designed coffee table tome takes us from shipboard to beaches and into tangled lines of engagement. The shots of Marines under fire, wounded and dead are particularly evocative, especially following the sobering pictures of hardened Japanese defensive positions. Just as important: Hammel’s straightforward essay and his revealing captions, which filigree detail around the pictures, deepening their visceral resonance yet anchoring them in research. With detailed maps of every stage of engagement and topography and boxed-off reproductions of Medal of Honor citations, the book is beautiful, powerful and stuffed with information."
Purple Heart Magazine, December 2006
“The most complete photographic history of this iconic battle ever published, Iwo Jima contains photos and text woven together by acclaimed military historian Eric Hammel…The heroics that led to victory for the Americans are not only captured through the author’s text and photos from the depths of Marine historical archives, but in the descriptive details of extraordinary heroism contained in the included citations for the 27 Medals of Honor that were awarded to Marines and Navy Corpsmen for service in the bloody battle…Poignantly written and illustrated, readers and military historians will not be disappointed with this work…one of the finest pictorials of World War II.”
Review
Army/Marine Corps/Navy/Air Force Times, October 2006 “…Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle is a valuable addition to the catalog of books devoted to the bloodiest battle of the Pacific island-hopping campaign, one that features more than 500 photographs—including many never before published. “Where most Iwo examinations begin with the Feb. 19, 1945, amphibious assault and give the reader only a cursory glance at the bombing campaign that preceded the ground fight, Hammel examines the air interdiction effort that began in June 1944. Military history buffs will also appreciate his close look at the Japanese buildup on Iwo. “With hundreds of photos that bear close examination and essays that will satisfy those who already know the battle well, Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle is a welcome addition to any military history buff’s library.”
Leatherneck Magazine, December 2006 "Jam-packed with vividly crisp black-and-white images that so dramatically and brutally portray war, hundreds upon hundreds of graphic photos pop out at the reader in this high-quality, state-of-the-art, coffee-table visual history. No muddied photos allowed; all are as clear and as sharps as a ship's bell!...Iwo Jima is a book worthy of any Marine's coffee table, or that of fanatics of things that are simply Marine. Even those who don't bother with all of the text will still 'get it' from reading the captions accompanying the rich array of photos...One viewing of Hammel's book is worth a thousand of anyone's tellings."
Review
WWII History Magazine, January 2006 “...a visually stunning work.”
Naval History, April 2007
"Iwo Jima is well-produced, printed on high-quality paper that renders superior imagery … The pictures, probably the largest collection of Iwo photos to appear in a single volume, provide substantial detail on the battle. The old standbys are there, but so are many photos not seen before, the result no doubt of extensive research in military archives. Hammel’s captions are excellent. They are not mere descriptions of the obvious action, but provide information that embellished the basic text.
“Hammel has done his homework. His text, enhanced by several pages of maps, sets the stage for the battle and records its progress in considerable detail … Iwo Jima provides a single source for much detail – text and pictures – of that faraway conflict and should be included in the library of anyone interested in what has become a memorable time in the American experience.”
Review
World War II, October 2006 “Without the right words even the most powerful pictures can lie. Witness the iconic flag raising photograph and its tangled trail of misrepresentations…Eric Hammel understands that, so this is far more than just a picture book—although it’s magnificent as that too. “Built around 500 incredible photos, including stills from motion picture footage, the elegantly designed coffee table tome takes us from shipboard to beaches and into tangled lines of engagement. The shots of Marines under fire, wounded and dead are particularly evocative, especially following the sobering pictures of hardened Japanese defensive positions. Just as important: Hammel’s straightforward essay and his revealing captions, which filigree detail around the pictures, deepening their visceral resonance yet anchoring them in research. With detailed maps of every stage of engagement and topography and boxed-off reproductions of Medal of Honor citations, the book is beautiful, powerful and stuffed with information."
Purple Heart Magazine, December 2006
“The most complete photographic history of this iconic battle ever published, Iwo Jima contains photos and text woven together by acclaimed military historian Eric Hammel…The heroics that led to victory for the Americans are not only captured through the author’s text and photos from the depths of Marine historical archives, but in the descriptive details of extraordinary heroism contained in the included citations for the 27 Medals of Honor that were awarded to Marines and Navy Corpsmen for service in the bloody battle…Poignantly written and illustrated, readers and military historians will not be disappointed with this work…one of the finest pictorials of World War II.”
Army/Marine Corps/Navy/Air Force Times, October 2006 “…Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle is a valuable addition to the catalog of books devoted to the bloodiest battle of the Pacific island-hopping campaign, one that features more than 500 photographs—including many never before published. “Where most Iwo examinations begin with the Feb. 19, 1945, amphibious assault and give the reader only a cursory glance at the bombing campaign that preceded the ground fight, Hammel examines the air interdiction effort that began in June 1944. Military history buffs will also appreciate his close look at the Japanese buildup on Iwo. “With hundreds of photos that bear close examination and essays that will satisfy those who already know the battle well, Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle is a welcome addition to any military history buff’s library.”
Leatherneck Magazine, December 2006 "Jam-packed with vividly crisp black-and-white images that so dramatically and brutally portray war, hundreds upon hundreds of graphic photos pop out at the reader in this high-quality, state-of-the-art, coffee-table visual history. No muddied photos allowed; all are as clear and as sharps as a ship's bell!...Iwo Jima is a book worthy of any Marine's coffee table, or that of fanatics of things that are simply Marine. Even those who don't bother with all of the text will still 'get it' from reading the captions accompanying the rich array of photos...One viewing of Hammel's book is worth a thousand of anyone's tellings." WWII History Magazine, January 2006 “...a visually stunning work.”
Naval History, April 2007
"Iwo Jima is well-produced, printed on high-quality paper that renders superior imagery … The pictures, probably the largest collection of Iwo photos to appear in a single volume, provide substantial detail on the battle. The old standbys are there, but so are many photos not seen before, the result no doubt of extensive research in military archives. Hammel’s captions are excellent. They are not mere descriptions of the obvious action, but provide information that embellished the basic text.
“Hammel has done his homework. His text, enhanced by several pages of maps, sets the stage for the battle and records its progress in considerable detail … Iwo Jima provides a single source for much detail – text and pictures – of that faraway conflict and should be included in the library of anyone interested in what has become a memorable time in the American experience.”
Synopsis
Eric Hammel is a well respected military historian and the author of more than thirty works of military history, including the critically acclaimed Pacific Warriors: The U.S. Marines in World War II: A Pictorial Tribute; Chosin; and a multivolume history of Guadalcanal. He lives in Northern California.
Synopsis
Synopsis
Iwo Jima is perhaps the hardest won and most famous battle in the Pacific theater during World War II. The award-winning, iconic photo of Marines raising the American flag during the battle is remembered by millions as the symbol of how hard fought the victory was in the war.Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle: United States Marines in the Pacific takes this iconic flag-raising image one step further. In incredible duotone reproduction, over 500 photos taken by Marine Corps combat photographers during the battle are featured, including over 300 never-before-published that were discovered in Marine Corps archives by author and military historian Eric Hammel. The photos vividly recreate the battle, as it happened: the pummeling of inland targets, the strafing, and the rocket fire that accompanied the landing; the eerie silence that greeted the Marines as they set foot on the island; and then, as the newly-landed Marines regrouped on the shoreline, the horrors of all hell breaking loose. The book also includes detailed maps as well as profiles of each Medal of Honor winner from the battle - including the citation from the President to each honoree reproduced in its entirety that includes detailed descriptions of courage and valor under fire.The fighting on Iwo Jima--thirty-four of the bloodiest days of the Pacific War--comes to harrowing life in this volume, and this book is an instant classic in the genre and a necessary addition to any serious collection of World War II literature.
Synopsis
Iwo Jima is perhaps the hardest won and most famous battle in the Pacific theater during World War II. The award-winning, iconic photo of Marines raising the American flag during the battle is remembered by millions as the symbol of how hard fought the victory was in the war.
Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle: United States Marines in the Pacific takes this iconic flag-raising image one step further. In incredible duotone reproduction, over 500 photos taken by Marine Corps combat photographers during the battle are featured, including over 300 never-before-published that were discovered in Marine Corps archives by author and military historian Eric Hammel. The photos vividly recreate the battle, as it happened: the pummeling of inland targets, the strafing, and the rocket fire that accompanied the landing; the eerie silence that greeted the Marines as they set foot on the island; and then, as the newly-landed Marines regrouped on the shoreline, the horrors of all hell breaking loose. The book also includes detailed maps as well as profiles of each Medal of Honor winner from the battle - including the citation from the President to each honoree reproduced in its entirety that includes detailed descriptions of courage and valor under fire. The fighting on Iwo Jima—thirty-four of the bloodiest days of the Pacific War—comes to harrowing life in this volume, and this book is an instant classic in the genre and a necessary addition to any serious collection of World War II literature.
About the Author
Eric Hammel is a critically acclaimed military historian and author of more than thirty combat and pictorial histories, including the extremely popular Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle (Zenith Press 2006). He lives in Northern California.