Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific

The HBO miniseries "The Pacific" has stoked interest in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, but more importantly, it has introduced many to some of the finest accounts of combat ever put on paper (E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" and Robert Leckie's "Helmet for My Pillow"). R.V. Burgin's "Islands of the Damned" is a fine companion to the above-mentioned books. What makes Burgin's book worth the read is simple ... he's one of the dwindling number of World War II Marines alive that can still tell his story.My first introduction to R.V. Burgin was while watching the prologue to each episode of "The Pacific" that included brief but somber interviews with nameless grandfatherly men telling us what they experienced during the war. One gentleman in particular spoke of Peleliu in a stern and quiet manner that I found particularly mesmerizing. It wasn't until the end of the 10th and final episode that he was finally named: R.V. Burgin. He'd been portrayed in the series all along, as E.B. Sledge's sergeant and had more prominent roles in the final few episodes. When the credits revealed his "Islands of the Damned" as contributing to the miniseries, I had to buy it.More often than not, the fighting in the Pacific takes a back seat to the glory of Allied soldiers liberating historic European cities. However, the Pacific theatre arguably includes some of the most savage and intense combat of the entire war, including the Eastern Front. R.V. Burgin's personal account of his war experience echoes the brutal nature of the Pacific War as well as the misery the Marines endured and the bond that kept them together through it all. His story starts from childhood and carries on through the war to his current life in Texas (a perspective that the Leckie and Sledge books do not offer). His book reads exactly like he spoke in "The Pacific" prologues ... short, simple and effective sentences with no superfluous artistic drama added ... not that any is needed. Reading Burgin's book created an aura of sitting on a couch and listening to my grandfather tell stories of his youth. We're not only presented with the chaos, death and misery on places like Peleliu and Okinawa; we get a glimpse of his experience before and after the combat, aboard troopships and on the infamous island of Pavuvu. A major presence throughout the book is that of Florence, the woman he met while on leave in Australia (before he shipped off to Peleliu) who would become his wife after the war. The angst and pain experienced during a two-year courtship that ultimately depended on Burgin surviving Peleliu and Okinawa adds a point-of-view not common in many of the memoirs I've read. Additionally, I was left with the impression that Burgin's wartime experience had a less traumatizing effect on his life after the war (unlike E.B. Sledge), but then again, different people process horrible events in different ways."Islands of the Damned" is a lot like the books that veterans of Easy Company wrote following "Band of Brothers" in that Burgin adds clarity and a different perspective to the miniseries storyline (such as Burgin being wounded on Okinawa). His recollection of events are presented clearly and in a humble fashion ... even the action on Okinawa that earned him a Bronze Star is somewhat downplayed. As with most of these World War II veterans' recollections, the credit is always given to the men serving with them ... Burgin upholds this tradition. I see value in most veteran's memoirs, especially now that so few are left to tell us about their role in such an amazing historical event ... R.V. Burgin's story is definitely one that holds value.

We as readers have the most unique opportunity to read about the life of a Marines who served in three of the most brutal combat marathons and were in the same squad; by reading the "Islands of the Damned" AND "With the Old Breed". I encourage you to read both - one right after the other. Join the authors as they reveal their thoughts, relationships, hopes and nightmares as the two men caught in the same hell, yet tell us their stories that reflect their different natures and individualities. Burgin, a salt-of-the earth Texan, who grew up like many at the time, from very simple means... come through in his presentation style. Sledge, a son of a doctor, highly educated (in that era) an avid note taker and a very gifted writer, his prose is excellent from Mobile AL, provides the details and writing style that have made his book if not the best narrative of any WWII book, certainly in the top 2 or 3.Islands of the Damned is the excellent book, R.V. Burgin is a man of the ground and a tired and true Texan through and through. It is that natural richness that comes through in his writing style that is so grounded and matter-of-fact. I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet, speak and listen to Mr. Burgin on two recent occasions, once at the National Museum of the Pacific at the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, TX and at the Navy League in Austin, TX. Reading Islands of the Damned is like sitting on the front porch of Mr. Burgin's home in central Texas and hearing him tell you his story.A simple style of a solider that experienced some of the most horrific battles that any US soldiers have faced in the history of our country. Being in a battles, confined to a very small area, against an enemy that was trained to be very brutal, had a fanatic sense of duty to die for the honor of his family and the emperor, was like a cage match were only one comes out alive. Mr. Burgin writing style is that salt-of-the earth of a boy who grew up in rural Texas, worked the land and did what he had to do to stay alive. The leadership and wisdom that won him the respect of his fellow Marines, those who served under him as well as above.Burgin's storytelling presents a soldier who tells us, " I lead others, I fought, I slit other mens throats, and wanted to survive to marry the girl of my dreams and live the America life". Sledge provides a different maybe more emotional, internalized, self analysis and refined story of the life of the solider, confined for over month's long time in battles more savage than anything experience before or after by American troops.Read both this summer.... thank every veteran you meet... and if you have the chance to visit with anyone who served in WWII.... well you will be better for the experience.

The writing is great and straight forward. It's history we mustn't forget.

Great book - one of a few from K/3/5 Ist Marine Div and only 2nd to Gene's.

Le memorie di R.V. Burgin sono di una qualità eccellente. Ovviamente non è un'opera letteraria al pari di "Helmet for My Pillow" o "With the Old Breed" ma resta un libro piacevole da leggere dove possiamo capire come la vita di un comune ragazzo ventenne venga completamente sconvolta e cambiata dalla Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Burgin descrive in modo molto dettagliato gli eventi che gli sono capitati dall'addestramento fino alla conclusione della battaglia di Okinawa; veramente bello il finale. Lo consiglio a tutti gli appassionati di storia e non, è un memoriale che dopotutto fa riflettere.

This book was a great read. Anyone who has watched “The Pacific” should give this book a whirl.

Not quite as intense as Eugene Sledge's testimony -though maybe I might be biased because I got my hands on that one first, so I knew what to expect this time- but still a very powerful read. A bit more "individualistic", more like an autobiography of sorts than a war memorial; as in it doesn't just drop you on the scene of war, and it doesn't stop at the war.Also, it's fuzzier on the details and a bit more "mitigated" on some things, in comparison... possibly because of a difference on views and characters (or possibly editors).Still, it was amazing to recognise happenings and little details that occured with both men there to see, and how the two different account matched the same events, despite describing them with different eyes.It really brings you in on these mostly untold stories; and it gave me even more awareness and respect of the times and lives described.