Their Backs against the Sea: The Battle of Saipan and the Largest Banzai Attack of World War II Hardcover – Illustrated, June 27, 2017

I have completed another classic history of the second world War. Always a great story that is not like the usual war story. Colonel of Army did this, never anything about the young Marine or the young soldier who did the job after every one else was dead or wounded. A nice touch to remember war is a young man's game. Highly recommended for anyone interested in WW2.

Having read the other 7 previous reviews, you'd think this historical account isn't worth your time.I think that's the wrong attitude. I am NOT a student of the War in the Pacific. Amazon recommended this book to me: "Hey. You bought THAT book. Now buy THIS book." I had not heard of Bill Sloan. (Apologies to Bill Sloan) I love history, and this is an area I'm not readily familiar with, so, nothing to lose.I didn't know that, as readers, we were supposed to be thrust directly into the night/s of the banzai attack. I very much appreciate the build-up throughout the time on Saipan. The gut-punch of of landing with the Marines kept me turning the page. BECAUSE of this book, I have turned my attention to further learn about Saipan, Tinian, and the rest of the Pacific Theater.Think of the book as a springboard for those curious enough to continue down the rabbit hole of knowing more. To easily dismiss it for readers like me, who aren't as familiar as others are, bypasses the stories of veterans who haven't had their voices heard.

Although I appreciated the personal narratives that the author included in this book, overall it is little more than a rehash of so many other books that have come out over the years on the Mariana Islands campaign. It is too bad so few publishers bother to vet books before they are accepted for publication. Even a lot of university presses fail in this regard.I won’t duplicate a list of errors noted by other reviewers, but will add a few comments regarding other problems I found with the book:On page six, the author refers to the native Chamorros as having been used as slave labor. This may have been true to a degree during the months prior to the American landings in June 1944, where even school children were used to build a fighter strip. However, overall (and this comes from the many oral history interviews I did with native Chamorros and Carolinians, who lived there in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and after) the Japanese Mandate period was a time of relative prosperity compared to the Spanish colonial period, and the short-lived German colonial period. The Japanese electrified the islands, and leased land from local owners in order to grow sugar cane, tapioca, and other crops. The Japanese also provided free education and employment. Furthermore, the majority of Japanese, Okinawan and Koreans who came to the Mariana Islands were civilians, not military, and they came for reasons of economics—mostly in the field of agriculture. More importantly, most of them came to stay and make the islands their home. Some converted to the Catholic faith, married into the local culture, and contributed in a variety of ways to improving life.A photo of naval fighter pilot, Alex Vracui, the author notes that he was the Navy’s “ranking ace.” He was for a brief four-month period before being shot down by ground fire over Luzon Island in the Philippines. After that, other naval aviators surpassed him in the number of enemy aircraft shot down.On page 156, the author, when talking about the Gyokusai, notes that “the attacking Japanese forces, headed south from the village of Makunska, travelling through what they called Paradise Valley to reach US forces. But the Americans had a much more fitting name for it: The Valley of Hell.”First, having lived on Saipan for five years, the village of Makunska is close to the beach, while Paradise Valley is slightly inland of the village. That is to say that if they had marched from the village into Paradise Valley, which is a cul-de-sac, they would have missed the battle entirely. Second, according to my sources, the Marines called it Paradise Valley, and the Japanese on the receiving end of Marine artillery and mortar fire, called it The Valley of Hell.On page 190, the author refers to “Suicide Cliff” and “Banzai Cliff” as one in the same, and that they/it drop(s) off on to coral outcroppings and into the ocean below (depending on the tides). Suicide Cliff, which is over 800 feet high, drops to a plain that stretches for several hundred yards to where Banzai Cliff is located. In other words, we are talking about two different locations, not too far from each other, where civilians jumped to their deaths.On page 202, the author refers to some 20,000 civilian deaths without giving any details or even a footnote to indicate where he came up with this number. According to my sources, there were an estimated 10,000 civilian Japanese, Okinawan and Korean civilian deaths. Add to that number, many more who were lost aboard ships sunk by American submarines as they fled the islands prior to the landings.On page 204, the author refers stragglers on Saipan that held out for “more than a year.” Actuality, there were some who managed to hide out into the early 1950s, not only on Saipan, but other islands in the Mariana chain. Twenty-one such holdouts on Anatahan, to the north of Saipan did not surrender until the early 1950s.Bruce m. Petty, author of, Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War.

A great book, maybe the definitive work on the taking of Saipan and Tinian. Most of the narrative is based upon the reminiscences of Marines and soldiers who fought in the campaign, and which makes for a more compelling story as opposed to a distanced third party retelling. The taking of Saipan and Tinian was probably the most important island taking in the Pacific Theater, even though the losses on Iwo Jima and Okinawa would be more horrendous and therefore were made more mythic given the passage of time. The author has also written books on the battles of Okinawa, Wake Island, and Corregidor and Bataan that are also must reading for anyone interested in WWII in the Pacific Theater. I am surprised the prior reviews on this book did not give it an unconditional 5 stars.

REGARDING "1941 FIGHTING THE SHADOW WAR...", I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR IT. TWICE I ORDERED THE AUDIO CD EDITIONI AND TWICE I RECEIVED THE MP3, WHICH I AM UNABLE TO PLAY. YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK ON THE LISTING. IT MAY BE MISSMARKED. THIS IS MOST UNFORTUNATE AS THIS SUBJECT AND PERIOD HAD BEEN THE CORE ELEMENT IN MY LECTURES. I HAD WANTED TO SEE THE NEW RESEARCH AND, IN TRUTH, CHALLENGE THE AUTHORS CONCLUSIONS WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCES. TOO BAD. SHOULD AN EROIR IN LISTING HAD BEEN MADE, PLEASE CORRECT AND REST ASSURE I SHALL REORDER.REGARDS,R.C.CHAPPELLE

The stories of the participants were very good and he added their backgrounds. However, that presented a problem because he didn't distinguish between what was happening on Saipan and what happened earlier on Tarawa. One of the 2nd Marine Division mentions hiding all night under a pier and if you didn't know better, you'd be scratching your head. That happened at Tarawa, not Saipan. So, if you aren't familiar with that battle it would be easy to misunderstand.The parts describing a lot of the Saipan battle have been covered long ago, but his descriptions of the the fight in Death Valley and the big Banzai charge are pretty good. I learned several new things.Large number of errors in discussion of the atomic bombs that other reviewers have covered. The coverage on the invasion of and aftermath on Tinian leaves a lot to be desired. You can stop reading after Saipan is secured and skip a lot of misinformation.

good book about the trials of men fighting for life and liberty. Sad what happened to them