Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Imperial Japan Going Down






Joseph Wheelan’s Midnight in the Pacific: Guadalcanal--The World War II Battle That Turned the Tide of War is a detailed history of this vital campaign. Wheelan is skilled at marshaling the facts of the battle, and informing his readers of its great human cost.  Reading this book really brings home the reality of sacrifice necessary to fight a war against such a determined enemy.

Historically, Guadalcanal was another nail in the coffin of Imperial Japan’s fight against America.  After Pearl Harbor, Japan failed to deliver the US a knock out punch.  In the war of attrition that followed, from Midway to Guadalcanal and onward, Japan could not replace its losses, while America could; Japan had crested with Midway and Guadalcanal, while America was just revving up its war effort.

But this victory came at a great cost and suffering, and Wheelen will make you appreciate this element to a great degree.

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