Island Infernos

The US Army's Pacific War Odyssey, 1944

By: John C. McManus

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

In Fire and Fortitude—winner of the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military History—John C. McManus presented a riveting account of the US Army's fledgling fight in the Pacific following Pearl Harbor. Now, in Island Infernos, he explores the Army’s dogged pursuit of Japanese forces, island by island, throughout 1944, a year that would bring America ever closer to victory or defeat.

“A feat of prodigious scholarship.”—The Wall Street Journal • “Wonderful.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch • “Outstanding.”—Publishers Weekly • “Rich and absorbing.”—Richard Overy, author of Blood and Ruins • “A considerable achievement, and one that, importantly, adds much to our understanding of the Pacific War.”—James Holland, author of Normandy ’44

After some two years at war, the Army in the Pacific held ground across nearly a third of the globe, from Alaska’s Aleutians to Burma and New Guinea. The challenges ahead were enormous: supplying a vast number of troops over thousands of miles of ocean; surviving in jungles ripe with dysentery, malaria, and other tropical diseases; fighting an enemy prone to ever-more desperate and dangerous assaults. Yet the Army had proven they could fight. Now, they had to prove they could win a war.

Brilliantly researched and written, Island Infernos moves seamlessly from the highest generals to the lowest foot soldiers and in between, capturing the true essence of this horrible conflict. A sprawling yet page-turning narrative, the story spans the battles for Saipan and Guam, the appalling carnage of Peleliu, General MacArthur’s dramatic return to the Philippines, and the grinding jungle combat to capture the island of Leyte. This masterful history is the second volume of John C. McManus’s trilogy on the US Army in the Pacific War, proving McManus to be one of our finest historians of World War II.

McArthur’s (and others) egotisms.

It amazes me how people in command can so easily sacrifice the lives of their soldiers to their own self aggrandizement. As I say this, I’m also keenly aware that this type of behavior has been the bane of the common soldier for several thousand years. Enough cannot be said of the people that have taken up arms against oppression.

Very through historical source

How knowledgeable the author is and how detailed the book is from start to finish

Great Book Save One Issue

John McManus is an incredible writer and historian. “Island Infernos” is a tale that tells itself in its ferocity. So many infamous battles are covered and through the wonderful lens of the Army. Sadly the army’s reputation was trashed during many island campaigns. McManus redeems Ralph Smith and so many others who got a bad rap. Well done. The only issue is inserting current day woke-Esau’s updates that aren’t necessary. He states upfront exactly how he feels about all things deemed unacceptable today to ad nauseum. But the work speaks for itself and any extra rambling can be oh noted. Excellent. And exceptional narration.

Excellent, incisive and compelling

This book, and series, does a wonderful job of bridging the divided between strategic, operational, and tactical realities of the Pacific Theater while making it a interesting and enjoyable book to listen to.

Enthralling

Good historical narrative. Powerful storytelling and very informative. Just bought the next one! McManus is a great historian!