Pacific Alamo (American War Heroes)

Mesmerizing graphic descriptions depicting the valiant defense of Wake Island against the formidable Japanese, the horrific incarceration conditions, and, returning to the U.S. Rating of 4.5 STARS, due to repetition, especially concerning journalistic acclaim. President Roosevelt awarded the Presidential Unit Citation to the Marines.Clearly, hindsight minimizes complications and impossibilities, but, all civilians should have been safely evacuated immediately, as accomplished by Pan Am (p. 47). In fact, Pan Am's "Clipper" removed 40 employees from Wake Island (p. 65). As the Pacific Fleet had been decimated in the unexpected Pearl Harbor attack, military interagency/civilian coordination of the use of Pan Am planes to evacuate both civilians and soldiers might have succeeded. Moreover, on December 20, 1941, after 10+ days of the engagement, a PBY flying boat landed on Wake's lagoon and returned to Pearl Harbor the following day (pp. 125-126) . Hence, the possibility existed for air evacuation. But unfortunately, bureaucratic mediocrity reigned. So, nothing.Yet, the civilian and military combatants fought against overwhelming odds. A remarkable testimony of the Wake defenders.

Pacific Alamo by John Wukovits rates in the Top Four books on the defence of Wake Island. I am the great-nephew of Retired Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Cunningham, then Island Commander, and have collected material and books for over 24 years on the heroic events at Wake Island.Being a little biased, Wake Island Command, by Winfield Scott Cunningham, published by Little, Brown in 1961, is number 1 in my book. It was written with the assistence of Lydel Sims, but my uncle told me everything in the book was written by him and he took full responsibility for it's contents. He was always a gentleman and always gave high praise for the men (Marine, Army, Navy and civilians) that served under him during the defence of Wake.Number 2: "A Seige of Wake Island: Facing Fearful Odds, by Gregory Urwin, University of Nebraska Press, 1997 is the next greatest book. His well researched account, using over 70 personal interviews (including an interview with Devereux and Admiral Cunningham), comes the closest in the depiction of the events at Wake Island. The author and I disagreed on only one piont (the trap of December 11th), but everything else is exactly described. He even was able to confirm that the Marine Corp' went out of it's way to 'Blacken' the reputation of Navy Commander Winfield Scott Cunningham to make the defense of Wake Island a strictly 'Marine Affair'.Number 3: "A Magnificent Fight: The Battle for Wake Island" by Robert Cressman, Naval Institute Press, 1995 is 3rd on my Top Four list. His true to life depiction of the events at Wake Island gives you chills. The 'Devereax/Cunningham Controversy' is fully discused in the appendix and gives a fair and balanced view.Number 4: "Pacific Alamo" by John Wukovits now rounds out the top 4. His vivid details and personnal interviews bring out the whole truth of the events at Wake Island. I agree with every word of the book (the trap on December 11th was given to Devereux and Cunningham equally) and even the repromand to both leaders for extending the dispute for so long.These are my picks. I hope you enjoy.P.S.: Another recent book, "Given Up for Dead" by Bill Sloan should be avoided at all costs. He gives a strictly biased 'opinion' using a 'ghost written' book as his number one source and a magazine article by Peter Andrews in a 1987 issue of American Heritage, which is full of inaccurate statements and used many slanderous, and false statements concerning Commander Cunningham's role during the defence.

The details of the battle and it's aftermath make for a fantastic and compelling read. The comparisons to Thermopylae and the Alamo are richly deserved. Can't recommend it enough!

John Wukovits has done it again; he's penned another five-star book about WWII that will long linger in the memory of those who have known the pleasure of reading it. Admittedly, I didn't know much about what happened on Wake Island, though I had learned much about places such as Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. In the same fashion as the subject of another of the author's great reads, One Square Mile of Hell: The Battle for Tarawa, what occurred on Wake is just as heroic and as memorable as anything that occurred during more highly publicized campaigns.The Battle for Wake Island is an incredible read, and should leave the reader pondering our citizens' sacrifices for freedom and appreciating more than ever what it means to be an American.

I landed at Wake Atoll twice during the Vietnam war and neither time did I recall the impact of the battle that took place there. Recently my son in law, a marine a Marine Corp aviator landed there and, being the junior officer in the squadron, he was tasked with the job of briefing them on what happened there.By comparison to other island battles of WW II, Wake was a mere skirmish, but in terms of the impact on the morale of the morale of the American people it was gigantic. Coming the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor a hand full of Marines and contract construction workers turned back a planned Japanese landing sinking three ships in the process. Result was a tremendous boost in the morale of a nation.The story of the courage and ingenuity of the defenders isuplifting

Excellent, well written, detailed book about a little-known aspect of the war in the Pacific. At the outset of the war, when all the momentum was with the Japanese and all the odds were in their favor, this small band of Marines, civilians and a few others, did what no one else ever did - repulsed a Japanese invasion attempt. In doing so, they helped the American military and public see that the Japanese were not invincible, that we did have a chance, and that our soldiers, sailors and airmen - and even civilians - could stand up to them. They gave the country hope when their had been none. The book follows their story from before the war, during the invasion, and what happened to them after. It reads quickly and easily, and is motivational, inspirational and encouraging. Highly recommended.

An excellent history of a battle seldom mentioned in British history books. I found it very detailed but easy to read. I would recommend anyone interested in the early Pacific war to buy this book as it will be a valuable edition to a history of WW2

was a interesting account of the Battle for wake island if you have not heard of it before, but once read, not a book i could say i would want to read again,

The battle for Wake Island was a ferocious battle of the US Marines and civilian workers on the island. Out numbered and outgunned, they got organised to defend the Wake Island Atoll.Naval and Marine officers Devereauz's and Cunningham were the organisers in spiring the men to listen to specific istructions and prepair for the comming Japanese assauly. The naval and naval personell along with certain civilian workers took up arms and defended the atoll, until it became hopless and the only chance left to them was to surrender.Realising it's better to be a live dog than a dead lion. Surrender was a reluctant decision. They then faced inprisonment under the Japanese yoke. Ill treatment starvation and witting murder the captives endured. They were eventually released in 1945 many of their number had perished in captivity, but those who did survive had their families and chidren waiting for their return, and to say welcome home. The book by John Wukovits is nothing like the DVD no where as truthful and vivid.Wukovits weilds a grafic and vivid pen.

Excellent service Fast Delivery Great book Can't believe you people!! I don't have 20 words to say and don't want to write 20 words. I say it all in 6!

I had some preconceived ideas about Wake Island battle and this book just sparked my attention about one of the finest moments of United States Marine Corps in World War II.