Need some WW2 Book Reco's

[Fingolfin269]

Does anyone have some book suggestions dealing with the Pacific portion of World War 2? I'd rather focus more on Midway and any fighting towards the end of the war.

 

[edro]

I wouldn't mind knowing of a good book as well...

My grandpa was in the Phillipines as a Navy Seabee. He said he remembers watching the Battle for Leyte Gulf from the shore. He doesn't talk about it much at all. He will talk about the war, and all the battles, but never the stuff that he experienced himself.

I would like to know more about his exact jobs and battles (I know he was in a few offensives, because of what my grandma told me).

The Pacific Theatre was so large, I bet there are good books on all the different parts of the Pacific Theatre as well.

 

[Fingolfin269]

My grandfather won't talk about it either. He was in the Navy and I know that his ship was sunk at Midway.

Interesting story about him btw. Somehow the topic of WW2 came up a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned the fact that I thought he had been in WW2 but couldn't quite figure out how the math added up. He only seemed old enough to have served in Korea at the earliest. That's when he told me that he joined at the age of 14. The guy wasn't even 18 after serving 3 years when the war ended. So, after that conversation I decided it was time to do some reading on that portion of the war as opposed to the more 'romantic' European portion.

 

[Kenazo]

look here
another interesting read

maybe you could find books on either of those topics.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
My grandfather won't talk about it either. He was in the Navy and I know that his ship was sunk at Midway.

Interesting story about him btw. Somehow the topic of WW2 came up a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned the fact that I thought he had been in WW2 but couldn't quite figure out how the math added up. He only seemed old enough to have served in Korea at the earliest. That's when he told me that he joined at the age of 14. The guy wasn't even 18 after serving 3 years when the war ended. So, after that conversation I decided it was time to do some reading on that portion of the war as opposed to the more 'romantic' European portion.

Do you know what kind of ship he was on? If it was an aircraft carrier, then it was the Yorktown. That's the only capital ship we lost @ Midway, but I think there were a few smaller ones as well. Been awhile.

I'm reading a book now called "Unconditional Defeat, America, Japan and the End of WWII". It's ok. Sort of an academic look at the various campaigns, and the social & historic reasons why the Japanese ran things out the the very end even when it was obvious they would lose.

 

[K1052]

War Beneath the Sea : Submarine Conflict During World War II

This book covers the sub forces of all the powers, it does seem to focus on the Germans most of all. There are good sections about the Japanese though. I thought it was in interesting read.

 

[Kenazo]

After the war, the Japanese government was afraid that United States and other Allied troops would commit atrocities in a similar manner as their own troops did when invading China in 1937. In order to prevent rapes, on August 18, 1945, the Japanese government opened the "comfort stations" for use by Allied troops.21 According to Japanese documents and testimony from former "comfort women," the women at these stations were forced to serve as sexual slaves to the American soldiers.22 The first "comfort station" opened for the use of United States troops in the Tokyo area on August 27, 1945, with reports that terrified "comfort women" began weeping, clung to posts in the building and refused to move.23

The United States did not simply make use of Japanese initiated "comfort stations" but also requested others be built on their behalf. In September of 1945, the chief of Tokyo's Public Health Section, Yosano Hikaru met with the Surgeon General of the Army to discuss the availability of women for the United States Army. After this meeting, responsibility for the "comfort stations" was divided between Yosano and Colonel C.F. Sams, Chief of the Public Health and Welfare Department. These stations were only closed because of threat of sexually transmitted diseases.

from here That's awful!

 

[Fingolfin269]

I guess there's always a chance that I'm wrong about Midway. Maybe I should just ask him one day. I'm going to the library today and will look up that book. Thanks for the web sites as well.

 

[PingSpike]

I recently read 'the story of WWII'. It covers both theaters, but it covers the pacific theater particularly well. It also has some good coverage of the war with Russia that we don't tend to hear much about. It has historical accounts with antecdotes from actual soldiers who witnessed or where directly involved in the events. Its a great book, because it really lets you see it from the soldiers eye.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

After the war, the Japanese government was afraid that United States and other Allied troops would commit atrocities in a similar manner as their own troops did when invading China in 1937. In order to prevent rapes, on August 18, 1945, the Japanese government opened the "comfort stations" for use by Allied troops.21 According to Japanese documents and testimony from former "comfort women," the women at these stations were forced to serve as sexual slaves to the American soldiers.22 The first "comfort station" opened for the use of United States troops in the Tokyo area on August 27, 1945, with reports that terrified "comfort women" began weeping, clung to posts in the building and refused to move.23

The United States did not simply make use of Japanese initiated "comfort stations" but also requested others be built on their behalf. In September of 1945, the chief of Tokyo's Public Health Section, Yosano Hikaru met with the Surgeon General of the Army to discuss the availability of women for the United States Army. After this meeting, responsibility for the "comfort stations" was divided between Yosano and Colonel C.F. Sams, Chief of the Public Health and Welfare Department. These stations were only closed because of threat of sexually transmitted diseases.

from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

Yeah, I was doing some reading (brought on by this thread). Sounds like the Pacific was the worst place to be sent. The Japanese were far far worse people to have as enemies than the Germans ever were (unless you happened to be jewish, homosexual or one of the other "targeted" people). Apparently about 3% of the POWS captured by germany died in the camps, compared to 37% in japanese camps. no wonder there was so much hostility towards Japanese people for so long.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

Yeah, I was doing some reading (brought on by this thread). Sounds like the Pacific was the worst place to be sent. The Japanese were far far worse people to have as enemies than the Germans ever were (unless you happened to be jewish, homosexual or one of the other "targeted" people). Apparently about 3% of the POWS captured by germany died in the camps, compared to 37% in japanese camps. no wonder there was so much hostility towards Japanese people for so long.

Actually I think the Germans who were captured by the Russians got it worst of all. When the war ended most of the prisoners were used as forced labor for the rest of their lives.

The fighting on the eastern european front was extremely vicious.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

Yeah, I was doing some reading (brought on by this thread). Sounds like the Pacific was the worst place to be sent. The Japanese were far far worse people to have as enemies than the Germans ever were (unless you happened to be jewish, homosexual or one of the other "targeted" people). Apparently about 3% of the POWS captured by germany died in the camps, compared to 37% in japanese camps. no wonder there was so much hostility towards Japanese people for so long.

Actually I think the Germans who were captured by the Russians got it worst of all. When the war ended most of the prisoners were used as forced labor for the rest of their lives.

The fighting on the eastern european front was extremely vicious.

True enough. I was merely thinking of enemies of the Allied forces. It is really quite appalling the things people can do to each other.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

Yeah, I was doing some reading (brought on by this thread). Sounds like the Pacific was the worst place to be sent. The Japanese were far far worse people to have as enemies than the Germans ever were (unless you happened to be jewish, homosexual or one of the other "targeted" people). Apparently about 3% of the POWS captured by germany died in the camps, compared to 37% in japanese camps. no wonder there was so much hostility towards Japanese people for so long.

Definately. My grandfather served in the pacific theater and like others in this thread, he never really spoke of it. He died shortly after I was born so I never knew him, but my mother has told me that he had small bits of shrapnel lodged in his back and he was a scout so I'm pretty sure he saw some real combat over there. Of course, like I said, he rarely spoke of it.

There is a quote in the book I mentioned from a soldier in the pacific, while I'm paraphrasing it was pretty much "I wish we were in Europe fighting the germans, at least they are human."

Japanese soldiers during WWII were trained to be sadistic killing machines. Their propaganda basically said they would be tortured horribly by American troops if they were captured, which is why most chose suicide rather than surrender. The few who did surrender were described in that book as being amazed at the way they were treated. Their vicious fighting determination coupled with their terrible treatment of POWs (the book has a story about this) make me agree with that soldier. I definately would have rather been fighting the Germans in WWII.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
from here That's awful!

Indeed. But plenty things more awful than that occured during WWII.

Yeah, I was doing some reading (brought on by this thread). Sounds like the Pacific was the worst place to be sent. The Japanese were far far worse people to have as enemies than the Germans ever were (unless you happened to be jewish, homosexual or one of the other "targeted" people). Apparently about 3% of the POWS captured by germany died in the camps, compared to 37% in japanese camps. no wonder there was so much hostility towards Japanese people for so long.

Definately. My grandfather served in the pacific theater and like others in this thread, he never really spoke of it. He died shortly after I was born so I never knew him, but my mother has told me that he had small bits of shrapnel lodged in his back.

There is a quote in the book I mentioned from a soldier in the pacific, while I'm paraphrasing it was pretty much "I wish we were in Europe fighting the germans, at least they are human."

Japanese soldiers during WWII were trained to be sadistic killing machines. Their propaganda basically said they would be tortured horribly by American troops if they were captured, which is why most chose suicide rather than surrender. The few who did surrender were described in that book as being amazed at the way they were treated. Their vicious fighting determination coupled with their terrible treatment of POWs (the book has a story about this) make me agree with that soldier. I definately would have rather been fighting the Germans in WWII.

I think i would rather have fought the Italians. Apparently they stopped fighting for 4 course meals.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
I think i would rather have fought the Italians. Apparently they stopped fighting for 4 course meals.

Well, thats an exaggeration but no, they didn't have nearly as an effective war machines as the Germans.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Do you know if your grandfather received his Purple Heart? I know that mine never got either of the two that he is technically owed for the shrapnel that is supposedly still in his back/wherever the other piece is located.

The funny thing is that I remember asking him about those when I was younger and he didn't seem to care that he didn't have them. I guess I can understand someone not wanting to open up what are obviously very old and very deep mental wounds.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Kenazo
I think i would rather have fought the Italians. Apparently they stopped fighting for 4 course meals.

Well, thats an exaggeration but no, they didn't have nearly as an effective war machines as the Germans.

That's because all of their great war minds were in the United States running whiskey and olive oil...

 

[Kenazo]

The really sad thing is that in a few years there will be no more WWII vets left. I remember being at memorial services and seeing 10 or 11 wwI vets there, maybe 80 or 90 WWII vets and a handful of Korean war people, but now, there are what maybe 10 or 11 WWI vets left in all of North America. It won't be long before no one remembers the war.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Do you know if your grandfather received his Purple Heart? I know that mine never got either of the two that he is technically owed for the shrapnel that is supposedly still in his back/wherever the other piece is located.

The funny thing is that I remember asking him about those when I was younger and he didn't seem to care that he didn't have them. I guess I can understand someone not wanting to open up what are obviously very old and very deep mental wounds.

No one in my family has ever mentioned him receiving any medals, so as far as I know he didn't get a purple heart. My mother said the shrapnel was from the troop transport (whatever those things they bring them up on the beach with are called) he was in exploding after he had gotten out of it. I'm not sure if he was upset about not getting it or not. I personally would just been happy to have not been in the transporter when the shell hit it.

I do know he was ordered to climb up a tall pole in a windy storm to get a better view. He refused and was subsequently court martialed for disobeying orders. I don't blame him, I'm terrified of heights too.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
The really sad thing is that in a few years there will be no more WWII vets left. I remember being at memorial services and seeing 10 or 11 wwI vets there, maybe 80 or 90 WWII vets and a handful of Korean war people, but now, there are what maybe 10 or 11 WWI vets left in all of North America. It won't be long before no one remembers the war.

I guess we will just have to remember it for them.

 

[PanzerIV]

Great thread guys. Fingolfin269 although it doesn't focus on Midway, the book Invasion of the Phillipines is an excellent read into that conflict. It details individual soldier's stories and the blunders and miscalculations made by McArthur as well as the overall lack of preperation in that region for what was inevitably coming their way.

As was alluded to by someone else I think overall only the Russians and Germans came close to the ferocity demonstrated by the Japanese in the South Pacific. The death tolls are staggering on both accounts.

 

[Armitage]

Not sure whether it was worse being in the pacific facing the Japanese, or being a german on the eastern front during & after they were over run by the soviets. There's a reason everybody wanted to surrender to the western forces. The russians were awful. My therapist was a young girl in Berlin at the end of the war. Sweetest old lady you'll ever meet. But don't mention russians around her. That and she suffers flashbacks if she hears a radial engine plane fly over.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
Not sure whether it was worse being in the pacific facing the Japanese, or being a german on the eastern front during & after they were over run by the soviets. There's a reason everybody wanted to surrender to the western forces. The russians were awful. My therapist was a young girl in Berlin at the end of the war. Sweetest old lady you'll ever meet. But don't mention russians around her. That and she suffers flashbacks if she hears a radial engine plane fly over.

You almost can't blame the Russians for being so vicious towards the Germans. They deserved it (not the civilians, I know)

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: ergeorge
Not sure whether it was worse being in the pacific facing the Japanese, or being a german on the eastern front during & after they were over run by the soviets. There's a reason everybody wanted to surrender to the western forces. The russians were awful. My therapist was a young girl in Berlin at the end of the war. Sweetest old lady you'll ever meet. But don't mention russians around her. That and she suffers flashbacks if she hears a radial engine plane fly over.

You almost can't blame the Russians for being so vicious towards the Germans. They deserved it (not the civilians, I know)

So very true. The German army showed no compassion towards the Russians (most notably the wicked SS lining up civilians and shooting them after having made them dig their own grave, for instance), so it's little wonder the Russians would unabatedly seek retribution. Also the fact that the Germans invaded Russia and not the other way around.