Book Reviews Feb 2013
Building for War: The Epic Saga of the Civilian Contractors and Marines of Wake Island in World War II  
 
By Bonita Gilbert, Casemate Publishers, Philadelphia (2012).

Reviewed by Richard P. Hallion, Ph.D.


Meticulously documented in primary sources and archival collections, but never suffers from the pedantic style all-too-commonly found in academic treatises. Indeed, the book is by turns intriguing, informative, gripping, and at times very moving.

 

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Captured: The Forgotten Men of Guam
 
By Roger Mansell, Edited by Linda Goetz Holmes, Naval Institute Press (2012)

Reviewed by Nathan Albright

   

This book stands as a harrowing tale of the POW experience of the men of Guam...the contents of this book are difficult to read, but they are worth remembering and serve to fill a curious gap in World War II history. Hopefully this book will receive the audience it deserves and make sure that the struggles of the men of Guam are not forgotten.


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USN Destroyer VS IJN Destroyer: The Pacific 1943

By Mark E. Stille, with contributors, Osprey Publishing, Long Island City, NY (2012)

Reviewed by Michael F. Solecki


As with most of the "Osprey" line of quick reference publications it is concise, well organized, illustrated and written at a level that is also entertaining. It is a short, easy to read, accurate reference describing both the American and Japanese destroyers of World War II.

   

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The Rice Paddy Navy: U.S. Sailors Undercover in China 

By Linda Kush, Osprey Publishing, (2012)

Reviewed by David Kronenfeld

 
The Rice Paddy Navy relates the unique story of the Sino-American Cooperation Organization, an intelligence and special operations unit of the US Navy in China during World War II...highly readable and a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone interested in Asian history or American unconventional operations in World War II.

A Seabee's Story: Tinian and Okinawa, B-29s and the Air War Against Japan   
 
By Lt. Col. George A. Larson (USAF Ret.), Merriam Press, (2012).

Reviewed by Jan Churchill


Despite its problems A Seabee's Story is worth reading to gain insight about the magnificent job accomplished by the Seabees on Tinian. It was aptly called a "Miracle of Construction" as the Seabees were able to overcome the lack of materials on Tinian Island to construct the required airfields.

 

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British Light Cruisers 1939-45 

  

By Angus Konstam, illus. by Paul Wright, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK. (2012).

Reviewed by Richard P. Hallion, Ph.D.

 

A most useful and valuable introduction to Royal Navy cruiser warfare. Like its predecessors, British Light Cruisers 1939-45 blends an insightful text with excellent contemporary photographs, detailed drawings, and some superb artwork and cutaways.

 

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Lloyd's Register: 250 Years of Service 
 
By Nigel Watson, Lloyd's Register, 2010

Reviewed by Mark Lardas


The book is an official history, with the strengths and weaknesses that implies...yet Lloyd's Register: 250 Years of Service is a useful introduction to a fascinating entity.

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Books Available for Review 
We have a number of books here in our offices that are available to be reviewed. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Dave Winkler at [email protected]. As a bonus, you get to keep the copy of the book you review!
 

Aboard the Pirate: Roving the West Indies.
Veronica Cherry, Gallant Books, 2012, 398 pages. (19th century historical fiction).

Big Mother 40: A Vietnam War Novel
. Marc Liebman, Fireship Press, 2012, 388 pages. (Vietnam War historical fiction).

Fatal Dive: Solving the World War II Mystery of the USS Grunion. Peter F. Stevens, Regnery History, 2012, 256 pages.

The Hunt for Hitler's Warship. Patrick Bishop, Regnery History, 2013, 404 pages.

On the Account: Piracy and the Americas, 1766-1835. Joseph Gibbs, Sussex Academic Press, 2012, 249 pages.

Warships of the Ancient World (3000-500BC). Adrian K. Wood, Osprey Publishing 2012, 48 pages.
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