I’ve also read books my friends published, WWII fiction books.
Here are some books on writing, military strategy, Marines and mojo.
Years ago, I read With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge. He was a First Marine Division veteran of WWII Pacific. This is an excellent and prolific book about what it was like to be boots on the ground in combat against an embedded enemy on Peleliu and Okinawa.
One of the first WWII Pacific books I read on this journey was No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal by (General) Merrill B. Twining. It is about the logistics of the 1st Marine Division descending on New Zealand and Guadalcanal in the summer of 1942. This autobiography details the building of camps, managing personalities, and in later years, defending the Marine Corps. If you are looking for a refreshing read about this time, add this to your list.
Need motivation? My kind brother-in-law sent me the War of Art by author and screenwriter Steven Pressfield who served in the USMC. It’s a kick in the booty to stay the course and persevere. https://stevenpressfield.com/home/.
Got a military story to tell and publish? You would enjoy On Point a Guide to Writing the Military Story by Tracy Crow, who served as an officer in the USMC. http://tracycrow.com/about-tracy/. I also went to a military story writing class with Tracy, who also was my developmental editor.
Curious about combat tactics used in WWII Pacific? I read two of Marine veteran H. John Poole’s books, Peleliu Progress and Okinawan Reckoning. Both books discuss the strategy and tactics of our military experienced fighting the enemy in WWII Pacific, with lessons learned on war, caves, and tunnels, with suggestions for today, should our Marines face the same obstacles in the future. https://posteritypress.org
Most recently, I read The Death of Santini, by Pat Conroy. He was not a Marine, but his father was.
If you remember the book or movie the Great Santini about his father, Marine fighter pilot Don Conway, you’ll like this book (Our Marine father loved that movie). The Death of Santini is a personal story that will bring you into their big family and the healing that eventually occurred.
Want to learn about the brave American souls in WWII who went up the gauntlet on the east coast of the United States to the North Atlantic?
I read Sea of Glory: Based on the True WWII Story of The Four Chaplains and the USAT Dorchester by Ken Wales and David Poling. I found out about this story when I read about it. How was I not taught this history in school? An epic tale that will make your heart rate rise and your eyes a little teary.
You could read these books over a weekend or week.
I’ve got more to recommend. Stay tuned!
Keep calm and read on.
