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The story of the Battle of Saipan has it all. Marines at war: on Pacific beaches, in hellish volcanic landscapes in places like Purple Heart Ridge, Death Valley, and Hell's Pocket, under a commander known as "Howlin' Mad." Naval combat: carriers battling carriers from afar, fighters downing Japanese aircraft, submarines sinking carriers. Marine-army rivalry. Fanatical Japanese defense and resistance. A turning point of the Pacific War. James Hallas reconstructs the full panorama of Saipan in a way that no recent chronicler of the battle has done. In its comprehensiveness, attention to detail, scope of research, and ultimate focus on the men who fought and won the battle on the beaches and at and above the sea, it rivals Richard Frank's modern classic Guadalcanal. This is the definitive military history of the Battle of Saipan.
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What listeners say about Saipan
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- EJ
- 22-05-20
Brilliant
Finished it in two days as I could not bring myself to put it down. This is a must read for anyone interested in the War in the Pacific. Harrowing and sad but a superb rendering of what happened on Saipan in 1944. Excellent narration.
2 people found this helpful
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- Patrick
- 08-03-20
Outstanding!
I have read several books that cover the campaign for Saipan. This book was by far the best. It blended both Japanese and American perspectives and everything from the individual soldier or sailor to the admiral/ general concerned with grand strategy. Strong recommendation
7 people found this helpful
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- Legion
- 07-05-20
An absolute masterfully account of battle
Impossible to stop listening to. Relentless in its retelling of a battle just as relentless in its cacophony of horror, bloodshed, valiant heroism, and absolute confusion of the U.S. marines who withstood the Japanese onslaught and dooming the Empire of the Sun. The narrator ratio is very easy to listen to with a tone that holds your attention to the end. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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- Roboto
- 16-05-20
The beginning of the end
The battle of Saipan was a crucial battle in many ways. The destruction of the last great attempt of the Japanese navy and the hard but doomed stand of their men on the ground would help lead to the final defeat of japan, though many bloody battles would come. The author does a great job and his narrative is good. I really enjoyed this one. But also the focus on the tragic ends of many civilians and soldiers in both sides was sobering and I’m glad I know of it. Overall great book and great narration
3 people found this helpful
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- A. Mattson
- 23-04-20
Incredible
Easily one of the best purchases I've ever made on Audible. the narrator was great, the writing was exemplary, and the story was riveting, informative, and horrifying
3 people found this helpful
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- Asarchus
- 10-04-20
Like Being in the Thick of Battle
Amazingly detailed account of how the US Army, Navy, and Marines wrested control of one small island from Japan, with war-altering results. You are there, grinding yard by yard through murderous gun and mortar fire, or plummeting down on enemy ships as air bursts riddle your dive bomber. On the island comes a final convulsive Japanese armor and infantry attack when heads literally roll and thousands choose suicide over surrender, all told foxhole to foxhole. This is among the best histories of the Pacific war ever written.
3 people found this helpful
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- Taylor Sloat
- 08-09-20
"How It's Made" Guy Tells You About Saipan
While long and sometimes muddled by the sheer numbers and statistics of the battle for Saipan, this book is a sobering reminder of why war is so terrible, and why we should all be a little more compassionate with one another.
2 people found this helpful
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- jdfreeman60
- 06-09-20
This was a really good book
This book was very good with rich detail about a WW II battle that, while not fogotten, gets overshadowed by other events. its full of personal stories of everyday people caught up in the battle. if I had one criticism (and it would be slight) it would be that so many of the Americans were portrayed almost as movie star heros. the type of heroic actions you'd see in an John Wayne movie. "They found him after the battle out of ammunition with 25 dead Japanese arrayed aound him" type of stories. while this was undoubtedly the case in many instances the book seems to have too many. other than that its a great listen that helps fill some detail for a little understood WW II battle.
2 people found this helpful
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- PG Scott
- 01-07-20
Great story
The story is well written and detailed. Unfortunately the detail, such as nick names, while adding color sometimes slows down the narrative. Overall, my vote is to keep them in bbut be prepared to enjoy the story slowly but in depth.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mark Davis
- 28-08-20
Outstanding
One of the finest narratives I have come across about the war in the pacific. Narrator is excellent Historical information and military strategies is woven into incredibly personal stories and recollections of veterans of the pivotal battle of Pacific war.
1 person found this helpful
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- Doggie
- 07-01-21
I appreciated learning about
The sacrifice of our soldiers was very great and we shouldn’t forget how much they gave