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Editorial Review Product Description
In June 1944 the attention of the nation was riveted on events unfolding in France. But in the Pacific, the Battle of Saipan was of extreme strategic importance. This is a gripping account of one of the most dramatic engagements of World War II. The conquest of Saipan and the neighboring island of Tinian was a turning point in the war in the Pacific as it made the American victory against Japan inevitable. Until this battle, the Japanese continued to believe that success in the war remained possible. While Japan had suffered serious setbacks as early as the Battle of Midway in 1942, Saipan was part of her inner defense line, so victory was essential. The American victory at Saipan forced Japan to begin considering the reality of defeat. For the Americans, the capture of Saipan meant secure air bases for the new B-29s that were now within striking distance of all Japanese cities, including Tokyo. ... Read more Customer Reviews (5) 
A thoroughly engaging overview of the capture of Saipan...
... as well as the Mariana Turkey Shoot. Before covering the battle action, the author takes the first three chapters to give background info in order the reader to have a better understanding of the islands and the hardships the Marines and GIs will have in taking them.
A description of the general history of the Marianas that involves the Germans, Spanish, the US and the Japanese that goes back for hundreds of years. The author gets down to specifics when the Japanese became involved. During the first couple years of the war Saipan wasn't considered important except for its economic value but when the US started taking back islands, the Marianas became very important and in 1943 Japan started a crash course in fortifying the islands.
The Marianas became critical in Japanese strategy as part of their last lines of defense that must not be penetrated by the US if Japan had any chance of winning the war. The author does a nice job of describing the preparations; he also describes all of the weaponry that was part of that defense that wasn't installed in time. If the invasion had been later in the year, taking the island would have been much harder than it was.
The American plans for the invasion is then discussed in good detail as well as the complicated command structure. These opening chapters were very deliberate and much can be learned from it.
The battle action begins with the Marine 2nd and 4th Divisions riding the amtracs into shore and the harrowing job of fighting the rough seas, getting over the reef and dodging the blizzard of small arms fire and mortar fire just to reach the beach. The author uses many first hand experiences to describe the awful time these Marines had in not only the landing but throughout the whole campaign. For many of these men, two, three or more landings were experienced throughout the war. To experience this horror once is bad but to do it several times is unimaginable.
Once landed, the author takes you through the ordeal of these two divisions plus the 27th Infantry Division had in clearing the enemy from a rugged terrain that favored the defenders.
While the battle on land was escalating, a major sea/air battle was taking place that was part of Japanese Plan A-Go to destroy the American Fleet under Adm Spruance. The Americans called it "The Mariana's Turkey Shoot" for the Japanese lost over 400 planes, a carrier and other ships. Besides the battle coverage, the controversy between Mitscher and Spruance when Spruance conservatively called an end to the offensive when Mitscher wanted to continue.
An even larger controversy erupted over two generals on Saipan that the author covers very well. It concerns a Marine General relieving an Army General for lack of positive results. (Holland Smith vs Ralph Smith) The author does a nice job of describing the specifics between the two generals as well as the escalation that occurred throughout the system.
In Conclusion, the author discusses the casualties of the war and the importance of cracking the Japanese critical line of defense. Japan lost many planes and experienced pilots and a carrier which were irreplaceable. From the Marianas, B-29s could now reach Japan. Holland Smith, Ralph Smith and others are also discussed as to their fates after the Marianas.
There are 10 maps and 24 photos as well as a competent Notes section, Bibliography, Appendix which includes principal military units and officers and Index. The Bibliography includes the many people interviewed who contributed to the book.
This is an engaging story and anybody interested in the battle for the Marianas should definitely read this book. Its highly recommended.
D-Day in the Pacific
This is one of the best WWII books that I have read.It protrays the struggles of the individual soldiers and marines in the battle for Saipan
Comprehensive, well-chronicled account of Saipan battle
As I researched the death of my Marine uncle on D-day , June 15, on Saipan Island, it became clear that Professor Goldberg's well-written and documented book would be a valuable source of information to go with all the other books I had read, including the excellent 1946 edition of the 4th Marine Division Association's historical account of the battle. In fact, in Dr. Goldberg's book, I learned of accounts from others in my uncle's company that help confirm what my family had long believed about the circumstances of his death, and a contradiction of statements of mortuary graves registration personnel at the time that were recorded in my uncle's official military personnel record I obtained.
At a recent family reunion, I obtained a copy of the unit commander's letter to my grandfather which corroborated Dr. Goldberg's account and the testimony of a member of my uncle's company contained in the book as to how he almost certainly died (despite efforts to contact this veteran from information supplied graciously by the author, I haven't gotten a response and I fear he may be one of the 1,000 WWII veterans who die each day).
Nonetheless, the book's account and the letter of my uncle's commander, written in September of 1944, match the time he went ashore and circumstances of the hostilities at the time. I was able to almost pinpoint the time of his death from the book, but most illuminating, I learned of his unit's activities during the day. His unit was part of a "feint" or diversionary tactic and was not part of the initial landing that faced murderous fire, because his unit was compensated for being part of the first wave in the assault at Namur, a previous battle. (It was traditional for combat troops seeing first combat or bearing the brunt to be made part of a reserve or backup force in the next battle)
During the reunion, I was able to give a factual account of this hero to 50 family members & descendants as we stood at his gravesite to commemorate his sacrifice at age 22.
My one lament regarding the book: I gave it away this week to my first cousin named for my uncle. Now, I have to buy another - which will make the author happy, too.
Saipan as the Turning Point for Japan
The importance of the capture of Saipan is two-fold.First, to most Japanese military strategists, Saipan represented the outermost reaches of the defenses of the Japanese Empire itself.Thus, its loss meant that it would only be a question of time before Japan itself was invaded and all was lost.Second, to the Allies, Saipan represented air bases from which the new B-29 planes could reach and bomb Japanese cities, including, and especially, Tokyo.
"D-Day in the Pacific" is an extremely well-written account of the actions and politics leading up to the decision to invade Saipan (and Tinian, adjacent to it), including the clash of wills between Admiral King and Gen. MacArthur, the strategies and tactics of the invasions (e.g., the separate landings by the 2nd and 4th Marine divisions), the major personalities involved on both sides, and the battles on the islands, including the well-known suicidal tactics of the Japanese, as seen not only from the perspective of the commanders but the front line troops as well.Numerous photos are also included.
Great book on Pacific war
This book is a great overview on one of the lesser known battles of ww2. there is a lot of background information on the saipan and the events leading up to the invasion. recommended reading for anyone who would like to know more about saipan
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