Pacific Alamo: The Battle for Wake Island
Books / Hardcover
Books › History › Military › General
ISBN: 0451208730 / Publisher: New American Library, July 2003
A leading military historian sheds new light on the battle for Wake Island and the U.S. Marines and civilian construction workers who courageously defended the island.
Read More
It began in the shadow of Pearl Harbor - mere hours after the first attack on the day that would "live in infamy." But few know the full story of Wake Island. Now a prominent military historian, breaking new ground on the assault, relates the compelling events of that day and the heroic struggle that followed.On that fateful December morning in 1941, Japanese planes flew over Wake Island, bombing the twelve U.S. Marine aircraft stationed there, wreaking havoc and massive destruction while nullifying Wake's aerial resistance.On December 11, the Japanese invasion began. But thanks to the brave Marine, Navy, and Army personnel stationed there and the civilian construction workers who selflessly put their lives on the line to defend the island, what was supposed to be an easy victory became a protracted and costly battle for Imperial Japan - a battle whose details were lost in the mists of history...until now.Based on extensive research into both sides of the conflict, including interviews with survivors and Japanese reports, John Wukovits's measured account reveals the courage displayed against overwhelming odds and the story of the civilian contribution during the horror of the battle of Wake. Gritty and stirring, Pacific Alamo offers the first complete picture of the historic events of that dark December.
Read Less