Review by Pacific Wreck Database
Giv[es] readers an excellent look into the histories of the more famous operations of Polynesia Melanesia and Micronesia. . .The books maps are of exceptional quality. . .Much better then most history books.
Review by H.G.A. Hughes Reference Reviews October 5 1996
Profusely illustrated in black and white and color this is essentially a collection of 13 succinct histories to 1994 of islands significant in the Pacific War from the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 to the battle of Peleliu Palau Islands in 1944. the islands and places covered are Pearl Harbor Wake Island Midway Guadalcanal Tarawa: Marshall Islands: Rabaul: New Guinea: New Hebrides: Truk Saipan Guam and Peleliu.
In each case the military operations are summarized and illustrated with contemporary battle photographs. Hinz then describes the changes that have occurred in those islands during the 50 years since the end of the war.
The contrast between battle and life today is highlighted by photographs taken on recent visits to the battle sites: Gilbertese children playing on rusting Japanese tanks and Japanese visitors paying homage to their dead at Betio on Tarawa a Jesuit school in an erstwhile communications building on weno Chuuk Truk and the hotels of Waikiki dwarfing the USS Arizona Memorial.
There will be readers for this interesting book which deserves a place in reference collections of works on the Second World War.
