Save Hero of the Pacific: The Life of Marine Legend John Basilone

I have read many books about WWII and the three books influencing the HBO series, "The Pacific." I had high expectations of this book, but was severely disappointed. The author, a Marine himself, comes across not as a raggedy ass Marine, but as a whiney ass Marine. Okay, we got it by page 30, his sister and other accounts of John Basoline were exaggerated and had more in common with corny movie scripts than reality, so did you have to continuously, ad nauseam, bring this up over and over and over and over? Okay, we got it, he almost certainly did not single handedly blow up the bunker on Iwo Jima, so did you have to bring it up 18 times? This is a book that only criticizes the history and fails miserably to present anything cogent and thoughtfully formed to offer the reader something they can piece together. Fortunately, almost any reader is smart enough to figure it out, and it is simple: John Basilone was a hero and represents the kind of bravery worthy of the Medal of Honor. His story has been muddled over the years, but that's what happens.

In summary, the author lacked the kind of investigative skill (and/or effort) to pull off what he intended to do. As with any poorly prepared student, the book fails. I can only wish someone more capable, Marine or not, took up this effort. Sadly, there is nobody left to talk to. However flawed, at least the HBO version of John Basilone will overshadow the poor and weak presentation of this book.Get more detail about Hero of the Pacific: The Life of Marine Legend John Basilone.