Using a collection of letters, interviews, military writings, David puts together a detailed account of what the Marines faced in the South Pacific during WWII. I thought Viet Nam was the original jungle war for the US, but after reading this book it clearly was not. All the horrors of jungle warfare for the US happened in the South Pacific well before the US went into Viet Nam. The book reads very long. Even with Japan surrendering, there is no uplifting end. War is hell, period. ( )