US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1941–43

The first of several volumes to examine the Corps' meteoric wartime expansion and the evolution of its units, from the immediate pre-war period to the Marines' first combat operations.

This highly detailed study reveals how, despite being often poorly equipped and sometimes fighting with little external support against a resolute enemy, the US marines evolved into a well equipped and ideally organized amphibious assault force that eventually aided in the defeat of an empire.The early days of the Pacific War found the United States facing an enemy who had occupied a series of islands in the South Pacific. The enemy's goal in this region was to provide an outer defensive zone to protect bases from which future conquests would be launched. The enemy was Japan. This highly detailed study reveals how, despite being often poorly equipped and sometimes fighting with little external support against a resolute enemy, the Marines evolved into a well-equipped and ideally organized amphibious assault force that eventually aided in the defeat of an empire.