Disclaimer: I'm about halfway through the book at the moment.
Great book so far and I can't imagine that will change. Since this covers the whole of the PNG campaign, Kokoda features as much as Buna or Gona. There's also a chapter about the Battle of the Bismark Sea (airpower folks would appreciate that gem). I think the first 7-8 chapters should be required reading for any CGO. It wasn't uncommon for battalions to leave the line with a half dozen or so officers. Casualties among CGO's were ridiculous. It makes you realize the burden of leadership.
The book does a great job of conveying the horrendous conditions and absolute piss poor leadership endured by the Australians and Americans. The author is quick to praise or condemn either nation's performance, so I'd say he is fairly balanced with his writing....unless you're a MacArthur fan. If you like Dugout Doug you maaayyy want to skip this book.
My one criticism concerns the maps. Maps are overall battles or areas while the book spend a lot of time describing unit actions. I don't think the maps are detailed enough to reflect the described events.
Well worth the read, particularly since it is about an unknown piece of WWII.
Great book so far and I can't imagine that will change. Since this covers the whole of the PNG campaign, Kokoda features as much as Buna or Gona. There's also a chapter about the Battle of the Bismark Sea (airpower folks would appreciate that gem). I think the first 7-8 chapters should be required reading for any CGO. It wasn't uncommon for battalions to leave the line with a half dozen or so officers. Casualties among CGO's were ridiculous. It makes you realize the burden of leadership.
The book does a great job of conveying the horrendous conditions and absolute piss poor leadership endured by the Australians and Americans. The author is quick to praise or condemn either nation's performance, so I'd say he is fairly balanced with his writing....unless you're a MacArthur fan. If you like Dugout Doug you maaayyy want to skip this book.
My one criticism concerns the maps. Maps are overall battles or areas while the book spend a lot of time describing unit actions. I don't think the maps are detailed enough to reflect the described events.
Well worth the read, particularly since it is about an unknown piece of WWII.