E-raamat: Commanding the Pacific

Stephen R. Taaffe's Commanding the Pacific is an instant classic. Readers interested in the Marine Corps, combat leadership, and World War II will find it invaluable. In combination with his previous works, this outstanding volume highlights Taaffe as the preeminent scholar on senior command in the U.S. military during America's wars." William A. Taylor, author of Military Service and American Democracy; Lee Drain Endowed University Professorship, Angelo State University

"In Commanding the Pacific, Stephen R. Taaffe puts on a writing clinic as he blends biographical sketches and personality studies with a historical narrative of the strategic and operational levels of the Pacific War. He also effortlessly weaves analysis into this mix. Readers can also glean lessons and habits of mind about leadership and teamwork." David J. Ulbrich, author of Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Marine Corps, 1939-1943

"Stephen R. Taafe has written a long-overdue history of the commanding generals of the six large combat divisions fielded by the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Because of the far-flung nature of combat in the Pacific,1941-1945, the performance of many of these crucial division commanders has been overlooked by historians. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. While the author does not hesitate to criticize some of these division commanders, most of whom had never commanded formations larger than a single regiment, his excellent history highlights the tremendous difficulty the entire Navy-Marine Corps team faced, especially toward the end of the war, when the Japanese decided that fanatical last-stand defensive efforts, like the ones conducted on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, were the best way to convince the Americans to not even contemplate an invasion of their home islands." Charles P. Neimeyer, Ph.D., professor, Naval War College, Fleet Support Program

"Much of our understanding of the Marine Corps in World War II has been shaped by the perspectives of the fighting men. Dutifully researched and exceptionally written, Commanding in the Pacific provides a much-needed analysis of USMC leadership to allow a fuller comprehension and appreciation of the Marine experience." Bradford A. Wineman, professor of military history, U.S. Marine Corps Command & Staff College