Into the Rising Sun: In Their Own Words, World War II's Pacific Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat

by Patrick K. O'Donnell

Book Overview

In his award-winning book Beyond Valor, Patrick O'Donnell reveals the true nature of the European Theater in World War II, as told by those who survived. Now, with Into the Rising Sun, O'Donnell tells... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743214803
• ISBN13: 9780743214803
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.8" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

One of the most honest books about combat in the Pacific War

Well, if other reviews don't say it already, this book was one of the more brutally honest books written about war against Japan. Its honest because its brutally politically incorrect. The American soldiers who relates their stories, tell not only of the horrors that the Japanese troops committed but additional horrors of what they did to the Japanese troops. This was no-hold bar combat, where there were no "good guys" or "bad guys" per say. The stories related in this book was all about killing, surviving and living on. In doing so, anything goes and there were no rules. It may be that many general readers may be kind of shock to read so honest account. Some of them may not like the read how the Americans in these pages acted with certain amount of brutality that almost mirror their enemies. But then, what is war after all, right?

Memoirs of the Pacific War by the Men who Fought There

Author Patrick O'Donnell has done a masterful job of interviewing surviving Pacific war veterans for this marvelous book. From the first American offensive at Guadalcanal to the final shots on Okinawa, McDonnell's interviews take the reader into the heart of combat in the Pacific. Often graphic and touching at the same time, these interviews tell the reader firsthand what it was like to fight against the Japanese. The soldiers often speak of the horrors of war, such as having a buddy die in their arms, seeing a fellow soldier break down mentally, or facing the atrocities of the Japanese, such as cannibalism of dead American soldiers.The heart-felt interviews by these veterans were touching to read, and they brought a human element to the war. Many of the vets said that they tried to never get too close to another soldier because of the risk of death, but inevitably, friendships were formed, and when someone died, it usually affected other soldiers in a very personal way. Many of these men would cry like babies after losing a buddy, especially if his dying had saved someone else's life. Uncommon valor was a common virtue amongst these men. The vets spoke of men hurling themselves on live grenades to save their platoon or crawling great distances under enemy fire to rescue a wounded comrade. Compassion was also talked about by the vets. American soldiers on Okinawa continuously helped the civillian population after the Japanese tried to use them as human shields to stop the Americans.This book moved me in a way I've never felt by a book before. I found myself grimmacing with every bullet wound and crying with the men as they discussed the death of a friend or some horrible act committed by the Japanese. This book offers a perspective on the war which can only be told by the men themselves. I highly recommend this excellent work. The stories contained inside will truly move you, and I'm sure your emotions will come out as well.

Elite Units of

Reading "Into the Rising Sun" takes one to places of great emotion and leaves the reader's mind going over and over what those courageous Forces went through and had experienced. If you want the truth of battle and just what took place, this is the book to read. Mr. O'Donnell's book "Beyond Valor" is emotionally charged reading. Now, "Into the Rising Sun" gives oral histories a new and deeper perspective. The variation of Airborne, Rangers, Marine Raiders, Paramarines and Merrill's Marauders' stories go to the heart. From bloodshed, cannibalism, distribution of body parts on the battlefield to the compassion of Marines taking care of a crying baby are just a part of what can be found in the author's expertise of drawing out the many stories of these great men. For those that returned -- their lives went on building families and careers, but feeling and knowing that they had done the job of their country's call. They are the forerunners of our Elite & Special forces of today of whom we can be so very proud. Mr. O'Donnell, thank you for bringing to 'life & lite' one of the greatest wars of time and introducing us to yet, more of it's 'heroes' as no other as done. Recommend: Beyond Valor, Author Patrick O'Donnell

Compelling and Thoroughly Readable

Despite the publicity,inside and outside historical circles, of such oral historians as Ambrose and Gerald Astor, Patrick O'Donnell must rank as a "rising star" in the genre of the art of interviews. His current work is nothing less than brilliant covering a subject that has been somewhat neglected--the land war in the Pacific and Asia. INTO THE RISING SUN grips the reader with accounts of combat that are nothing less than compelling,fascinating and mesmerizing. Of particular interest is the section on Merrill's Marauders, one of the least researched units during the war. O'Donnell, as in his previous work on the European war, organizes his work into chonological sequence thereby providing the reader with not only a factual based account of World War II, but a topical one as well. But what makes the book so thought-provoking is O'Donnell's ability to evoke emotion from these men who were tempered by an economic depression which had existed for more than l0 years prior to Pearl Harbor. The stereotype of the hardened veteran, oblivious to any feelings at all, is dispelled in INTO THE RISING SUN as numerous vets disclose (many for the first time) their perspectives on seeing friends and the enemy meeting sudden and horrendously violent deaths. As is widely noted, the World War II generation is passing on at the rate of more than l000 per day but with works such as INTO THE RISING SUN their legacy will continue so that future generations can understand (and appreciate) what these men did in the most difficult of circumstances. Of the spate of World War II books release in the past few years, this one must rank as a true contribution to the literary side of the war.