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The Corps #3
Counterattack
No one captures the drama of war as brilliantly as bestselling author W.E.B. Griffin!From the devastating surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to America’s first bold counterstrike against the Japanese on the beaches of Guadalcanal, this compelling story takes you to the front lines of victory and defeat—and into the very heart of courage, loyalty, and valor. It is a heroic story of pride and passion you will never forget...
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 1990
About the author
W.E.B. Griffin
280 books1,246 followersW.E.B. Griffin was one of several pseudonyms for William E. Butterworth III.
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
From the Authors Website:
W.E.B. Griffin was the #1 best-selling author of more than fifty epic novels in seven series, all of which have made The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and other best-seller lists. More than fifty million of the books are in print in more than ten languages, including Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Mr. Griffin grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. After basic training, he received counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Germany, and ultimately to the staff of then-Major General I.D. White, commander of the U.S. Constabulary.
In 1951, Mr. Griffin was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, interrupting his education at Phillips University, Marburg an der Lahn, Germany. In Korea he earned the Combat Infantry Badge as a combat correspondent and later served as acting X Corps (Group) information officer under Lieutenant General White.
On his release from active duty in 1953, Mr. Griffin was appointed Chief of the Publications Division of the U.S. Army Signal Aviation Test & Support Activity at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Mr. Griffin was a member of the Special Operations Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Army Aviation Association, the Armor Association, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society.
He was the 1991 recipient of the Brigadier General Robert L. Dening Memorial Distinguished Service Award of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, and the August 1999 recipient of the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, presented at the 100th National Convention in Kansas City.
He has been vested into the Order of St. George of the U.S. Armor Association, and the Order of St. Andrew of the U.S. Army Aviation Association, and been awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees by Norwich University, the nation’s first and oldest private military college, and by Troy State University (Ala.). He was the graduation dinner speaker for the class of 1988 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He has been awarded honorary membership in the Special Forces Association, the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, the Marine Raiders Association, and the U.S. Army Otter & Caribou Association. In January 2003, he was made a life member of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
He was the co-founder, with historian Colonel Carlo D’Este, of the William E. Colby Seminar on Intelligence, Military, and Diplomatic Affairs. (Details here and here)
He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. And he belongs to the Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Pensacola, Florida, chapters of the Flat Earth Society.
Mr. Griffin’s novels, known for their historical accuracy, have been praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for their “fierce, stop-for-nothing scenes.”
“Nothing honors me more than a serviceman, veteran, or cop telling me he enjoys reading my books,” Mr. Griffin says.
Mr. Griffin divides his time between the Gulf Coast and Buenos Aires.
Notes:
Other Pseudonyms
* Alex Baldwin
* Webb Beech
* Walker E. Blake
* W.E. Butterworth
* James McM. Douglas
* Eden Hughes
* Edmund O. Scholefield
* Patrick J. Williams
* W. E. Butterworth
* John Kevin Dugan
* Jac
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 13, 2022
This novel is less tightly bound together than the previous two in the series as the U.S. moves into World War II and Griffin picks up many of the supporting cast members of the previous two novels and elevates them into primary roles. Disappointingly, Ken “Killer” McCoy and Malcom “Pick” Pickering have almost no role in the entire novel.
Counterattack chronicles the U.S.’s efforts to gear up in the Pacific campaign as the Japanese continue to set the tempo of the war. As this is a series about the marine corps, the navy is never the focus except for one officer, the former marine corporal turned shipping magnate turned naval officer, Captain Pickering (father of Pick Pickering from the earlier books). Pickering reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy and his function in this novel is to help us understand from an eagle eye view what is happening in the overall conduct of the Pacific War. He is our insight into MacArthur and the politics between the army and navy command structures.
Mostly, though, as he always does, Griffin gives us a grounds eye look at how things get done in the marine corps. We see the early marine parachutists training. We see the marine press corps trying to raise the country’s morale. We see men getting ready to go into harm’s way. We get an absolutely fascinating look at the Australian Coast Watchers—brave men and women who reported on Japanese movements at the literal risk of their lives. And all of this leads to the landing on Guadalcanal after Griffin has effortlessly shown the reader why the entire Pacific theater depends on preventing the Japanese from getting an airbase functioning on the island
In many ways, this book appears to be setting up the rest of the series. It’s a little high on romantic drama, but mostly what it does is establish the characters whom I presume we will be following in the next novel. That being said, it is not a slow-moving story by any means. I’m very anxious to continue reading about the corps.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Counterattack chronicles the U.S.’s efforts to gear up in the Pacific campaign as the Japanese continue to set the tempo of the war. As this is a series about the marine corps, the navy is never the focus except for one officer, the former marine corporal turned shipping magnate turned naval officer, Captain Pickering (father of Pick Pickering from the earlier books). Pickering reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy and his function in this novel is to help us understand from an eagle eye view what is happening in the overall conduct of the Pacific War. He is our insight into MacArthur and the politics between the army and navy command structures.
Mostly, though, as he always does, Griffin gives us a grounds eye look at how things get done in the marine corps. We see the early marine parachutists training. We see the marine press corps trying to raise the country’s morale. We see men getting ready to go into harm’s way. We get an absolutely fascinating look at the Australian Coast Watchers—brave men and women who reported on Japanese movements at the literal risk of their lives. And all of this leads to the landing on Guadalcanal after Griffin has effortlessly shown the reader why the entire Pacific theater depends on preventing the Japanese from getting an airbase functioning on the island
In many ways, this book appears to be setting up the rest of the series. It’s a little high on romantic drama, but mostly what it does is establish the characters whom I presume we will be following in the next novel. That being said, it is not a slow-moving story by any means. I’m very anxious to continue reading about the corps.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
September 20, 2019
Reading these books in reverse order, which is the way Amazon is feeding them to me without telling me the number, is kind of fascinating. This one starts with Pearl Harbor and we're introduced to characters we're already familiar with from subsequent books. I see Joe Howard and Stgeve Koeffler start out on a mission I've already read the running of, and extraction from. I see them meet women I already know them as married to. It's actually kind of fun that way.
We're also introduced to Lt. Macklin, one of the great flaming assholes of literature. Actually he was introduced in an earlier one than this, but I'd forgotten that. I tend to think this is one of Griffin's best, and they're all superb. Highest recommendation.
We're also introduced to Lt. Macklin, one of the great flaming assholes of literature. Actually he was introduced in an earlier one than this, but I'd forgotten that. I tend to think this is one of Griffin's best, and they're all superb. Highest recommendation.
January 22, 2018
Another winner from Griffin. Of course. He's a master of giving an inside look at the military.
March 24, 2015
I fell in love with Griffin's series about the Corps and have read all his awesome works. I can't recall reading a more engaging series with characters all so rich and colorful each of them could be an awesome novel of their own. But Griffin smashes them all together into one nuclear story.
Amazingly colorful characters - Kenneth "Killer" Kelley and his gorgeous wife Ernestine Sage, Jack "NMI" Stecker, Pick Pickering, Sgt Zimmerman, etc....... The list just goes on and on and they never lose their color, their connections to one another, or their vitality throughout the entire series.
I found Griffin's ability to play his characters off of historically real people, events, hell, even US companies were woven into this amazing work, from hotel chain owners to ship builders were played into his storyline.
Once I read the first - "Semper Fi," I was waiting in line for the bookstore to open on release day for the next in the sequence.
Most certainly my all-time favorite military fiction novels. Well, until the Brotherhood of War series came out and claimed some shelf space for my favorite(s).
Amazingly colorful characters - Kenneth "Killer" Kelley and his gorgeous wife Ernestine Sage, Jack "NMI" Stecker, Pick Pickering, Sgt Zimmerman, etc....... The list just goes on and on and they never lose their color, their connections to one another, or their vitality throughout the entire series.
I found Griffin's ability to play his characters off of historically real people, events, hell, even US companies were woven into this amazing work, from hotel chain owners to ship builders were played into his storyline.
Once I read the first - "Semper Fi," I was waiting in line for the bookstore to open on release day for the next in the sequence.
Most certainly my all-time favorite military fiction novels. Well, until the Brotherhood of War series came out and claimed some shelf space for my favorite(s).
November 16, 2020
This book annoyed the hell out of me. Griffin starts the series with two linear books containing interesting and engaging characters and the third book where you're expecting more of the exploits of these young warriors. . . and you get a massive jump back in time to December 7th and work forward from there. Pick Pickering's father plays a major role. A civilian given a Navy commission as a captain and sent by and under orders only from the Secretary of the Navy. Captains Banning and Stecker reprise minimal supporting roles. Much of the story takes place in Australia where MacArthur and the Navy are at war with each other as much as with the Japanese. There is TOO much talking. Board room manuvers, just talk, talk, talk. Lieutenant Macklin puts in a couple of appearances and manages to sour the story with his despicable behavior.
This took a while to read and I'm hoping the 4th book picks up better. Even the combat scenes in this book were boring or delivered after the fact.
This took a while to read and I'm hoping the 4th book picks up better. Even the combat scenes in this book were boring or delivered after the fact.
January 26, 2021
It was intriguing to say the least. I liked how the story followed many different characters, and following some of the same characters from the other books. I hope to see more of Lt. McCoy in the next book
January 18, 2021
Excellent character development and a non-standard way of looking at the Marines. Excited for the next one.
Read
September 2, 2019The attack on Pearl Harbor began from the Japanese Carrier Task Force 300 miles to the north. The attack began at 0755 hours with the other groups attacking afterward. The attack was successful. Most of the United States Pacific feet was destroyed and the United States entered World War II.
Counterattack: The Corps, by W.E.B. Griffin, is the story of the war in the Pacific from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the invasion of Guadalcanal. The book focuses on the Marine Corps and the various men and women who were involved in the war in the Pacific. The novel opens with the attack on Pearl Harbor and describes where some of the characters were and what they did. Many of the characters in the book have known one another for years, having served together in different parts of the world. The book follows them from assignment to assignment as America prepared for the invasion of Guadalcanal. Many of the book's major characters came together as different parts of the invasion force.
Griffin does a good job of showing the characters as human, from the wealthy Fleming Pickering who went to work for the Secretary of the Navy, to Joe Howard, who was afraid during the Pearl Harbor attack and then volunteers for a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. Each of the characters dealt with the war in his own way, and contributed to the war effort. Pickering, a wealthy shipping magnate, sold his ocean liners to the Navy and made the rest of his Pacific fleet available to the government. He had been a Marine in the First World War and wanted to serve again but accepts a position as an adviser to the Secretary of the Navy, obtaining intelligence. He was one of the first to learn of the Australian Coastwatchers and helped to form an American team to work with them. Pickering held this advisory position until the end of the book.
Most of the characters were not wealthy and powerful. Steve Koffler was from East Orange, New Jersey and the Marines never knew he was an amateur radio operator until he became a member of Special Detachment 14, right before the invasion. He volunteered for parachute school because he didn't like his assignment as a draftsman. He wasn't happy as a parachutist and had problems with this superiors, so he volunteered for Banning's Special Detachment 14, and was dropped behind enemy lines with Joe Howard right before the invasions.
Counterattack The Corps is basically a story of the people. The reader watches how operation PESTILENCE was put together in terms of the characters and the assignment they had. The reader sees how the different special units came into being, from the idea stage through the procurement and training stages. The men, like Koffler, would volunteer for various assignments not knowing what was involved, because of secrecy.
The novel, which is historically based, is easy reading and well worth the reader's time. Although it is a little slow in the beginning as the characters are being introduced, it quickly gains momentum and holds the reader's interest. As the momentum builds, it becomes hard and harder to put the novel down.
Counterattack: The Corps, by W.E.B. Griffin, is the story of the war in the Pacific from the attack on Pearl Harbor until the invasion of Guadalcanal. The book focuses on the Marine Corps and the various men and women who were involved in the war in the Pacific. The novel opens with the attack on Pearl Harbor and describes where some of the characters were and what they did. Many of the characters in the book have known one another for years, having served together in different parts of the world. The book follows them from assignment to assignment as America prepared for the invasion of Guadalcanal. Many of the book's major characters came together as different parts of the invasion force.
Griffin does a good job of showing the characters as human, from the wealthy Fleming Pickering who went to work for the Secretary of the Navy, to Joe Howard, who was afraid during the Pearl Harbor attack and then volunteers for a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. Each of the characters dealt with the war in his own way, and contributed to the war effort. Pickering, a wealthy shipping magnate, sold his ocean liners to the Navy and made the rest of his Pacific fleet available to the government. He had been a Marine in the First World War and wanted to serve again but accepts a position as an adviser to the Secretary of the Navy, obtaining intelligence. He was one of the first to learn of the Australian Coastwatchers and helped to form an American team to work with them. Pickering held this advisory position until the end of the book.
Most of the characters were not wealthy and powerful. Steve Koffler was from East Orange, New Jersey and the Marines never knew he was an amateur radio operator until he became a member of Special Detachment 14, right before the invasion. He volunteered for parachute school because he didn't like his assignment as a draftsman. He wasn't happy as a parachutist and had problems with this superiors, so he volunteered for Banning's Special Detachment 14, and was dropped behind enemy lines with Joe Howard right before the invasions.
Counterattack The Corps is basically a story of the people. The reader watches how operation PESTILENCE was put together in terms of the characters and the assignment they had. The reader sees how the different special units came into being, from the idea stage through the procurement and training stages. The men, like Koffler, would volunteer for various assignments not knowing what was involved, because of secrecy.
The novel, which is historically based, is easy reading and well worth the reader's time. Although it is a little slow in the beginning as the characters are being introduced, it quickly gains momentum and holds the reader's interest. As the momentum builds, it becomes hard and harder to put the novel down.
June 15, 2017
I love how W.E.B.Griffin spins a tale that is immersed in fact and fiction. In this book we start with the attack on Pearl Harbor and it goes from there. Mainly when we read books about war we read about the war in Europe not in the South Pacific. One of the characters I can't name cus it's kinda funny who it is that winds up working for SecNav, well he winds up in Australia with General Douglas MacArthur. Even though this is fiction the battles and what happened to the Marines on the islands are facts. I learned more about the war between the Japanese and US reading these books than I did in school.
October 13, 2018
COUNTERATTACK (book 3) is a continuation of SEMPER FI (book 1) and CALL TO ARMS (book 2). Since it is a sequel, reading the first two novels is necessary to get a full grasp of COUNTERATTACK. It is not, however, as good as the first two. Familiar characters from the first two books remain and new characters are introduced.
COUNTERATTACK is mostly about non-combat events in the US and Australia. One of the storylines is the creation of the Para-Marines. “Scumbag” Lieutenant R.B. Macklin involvement in the Para-Marines is reminiscent of David Schwimmer portrayal of Captain Sobel in BAND OF BROTHERS.
Three books down, seven more books to go.
COUNTERATTACK is mostly about non-combat events in the US and Australia. One of the storylines is the creation of the Para-Marines. “Scumbag” Lieutenant R.B. Macklin involvement in the Para-Marines is reminiscent of David Schwimmer portrayal of Captain Sobel in BAND OF BROTHERS.
Three books down, seven more books to go.
April 15, 2022
I absolutely love all of the WWII series by W.E.B. Griffin...They're meticulously researched and well-written, page-turning military thrillers...Love them...I hope his estate will find a legacy author to continue some the series...In this 3rd installment of the combined soap opera and Marine Corps history, we find the US barely hanging on in the Pacific, with even Australia threatened...We're taken right up to the efforts at Guadalcanal...Just great stuff!!!
June 7, 2020
Another W.E.B. Griffin book that���s part of yet another series. These books are kind of strange in that I find them quite enjoyable, yet when I describe the books to someone, I’m a bit mystified by my appeal. I guess you really have to read them to “get it”. So give credit to the author. This series (like the first one I read by him, “The Brotherhood of War”) is about the military. Specifically, this book, the third in the series titled “The Corps”, takes place in World War II. It starts directly after Pearl Harbor and finishes with the landing at Guadalcanal.
Like most of his military books, there really isn’t that much “war” within the pages. The book mainly deals with many of the soldiers (in the Marine Corps; of course) and their training, their assignments, and the overall politics of military life. The characters mostly repeat from book to book in the series, yet as I recall, the events and timeline in this book run parallel to Book 2. So some similar characters, but a lot of new ones. There’s almost TOO many new ones.
Fortunately, every time the author introduces a new character, he spends an adequate amount of page space detailing the person and their background. This allows us not to lose the individual in the “shuffle” since after we meet them for a chapter, we might not read about them again until 100 pages later or so.
Again, there’s a LOT of actors in this particular play. Then, of course, every time we’re reintroduced to a recurring character from a previous book in the series, we read a lengthy background about them as well. Even though we “should” be familiar already with these characters, Griffin is smart enough to know most readers probably won’t retain the characters and their histories over such a large period of time.
We read an awful lot about politics within the ranks, and this really shouldn’t surprise us. Not all soldiers are warm, cordial, and loving to each other and there’s plenty of jealousy and backstabbing amongst the members of the corps. It seems the higher one goes up the chain in terms of military rank, the more tension and resentment occurs.
Of course, then we come to the women in the story. Now, I’m not sure if this author would be considered sexist or liberating when discussing his female characters. The only reason that there are ANY women in this book, is so she can quickly shack up with one of marine corps members quicker than you can say Semper Fi. Maybe I’m naïve, but were all women that slutty in the 1940s? I would hope not. I mean Every. Single. Time a woman enters our story she’s quickly in bed with one of the soldiers. Of course, there’s always women who enter our story who are already engaged or married to a soldier fighting in the war sometime, but the author always manages to kill off the boyfriend/husband in battle so our female characters can quickly hook up with a soldier. It seems awfully silly at times. The only thing more ubiquitous than the sex in these stories is the booze. It seems every officer, in every situation is never far away from a liquor cabinet stocked with cases of Scotch. Again, maybe this was par for the course during the times.
I think the only thing that I really didn’t like about this book is that we have one marine captain who reports directly to (real) Secretary of Navy Frank Knox. When our captain sends the Secretary confidential “eyes only” documents, Griffin decides to include the whole correspondence within the secret files; meticulously detailed in a different font than the rest of the book so it “stands” out as being different. This isn’t bad by itself, but the correspondence that our character sends seems awfully detailed with useless trivial details about matters mostly inconsequential. Don’t cabinet members have more important things to do with their time than read such insignificant ramblings? I mean, if I’m bored as a reader, I can only imagine how the Secretary of the Navy felt.
So not a lot of war, but a pretty decent story with a lot of “how it really works” as far as military matters go. These books are quite light reading even if they’re not necessarily brief. It’s best, though, to start at the beginning if you’re going to read any of the books in the series. Not crucial, but best.
Like most of his military books, there really isn’t that much “war” within the pages. The book mainly deals with many of the soldiers (in the Marine Corps; of course) and their training, their assignments, and the overall politics of military life. The characters mostly repeat from book to book in the series, yet as I recall, the events and timeline in this book run parallel to Book 2. So some similar characters, but a lot of new ones. There’s almost TOO many new ones.
Fortunately, every time the author introduces a new character, he spends an adequate amount of page space detailing the person and their background. This allows us not to lose the individual in the “shuffle” since after we meet them for a chapter, we might not read about them again until 100 pages later or so.
Again, there’s a LOT of actors in this particular play. Then, of course, every time we’re reintroduced to a recurring character from a previous book in the series, we read a lengthy background about them as well. Even though we “should” be familiar already with these characters, Griffin is smart enough to know most readers probably won’t retain the characters and their histories over such a large period of time.
We read an awful lot about politics within the ranks, and this really shouldn’t surprise us. Not all soldiers are warm, cordial, and loving to each other and there’s plenty of jealousy and backstabbing amongst the members of the corps. It seems the higher one goes up the chain in terms of military rank, the more tension and resentment occurs.
Of course, then we come to the women in the story. Now, I’m not sure if this author would be considered sexist or liberating when discussing his female characters. The only reason that there are ANY women in this book, is so she can quickly shack up with one of marine corps members quicker than you can say Semper Fi. Maybe I’m naïve, but were all women that slutty in the 1940s? I would hope not. I mean Every. Single. Time a woman enters our story she’s quickly in bed with one of the soldiers. Of course, there’s always women who enter our story who are already engaged or married to a soldier fighting in the war sometime, but the author always manages to kill off the boyfriend/husband in battle so our female characters can quickly hook up with a soldier. It seems awfully silly at times. The only thing more ubiquitous than the sex in these stories is the booze. It seems every officer, in every situation is never far away from a liquor cabinet stocked with cases of Scotch. Again, maybe this was par for the course during the times.
I think the only thing that I really didn’t like about this book is that we have one marine captain who reports directly to (real) Secretary of Navy Frank Knox. When our captain sends the Secretary confidential “eyes only” documents, Griffin decides to include the whole correspondence within the secret files; meticulously detailed in a different font than the rest of the book so it “stands” out as being different. This isn’t bad by itself, but the correspondence that our character sends seems awfully detailed with useless trivial details about matters mostly inconsequential. Don’t cabinet members have more important things to do with their time than read such insignificant ramblings? I mean, if I’m bored as a reader, I can only imagine how the Secretary of the Navy felt.
So not a lot of war, but a pretty decent story with a lot of “how it really works” as far as military matters go. These books are quite light reading even if they’re not necessarily brief. It’s best, though, to start at the beginning if you’re going to read any of the books in the series. Not crucial, but best.
May 30, 2019
As usual, W.E.B. Griffin knocks it out of the park. With this book, I have read his entire Men at War Series. I listened to the entire series when I was a truck driver. I also recommend his Presidential Agent seriesW.E.B. GriffinLieutenantsThe MajorsCaptainsLieutenantsRetreat, Hell!The Fighting AgentsHonor BoundThe SaboteursThe Soldier SpiesThe HostageThe HuntersThe OutlawsBy Order of the PresidentThe ShootersBlack OpsCovert Warriors[book:W.E.B. GRIFFIN: SERIES READING ORDER: A READ TO LIVE, LIVE TO READ CHECKLIST THE PRESIDENTIAL AGENT BADGE OF HONOR THE CORPS HONOR BOUND THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR THE CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS |11203932]Hazardous Duty
June 6, 2019
This is the third book in the series.
This book centers on the heroes friends and family from the past 2 books in the series. This change in the series completely confused and made me stop to make sure I was reading the right series. The author gave you no reason for this change - it just happened. A few times our past hero or one of his other close friends are mentioned, but you gain nothing from it other than for the stories to be linked up.
While the heroes and heroines in this story once again (once you get past it not being the same hero/heroine and basically tells a story from other points of view) gets you to like and almost bond with them, but the long drawn out descriptions in areas where they are not needed and the overabundance of sub characters make you want to pull your hair out.
The plot and the main character along with some of the many (and I mean MANY) sub characters are good but again are well over and truly overdone. In areas you don't understand why the author has taken you down this area of the story line at all. The characters you want to know about are few and far between, and leaves you wanting more for them and going what the...? regarding the other bits.
There are more books in the series, but this is much better than the past series I read. I have given the author 3 chances to reduce and weave these plots together, but I can't do it any longer. Do I want to know about the characters and their outcomes? Sure due but not at the risk of turning bald because of the frustration of time wasting on things I don't need to know or are repeated as towards the middle to end of the book, he starts to repeat descriptions of where they are or where they are talking about.
I've shelved the series because I just can't handle the stories due to what I've put above. Good luck fair soldiers says this Navy sailor's brat.
This book centers on the heroes friends and family from the past 2 books in the series. This change in the series completely confused and made me stop to make sure I was reading the right series. The author gave you no reason for this change - it just happened. A few times our past hero or one of his other close friends are mentioned, but you gain nothing from it other than for the stories to be linked up.
While the heroes and heroines in this story once again (once you get past it not being the same hero/heroine and basically tells a story from other points of view) gets you to like and almost bond with them, but the long drawn out descriptions in areas where they are not needed and the overabundance of sub characters make you want to pull your hair out.
The plot and the main character along with some of the many (and I mean MANY) sub characters are good but again are well over and truly overdone. In areas you don't understand why the author has taken you down this area of the story line at all. The characters you want to know about are few and far between, and leaves you wanting more for them and going what the...? regarding the other bits.
There are more books in the series, but this is much better than the past series I read. I have given the author 3 chances to reduce and weave these plots together, but I can't do it any longer. Do I want to know about the characters and their outcomes? Sure due but not at the risk of turning bald because of the frustration of time wasting on things I don't need to know or are repeated as towards the middle to end of the book, he starts to repeat descriptions of where they are or where they are talking about.
I've shelved the series because I just can't handle the stories due to what I've put above. Good luck fair soldiers says this Navy sailor's brat.
January 27, 2021
I'm through the third of this series-- and I think I'm fading...
Griffin does a WONDERFUL job with the history of World War II in the Pacific. He manages to present the Pacific war's logistics and the reasons for the choices made in a clear and exciting manner.
However, if you are looking for an exciting middle-of-the-action series set in the Pacific theater, this isn't it. With only a few snippets of battle action in each volume. Instead, Griffin spends his time demonstrating the bureaucracy of the Marine Corps and the endless red tape. He demonstrates the cleverness of his characters in finding shortcuts through the red tape. Almost every major character manages to obtain a promotion, usually through the intervention of another officer.
Griffin wants us to understand that Marines are virile men. Therefore, there is more focus on the sexual hookups and connections that our heroes make. While I recognize that it was war time and people moved a bit faster due to the recognition of their own mortality-- Griffin's focus appears designed to create a men's series-- with almost every one of our heroes making a James Bondish immediate connection with the women he meets or wants.
Despite those flaws-- Griffin manages to keep the reader turning the pages to see what obstacles the bureaucracy faces... For example, when the Marines seek to form a commando type unit- one of our heroes is spent to spy on the man organizing the group-- to hopefully prove he is either incompetent, insane, or a communist. This is due to the regime within the Marines and their resistance to reorganization.
Interesting reading-- but FAR from World War II action.. at least through the third volume. Simply a snippet of actual combat near the conclusion.... Everything is is described in after action reports of sorts.
Griffin does a WONDERFUL job with the history of World War II in the Pacific. He manages to present the Pacific war's logistics and the reasons for the choices made in a clear and exciting manner.
However, if you are looking for an exciting middle-of-the-action series set in the Pacific theater, this isn't it. With only a few snippets of battle action in each volume. Instead, Griffin spends his time demonstrating the bureaucracy of the Marine Corps and the endless red tape. He demonstrates the cleverness of his characters in finding shortcuts through the red tape. Almost every major character manages to obtain a promotion, usually through the intervention of another officer.
Griffin wants us to understand that Marines are virile men. Therefore, there is more focus on the sexual hookups and connections that our heroes make. While I recognize that it was war time and people moved a bit faster due to the recognition of their own mortality-- Griffin's focus appears designed to create a men's series-- with almost every one of our heroes making a James Bondish immediate connection with the women he meets or wants.
Despite those flaws-- Griffin manages to keep the reader turning the pages to see what obstacles the bureaucracy faces... For example, when the Marines seek to form a commando type unit- one of our heroes is spent to spy on the man organizing the group-- to hopefully prove he is either incompetent, insane, or a communist. This is due to the regime within the Marines and their resistance to reorganization.
Interesting reading-- but FAR from World War II action.. at least through the third volume. Simply a snippet of actual combat near the conclusion.... Everything is is described in after action reports of sorts.
May 27, 2021
It sounds strange to say this, but W.E.B. Griffin military historical fiction novels are a form of literary comfort food for me. He had a way if inserting his fictional characters, Forrest Gump-like, into real historical situations so we could see them shine without changing history, and his research is usually excellent.
He has a set number of character archetypes who come across as old friends:
* the talented, privileged screwup who somehow comes through when it counts;
* the working-class stiff who works his way through college and over the course of a series rises to high up in the military;
* the sergeant who may start off tearing strips off our heroes' asses, but who by the second or third book at the latest is part of the Band of Brothers;
* the powerful patrician who can't be kept from dashing for the front the moment the bugle is blown (occasionally, he'll put up some token protest), and takes an avuncular interest in our heroes;
* a bunch of kids who grow up in combat, and are often expert in one or two essential areas; and
* Nature's Nobleman who, despite coming from the lowest or most obscure place imaginable, rises through the ranks via innate talent, A Certain Set of Skills, and a genius for whatever form of combat he needs to handle.
This book, largely about Gen. Douglas MacArthur moving from the Philippines to Australia, and planning strategies to both protect Australia and New Zealand, and to retake the islands the Japanese took in the early months of the war, contains fairly little of Griffin's characters, except for U.S. Navy Captain Fleming Pickering (the Powerful Patrician — an ex-Marine who, at the behest of the Secretary of the Navy, finds himself in a naval uniform as a roving fixer/pair of eyes). He, and we, get to see MacArthur at work, and clearly Griffin both deeply admires and is well aware of the pettiness and eccentric behaviors of "El Supremo" (as pretty much everybody calls him...but not to his face!).
We also meet a couple of Kids — Lt. John Howard, an armorer who blames himself for losing it at Pearl Harbor — after he'd distributed weapons to all the soldiers there, which was his job!; and Cpl. Steve Koffler, who barely looks old enough to be enlisted, but is a ham radio enthusiast and typist, and goes to parachuting school so he's the best man available to drop and operate a radio behind Japanese lines with some "Coastwatchers", who are reporting back to Melbourne what the Japanese are doing if they're behind the lines as a mix of intelligence asset and guerilla units. Howard goes with him because Koffler knows radios but couldn't tell a Japanese Zero from a Sopwith Camel, and part of Howard's previous job was planespotting (hopefully without the aid of controlled substances!).
Near the end of the book, the U.S. Navy in the Pacific decide to retake the Solomon Islands, over MacArthur's objections. It turns out that history proves MacArthur right, as the Battle of Guadalcanal proves to be what's euphemistically called a "Charlie-Foxtrot" (the wrong troop carriers, trucks which can't drive on sand, and Japanese snipers making matters interesting for the Marines). The Marines take Guadalcanal, but...they don't really get rid of the Japanese, which leads to problems down the line.
Oh, and our least-favorite Marine of all, Lt. R.B. Macklin, who assumes he's naturally better than some Mustang like McCoy, Howard (or Flem Pickering, for that matter!) because he is an Annapolis grad, .
If you're following this series, then you'll enjoy this book.
He has a set number of character archetypes who come across as old friends:
* the talented, privileged screwup who somehow comes through when it counts;
* the working-class stiff who works his way through college and over the course of a series rises to high up in the military;
* the sergeant who may start off tearing strips off our heroes' asses, but who by the second or third book at the latest is part of the Band of Brothers;
* the powerful patrician who can't be kept from dashing for the front the moment the bugle is blown (occasionally, he'll put up some token protest), and takes an avuncular interest in our heroes;
* a bunch of kids who grow up in combat, and are often expert in one or two essential areas; and
* Nature's Nobleman who, despite coming from the lowest or most obscure place imaginable, rises through the ranks via innate talent, A Certain Set of Skills, and a genius for whatever form of combat he needs to handle.
This book, largely about Gen. Douglas MacArthur moving from the Philippines to Australia, and planning strategies to both protect Australia and New Zealand, and to retake the islands the Japanese took in the early months of the war, contains fairly little of Griffin's characters, except for U.S. Navy Captain Fleming Pickering (the Powerful Patrician — an ex-Marine who, at the behest of the Secretary of the Navy, finds himself in a naval uniform as a roving fixer/pair of eyes). He, and we, get to see MacArthur at work, and clearly Griffin both deeply admires and is well aware of the pettiness and eccentric behaviors of "El Supremo" (as pretty much everybody calls him...but not to his face!).
We also meet a couple of Kids — Lt. John Howard, an armorer who blames himself for losing it at Pearl Harbor — after he'd distributed weapons to all the soldiers there, which was his job!; and Cpl. Steve Koffler, who barely looks old enough to be enlisted, but is a ham radio enthusiast and typist, and goes to parachuting school so he's the best man available to drop and operate a radio behind Japanese lines with some "Coastwatchers", who are reporting back to Melbourne what the Japanese are doing if they're behind the lines as a mix of intelligence asset and guerilla units. Howard goes with him because Koffler knows radios but couldn't tell a Japanese Zero from a Sopwith Camel, and part of Howard's previous job was planespotting (hopefully without the aid of controlled substances!).
Near the end of the book, the U.S. Navy in the Pacific decide to retake the Solomon Islands, over MacArthur's objections. It turns out that history proves MacArthur right, as the Battle of Guadalcanal proves to be what's euphemistically called a "Charlie-Foxtrot" (the wrong troop carriers, trucks which can't drive on sand, and Japanese snipers making matters interesting for the Marines). The Marines take Guadalcanal, but...they don't really get rid of the Japanese, which leads to problems down the line.
Oh, and our least-favorite Marine of all, Lt. R.B. Macklin, who assumes he's naturally better than some Mustang like McCoy, Howard (or Flem Pickering, for that matter!) because he is an Annapolis grad, .
If you're following this series, then you'll enjoy this book.
July 3, 2021
In April I reviewed the Kindle version of "Call to Arms," #2 in the series by W.E.B. Griffin, but the review has disappeared on Goodreads. Last week, I finished the Kindle version of "Counterattack," #3 in the series. This book is equally engaging and picks up the story seamlessly from #2. Having served with the Marines, I especially enjoyed the Marine perspective on the unfolding of the first year of World War II. The characters are realistic Marines as I knew them, and their personal and professional lives might seem offensive to some--but in this novel, they look like choirboys compared to today's headlines. Sorry if it offends, but these guys were first out of the gates to launch America's "Counterattack" in the Pacific. I found it fascinating to follow politics and infighting among the Army, Navy, and Marines over who leads and who follows in the Pacific war. I was raised in Washington D.C. during WWII and find the description of the war's politics realistic. I recommend this second book to adults because, with America's history being slandered today, looking back at the heroism and self-sacrifice that really happened might have a salutary effect on some who never learned what really happened when 80 million people died in WWII.
March 14, 2021
Great historical fiction series of WWII. Even though it is fiction, the book has plenty of factual truths which lay within it. This particular book reiterated the pompous, self-serving, and egotistical leadership during the world, from the generals whose infighting and pride lost many grunts lives, to the blind conceited ambition of many officers within the ranks. Viet Nam was no different.
I had already known that MacArthur, Nimitz, and Patton were prima donnas, but knowing the cost of lives they created by pride put me more firm in my beliefs. They were bureaucrats concerned with only imagine. Very worth the reading if you like historical fiction. Fun for anyone with military history in their lives.
I had already known that MacArthur, Nimitz, and Patton were prima donnas, but knowing the cost of lives they created by pride put me more firm in my beliefs. They were bureaucrats concerned with only imagine. Very worth the reading if you like historical fiction. Fun for anyone with military history in their lives.
March 17, 2019
Loved it again. Looking forward to read the next one. If there was one small criticism it would be all the characters that were in the book. If it’s nonfiction then I understand but being it is fiction it really makes a complex. I was able to follow and understand but having all the different characters made you really follow the book. Could see how it could get frustrating with all the “kings”. Everybody wants to do it their way without looking at the big picture. Was this the start of the joint Chiefs of staff?
May 2, 2021
Semper Fi
This is an excellent and very detailed book that gives rare insight into intelligence, planning, communication and strategy at the highest levels of the military brass. The two Marines who stand out in this book are Major Jack NMI Stecker and (former Marine and now US Naval officer) Captain Fleming Pickering, who is on a Top Secret mission in the South Pacific, working directly under the command of Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy. The book ends with the invasion of Guadalcanal beginning on 31 July 1942.
This is an excellent and very detailed book that gives rare insight into intelligence, planning, communication and strategy at the highest levels of the military brass. The two Marines who stand out in this book are Major Jack NMI Stecker and (former Marine and now US Naval officer) Captain Fleming Pickering, who is on a Top Secret mission in the South Pacific, working directly under the command of Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy. The book ends with the invasion of Guadalcanal beginning on 31 July 1942.
July 10, 2021
Have to read the whole series
Most of these books I have read from time to time as a stand alone book, but this one seems to end with some of the main characters being left on an island in the middle of the war. I feel like I have to get the next book for a continuance. Admittedly, the war is worth more than one book to tell the whole story, but I figured that it wouldn't just stop right in the middle after most of the main characters were sent to fight. Disappointed for a change in this ending.
Most of these books I have read from time to time as a stand alone book, but this one seems to end with some of the main characters being left on an island in the middle of the war. I feel like I have to get the next book for a continuance. Admittedly, the war is worth more than one book to tell the whole story, but I figured that it wouldn't just stop right in the middle after most of the main characters were sent to fight. Disappointed for a change in this ending.
April 5, 2024
Astonishingly exceptional series
This series of books about the Pacific War in World War II is just amazing. Anyone who wants to know the story of that war, warts and all, should read this series. The author has tied in fictional characters with a totally realistic telling of the battles involved. This is the first review I've given on these books in the series so far, but all of them, every one of them, are simply incredible. If you want to know what the Pacific War against the Japanese was like, then you need to read this series.
This series of books about the Pacific War in World War II is just amazing. Anyone who wants to know the story of that war, warts and all, should read this series. The author has tied in fictional characters with a totally realistic telling of the battles involved. This is the first review I've given on these books in the series so far, but all of them, every one of them, are simply incredible. If you want to know what the Pacific War against the Japanese was like, then you need to read this series.
July 28, 2019
Kind of long and repetitive and no real action until the battle Guadalcanal. All the characters are here but no real advancement of the characters. This book is more like what happens in a call to arms which is book 2. I am going to stop at this book now in the series and maybe I will read his books later in time but maybe not.
January 27, 2021
At least the action starts
A lot of the story is pretty juvenile in its telling. I’m feeling more and more that this author is not a very good story teller. Very little in character development and each character is exactly the same throughout with no changes in kinds of actions he or she might take. Pretty disappointing.
A lot of the story is pretty juvenile in its telling. I’m feeling more and more that this author is not a very good story teller. Very little in character development and each character is exactly the same throughout with no changes in kinds of actions he or she might take. Pretty disappointing.
September 28, 2017
Great series
I love the series, and all of WEB Griffin's military novels. They are very well researched, include detailed descriptions and explanations about the real battles and wars fought by our warriors.
I love the series, and all of WEB Griffin's military novels. They are very well researched, include detailed descriptions and explanations about the real battles and wars fought by our warriors.
November 13, 2017
I gave a three rating to the first two books in this series, though that was a press, both were weak threes. This one is a weak two. Boring is my best description, and will finish this series for me, ends here. Way better books out there to be read.
November 24, 2019
Superb storytelling, a mix of interesting fictional characters and historical nonfiction. This edition to the series covers a timeframe from the end of Pearl Harbor to the beginnings of Guadalcanal.
January 3, 2021
This book shows that the main character of a series does not need to be in a book to have an impact. This book shows the early days of WW2 and the feelings of those involved. It also shows that there were little battles that no person today is aware of.
June 25, 2021
Love this series
I am on book three and looking forward to more. Well written, accurate in all the details that I am aware of, personal with well developed characters and a good depiction of the kind of military nonsense that I remember from my time in the military.
I am on book three and looking forward to more. Well written, accurate in all the details that I am aware of, personal with well developed characters and a good depiction of the kind of military nonsense that I remember from my time in the military.
August 4, 2021
Intriguing and exciting plot with twists- Profanity, sexual situations and the like, which usually means I give less stars. But … there are exceptions and this author’s historical research is top notch. I use fast forward on “those” parts. Narrator (Dick Hill) did his usual top notch performance.
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