An illustrated examination of the daring last stand by a collection of marines, sailors, and other service personnel on Wake Island in World War II - one of the legendary stories of American military history.
On the same day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they also launched air attacks on Wake Island, an American marine and naval base in the Pacific. Three days later a Japanese invasion force stormed the island, but were bloodily repulsed by the scratch force of marines, sailors and even service personnel who defended it. Despite US attempts to relieve the island, the Japanese launched a much greater invasion a few weeks later and, despite gallant resistance, eventually caused the US Forces to surrender.
This book tells the complete story of the vicious fighting on Wake Island, featuring full-color maps and archive photography.

Origins of the campaign
Chronology
Opposing commanders
Opposing armies
Orders of battle
Opposing plans
The campaign
Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index

Jim Moran has written extensively on the uniforms, equipment and history of the United States Marine Corps. He is an enthusiastic collector of Marine Corps memorabilia and an honorary life member of the 2d Marine Division Association. When he is not accompanying USMC veterans on trips to the Pacific battlefields of World War II, Jim lives with his family in South Yorkshire.