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Islands of the Damned

A Marine at War in the Pacific

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Islands of the Damned

Written by: R. V. Burgin, Bill Marvel
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
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About this listen

This is an eyewitness - and eye-opening - account of some of the most savage and brutal fighting in the war against Japan, told from the perspective of a young Texan who volunteered for the Marine Corps to escape a life as a traveling salesman.

R. V. Burgin enlisted at the age of 20 and, with his sharp intelligence and earnest work ethic, climbed the ranks from a green private to a seasoned sergeant. Along the way, he shouldered a rifle as a member of a mortar squad. He saw friends die and enemies killed. He saw scenes he wanted to forget but never did - from enemy snipers who tied themselves to branches in the highest trees, to ambushes along narrow jungle trails, to the abandoned corpses of hara kiri victims, to the final howling banzai attacks as the Japanese embraced their inevitable defeat.

An unforgettable narrative of a young Marine in combat, Islands of the Damned brings to life the hell that was the Pacific War.

©2010 R.V. Burgin and William Marvel (P)2010 Tantor Military Military & War Wars & Conflicts World War II War Veteran Pacific War

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Profile Image for Sailing

One of the best historical books i’ve ever heard

This isn’t quite like the usual history book about World War Two, it’s definitely one of the best.

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Excellent

Enjoyed this audiobook. Narration and content was intriguing. This is a good compliment to other books on The Pacific.

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Profile Image for Tony Johnson

Great historical record

Narration is great. I listen to Sean Runnette all the time. Sometimes I pick a book only because he is the narrator.

Story excellent and harrowing, but quick. Only 6 hours so you don’t get 3/4s through and move on. Pacific war was terrible.

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