This is a very good book. Manchester uses three parallel strands to describe the war in the Pacific. He writes of re-tracing his journey after the war (in the seventies, I think). He writes of the combat seen by the American forces and in particular the Marine Corps. He also writes a commentary from the present on the past.
Manchester is, "a defrocked Marine." The book gives the impression that Manchester feels that he was fooled by the indoctrination that he underwent when joining the Marines and that this was in some way wrong. Some Marines will quarrel with this sentiment.
Manchester praises the heroism of the combatants. He has plainly despises the units on his side that failed. His experiences of combat are vividly written, frightening, exciting and sad.
The book is one that I have re-read several times.
Paul Wickham.