Iwo Jima

World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific

By: Larry Smith

Narrated by: Dick Hill

On February 19, 1945, nearly 70,000 American soldiers invaded a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific. Over the next 35 days, approximately 28,000 soldiers died, including nearly 22,000 Japanese and 6,821 Americans, making Iwo Jima one of the costliest battles of World War II.

Best-selling oral historian Larry Smith dug deep for exclusive stories from Iwo Jima veterans, including the last surviving flag raiser on Mount Suribachi, a Navajo "code talker", a retired general, two Medal of Honor recipients, B-29 flyers, and other die-hard Marines who secured the island.

Along the way, Smith investigates the controversy surrounding the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal and presents the groundbreaking story of Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, rumored to have committed suicide rather than submit to capture.

Iwo Jima is an unprecedented look at this pivotal battle and an inspiring study in courage, perseverance, and humanity.

©2008 Larry Smith (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Exemplary oral history." ( Kirkus)
"A unique and compelling book." ( Library Journal)

Very Enjoyable

This has been one of my favorite WWII books because it brings the view of this historical battle to a personal level with the veteran's own words. I also enjoyed the narrator very much.

Decent book, terrible narration

The author's over-the-top accents in related the first-person anecdotes that make up this book are so distracting that this book was utterly unenjoyable. Buy the hard copy and read it rather than listening.

my iwojima

a great depiction of a furious battle will go down in the annals of history

If you are patriotic...

Great stories from old men who grew up serving this country in their youth. I admit to being in love with history and the history of the USA.

Have we as a nation forgotten?

A very interesting and worth while read. We forget with so much ease. Twenty WWII real heroes tell their own stories in a very down to earth and real manner. It could not have been an easy task for the narrater to become each of these service men.He did more than a respectable job of it.

Good story

Well done both in information and story telling the ending was a bit drawn out

Great book, less than desirable narration

The story was great, hearing all of the different individual accounts offered a unique perspective.
However, the fact that the narrator attempted to use different accents, mannerisms and tones (even trying to imitate a couple of women) was absurd and greatly took away from the books story.
Either read the story in one tone, or play the veterans accounts (if they were recorded). But please do not try to imitate a Texas accent, and
then a Boston/Chicago, etc.

Exceptional historical account -

I have visited Iwo Jima and can relate to the accounts included in this book. I concur with other reviewers that the attempt to replicate speaking accents of the men interviewed is somewhat lacking.

Wonderfully written stories from Marines

I listened to this book in preparation for my upcoming trip to Iwo Jima. Interesting to hear the many different experiences of those who fought. The narration is incredible, feels like I was sitting with the marines as they were telling their story.

Great stories, horrible performance

The stories of the Iwo Jima veterans are amazing. I've been to Iwo Jima myself (its only open 1 day a year for the rest of the world to see) and its amazing to see the places that these events took place and try and imagine how anyone made it out alive.

Unfortunately, the reader tries to read these stories as if he was the vet telling them. So he reads in the voices of several different 80 something year old men and it kinda kills it. Just read in a normal voice and I'll get it. Its still worth the listen, but it would be great if they'd redo it with a normal voice.