The official companion book to The Pacific, by Hugh Ambrose

Unlike the HBO mini-series which follows three Marines into war, the official series companion book follows the actions of five men as they fought in many of the major battles of the Pacific (two of these 5 men were subsequently dropped from the series due to budget constraints).

‘Manila John’ Basilone, Marine… some may say ‘the Marine’.

Vernon ‘Mike’ Micheel, a Navy pilot

Sidney C Philips, Marine

Austin C ‘Shifty’ Shofner, Marine… captured in the Philippines, he later escapes.

Eugene B Sledge, Marine

Ambrose lets the men tell their story without adding his own commentary or interpretation of the facts, allowing for a precise narration. The book seamlessly melds from one Marine to another while keeping the narrative in perfect chronological order. It is easy to follow the action without losing track of who is who, not always an easy task when you are reading the lives of five diverse men. The story flows smoothly and can easily be followed by even the most fledgling of war buffs with no getting bogged down in the minutia of equipment or battle lines.

If you’re wondering how the Pacific was originally supposed to play out on the TV screen with all 5 characters, then this book will showcase that. An absorbing read, The Pacific will satisfy a wide variety of readers.

Hugh Ambrose is the son of Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the bestselling BAND OF BROTHERS. He has served as a consultant on the HBO miniseries, THE PACIFIC. Ambrose is also vice president of the national World War II Museum and has led battlefield tours through Europe and along the Pacific Rim. He lives in Montana.

For more information about the book and how to purchase, .