Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James Hornfischer

 Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer -499 pages

This award-winning book is the definitive account of the October 1944 battle off the the island of Samar in the Philippines. The U.S. ships involved were small escort aircraft carriers, destroyers, and destroyer escorts that fought a desperate battle against some of Japan's most powerful battleships and cruisers. As part of the landing support force, they were supposed to be protected by U.S. battleships and large carrier forces. How the Navy failed to protect this vulnerable force is not dwelled on by the author, as the main focus is on the stellar performance and courage of these small vessels. Several ships were sunk, but their crews and pilots inflicted serious damage on the enemy's superior fleet and forced them to withdraw.

Clash of the Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot by Barrett Tillman

 Clash of the Carriers by Barrett Tillman -337 pages

Tillman's book is one of the few devoted to the Battle of the Philippine Sea that took place in June 1944. It includes testimony from many of the battle's participants and gives an accurate account of Japanese losses. Well over 300 enemy aircraft were destroyed and three carriers sunk (two by U.S. submarines). The Japanese likely would have lost more ships, if they hadn't remained at the longest possible distance from the U.S. fleet to launch a strike. The battle left Japan's carrier-based air power in ruins, and demonstrated the superiority of U.S. technology and industry. But the book also gives a clear picture of individual human effort and bravery within a massive battle.

Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Beyond by William Rogal

Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Beyond by William Rogal -201 pages

This an informative memoir of one marine's gritty experiences throughout the Pacific in World War II. Rogal left an impoverished childhood to serve throughout the war and went on to be a successful attorney. His recollections of Guadalcanal are most harrowing both for the miserable conditions, and series of friendly-fire shellings that caused many casualties. He also fought on Tarawa, where he witnessed the devastation of the second wave of marines to land, and Saipan. The book is ultimately uplifting, as Rogal managed to survive these invasions and build a successful life in peacetime.