Always Faithful: US Marines in World War II Combat (General Military)
"If 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' then Eric Hammel's latest book speaks volumes. This 200-page masterpiece of the Marines' combat in the World War II Pacific campaign is surely a 'page-turner'..." - LtCol. Ray Stweart, USMC, Leatherneck Magazine (January 2012)"...an amazing collection of US Marine wartime images that inspire, immerse and educate, and keep you turning the pages for the next picture. Historians and modelers will find a wealth of source material." -Frederick Boucher,AeroScale“Eric Hammel is one of our most interesting and dedicated military writers.”—Tom Ricks, author ofThe Making of the Corps"Hammel's magnificent compilation is a "best of breed" that captures—like no other work—the sweat, grime, misery and terror that was combat in the Pacific.  This is an effort that underscores Hammel's position as one of the subject's leading historians.  Simply put,Always Faithfulis the must-have pictorial of Marine Corps operations in the Pacific."—LtCol. Jay A. Stout, USMC (Ret), Author ofThe Men who Killed the Luftwaffe     “While some readers may already be familiar with many of the photos collected here by Eric Hammel, all will find his selection and arrangement uniquely encapsulates the fighting in the Pacific. InAlways Faithful, there are solitary moments where a Marine faces an unseen enemy and moments where brothers-in-arms stand shoulder to shoulder. It is instants like these that remind me of what it means to be a Marine.”—Col. William J. Davis, USMC (Ret), Executive Director of the MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk, Virginia“An inspirational and graphical account of Marines doing what they have always done when the Nation calls.  Hammel’s selection of images peeks into the individual’s  gut-level experience of combat in the Pacific through the eyes of those who “closed with the enemy”, from the assault on the beach through the ebb and flow of the fighting to eventual victory. A must for any military historian’s reference library.”—R.J. Sullivan, LtCol, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret) “Military writer Eric Hammel has used his broad research background to capture the essential essence of the Marine Corps Pacific War experience during World War II.  The focus on the individual Marines pictured makes as strong an impact as any narrative would.  This visual legacy is preserved and presented in a memorable manner and style.  Semper Fi!”—Charles D. Melson, Chief Historian, U.S. Marine Corps History DivisionAuthor of Osprey’s Marine Recon, Vietnam Marines, and U.S. Marine Rifleman in Vietnam"A powerful and evocative visual portrayal of Marines in close combat during the climactic battles of World War II. The images and illustrations are emotional, soul searing reminders of the human cost of the Pacifc Campaign. For anyone looking for a viceral understanding of battle, this book is not to be missed."—John R. Bruning author of The Devil's Sandbox, Bomb's Away, The Battle of the Bulge, Jungle Ace, Ship Strike Pacific, and Crimson Sky"Eric Hammel has captured the true character of war in the Pacific, a fight to the finish, with no holds barred.  The images inAlways Faithfulare far from the glorified portrayals of home front propaganda.  They portray the gutsiness of combat—the filth, the stress, the pain of a lost comrade—in such a way as to be indelibly etched in the viewer's mind.  Hammel’s selection of photos is spot on…I highly recommendAlways Faithful." —Colonel Dick Camp USMC (Ret), Vice President of Museum Operations, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation"The photos speak for themselves... For World War II history buffs who prefer a visual approach."—Library Journal(October 1, 2011)