Too Young the Heroes: A World War II Marine's Account of Facing a Veteran Enemy at Guadalcanal, the Solomons and Okinawa

by George Lince

Overview

Right after Pearl Harbor, the author joined the Marines at 17. After boot camp, he went to the First Marine Division, taking part in some of the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific, including the landing on Okinawa where he was wounded. Fighting under terrible conditions, he and his fellow Marines persevered. This is the author's story of combat and of growing up.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786476077
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/08/2013
Pages:	207
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late George Lince lived in New York.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Introduction 1 1 • THE BEGINNING 3 2 • THE MAKING OF A MARINE 12 3 • ON TO THE MARINE INFANTRY 29 4 • PELELIU TO PAVUVU 35 5 • GUADALCANAL 54 6 • LOOKING BACK AT TENARU RIVER 63 7 • BACK TO PAVUVU 69 8 • EN ROUTE TO OKINAWA 75 9 • OKINAWA: THE FIRST FOUR DAYS 81 10 • THE SWING NORTH 92 11 • SOUTHERN BATTLES 107 12 • AWAY FROM THE FRONT LINES, AND BACK AGAIN 131 13 • OKINAWA: THE LAST DAYS 142 14 • HOSPITAL TIME, AND THE END OF THE WAR 150 15 • GOING HOME 160 16 • OKINAWA PLUS FIFTY 167 APPENDIX A. A Marine Corps History of the First Marine Division on the Palau Islands and Okinawa, September 1944–May 1945 181 APPENDIX B. Deaths During World War II Service Among Students of Rome Free Academy and Saint Aloysius Academy in Rome, New York 188 Notes 193 Military History of George Lince 195 Index 197

Editorial Reviews

Lince aims to write a memoir about an idealistic young Marine's brutal wartime experience: his terror and disillusionment in combat, followed by his disappointment at the indifference of his friends, family, and nation. Instead of honest angst, however, the author treats the reader to his phenomenal recall of every petty grievance, complaint, and gripe he had about World War II. His comrades in battle turn out to be thieving and deceitful, his father remote, and his girlfriend uncaring. He seems especially aggrieved that there were no parades or special honors for Marine PFC George Lince at his homecoming. His book is not about genuine suffering but just common whining, carefully nurtured for 50 years. The narrative is also padded with lengthy passages from magazine articles and other books. Not recommended.Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Edwards AFB, Cal.

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