Covering all Pacific islands involved in World War II military operations, this book is a detailed, single source of information on virtually every geo-military aspect of the Pacific Theater. Arranged regionally and, to the extent possible, chronologically according to when islands entered the war, entries provide complete background information. Along with island names, nicknames, Allied code names, location, and wartime time zones, the entries include such topics as the island's physical characteristics, weather, health hazards, historical background, native population, natural resources, and military value. Japanese and Allied strategies and operations, military problems caused by terrain, military installations, Japanese units and key commanders, Allied units and key commanders, and brief battle descriptions are also covered along with the island's postwar status. A valuable resource for researchers, historians, military history enthusiasts, and war gamers, the book provides complete background information on the geo-military aspects of the Pacific Ocean region, its islands, and the roles they played in the war. 108 maps provide specific information. Until now, geo-military information could only be found by searching four to ten publications on each island. ?A source of value for researchers, historians, military history enthusiasts, and wargamers, this work provides complete information on the geo-strategic aspects of numerous Pacific islands, and their role during the war.?-39/45 Magazine ?Rottman has prepared an excellent research tool that will be invaluable to any serious student of WW II in the Pacific....Thanks to Rottman, it is now much easier to decipher the vast store of historical data on WW II still languishing in archives, and to integrate that information with previous scholarship. Highly recommended for all university libraries serving programs in history or anthropology. All levels.?-Choice ?This is a unique book in the literature of the Pacific War, providing in one place basic information about each island caught up in that conflagration, including geographic characteristics, prewar and postwar history, and World War II events as exerienced by Allied and Japanese sides alike. As such, the volume is a valuable reference work for Pacific war historians and buffs, including wargamers, as was intended by the author, who in encyclopedic fashion has compiled all the relevant data and information he could find from the wide range of works consulted.?-The Journal of Military History "A source of value for researchers, historians, military history enthusiasts, and wargamers, this work provides complete information on the geo-strategic aspects of numerous Pacific islands, and their role during the war."-39/45 Magazine "Rottman has prepared an excellent research tool that will be invaluable to any serious student of WW II in the Pacific....Thanks to Rottman, it is now much easier to decipher the vast store of historical data on WW II still languishing in archives, and to integrate that information with previous scholarship. Highly recommended for all university libraries serving programs in history or anthropology. All levels."-Choice "This is a unique book in the literature of the Pacific War, providing in one place basic information about each island caught up in that conflagration, including geographic characteristics, prewar and postwar history, and World War II events as exerienced by Allied and Japanese sides alike. As such, the volume is a valuable reference work for Pacific war historians and buffs, including wargamers, as was intended by the author, who in encyclopedic fashion has compiled all the relevant data and information he could find from the wide range of works consulted."-The Journal of Military History Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969–70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments before retiring after 26 years. He was a Special Operations Forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.