Battleground

Battleground is another book in The Corps series. If you have any dealings with the USMC you will enjoy this book and series!

I read the first book in The Corps series which was "Semper Fi" after which i got hooked to W.E.B. Griffin books. I went on to get all ten books in this series (Now on book 6). He goes into such great detail about the events that happened during WWII while adding a little fiction. It makes you feel as if you were there yourself going through what they were going through. Great Read!

This fourth book in Griffin's Corps series is a stunner. The actual time of the book is actually quite short. The book runs from June 4 - August 24, 1942. It was during this time that the Americans invaded Guadalcanal, and Griffin's version of this bloody battle in the Solomon Islands is a page turner. We also get to know Griffin's main characters really well. People like Fleming Pickering, Charley Galloway and many others. This book has lots of characters and I think it would be hard to keep them all straight if a person read this book out of context. I recommend that the best way to read this Corps series is in order. It also makes it easier to follow the progress of WWII. I love Griffin's characters, but the history that I get from these books is wonderful too. I cannot wait to read the rest.

In this volume of the Corps saga , we see several of the characters introduced in "Counterattack" elevated to new prominence. Newly promoted Captain Charley Galloway becomes the commanding officer of VMF 229 , and along with Bily Dunn sets about preparing the young squadron to be thrown into the cauldron of Guadalcanal. Flem Pickering continues to grow in importance to the ongoing tale of incredible heroisim exhibited by the young Marines thrown into bloody conflict. "Battleground" details some of the terrible privations experienced by the First Marine division on the 'Canal and the coastwatchers on Buka island. Steve Koffler and Joe Howard on Buka illustrate the importance of the little known coastwatcher organisation to the success of the Marine aviation assets in the Solomons. Koffler continues to grow in importance to the task of Captain/General Pickering in the Southwest Pacific Ocean Area (SWPOA). Even though Koffler and Howard are ill with parasites and other tropical diseases they continue to function "as Marines".Koffler continues to emerge as one of the more "colorful" characters in the story--look for him in future episodes!Of the many volumes in "The Corps" saga , "Battleground" stands out as one of the more lively and entertaining volumes. A great read--I could hardly put it down. Have now read it 4 times!A true 5 star effort.

In *Battleground*, book four of The Corps series, W.E.B. Griffin puts our favorite characters to the ultimate test when the United States military launches an attack on Guadalcanal in 1942. *Battleground* is another example of Griffin's amazing ability to create sympathetic, admirable characters in unusual situations.Captain Charles Galloway has been assigned to lead the VMF-229 squadron with only one other experienced fighter pilot, Lieutenant Dunn. While they are putting together a squadron of eighteen fighter pilots, Lieutenant Joe Howard and Sergeant Steve Koffler are trying to stay alive on a little Coastwatcher island while keeping an eye on Japanese movements. And Captain Fleming Pickering decides that his work as an intelligence officer can be best performed in the line of fire on Guadalcanal. Readers are treated to a short reunion with Lieutenant Kenneth J McCoy, but it's not nearly long enough in this reader's opinion.*Battleground* was one of the most exciting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat adventures in The Corps series to date. I really can't wait for my copy of book five, *Line of Fire*, to arrive!

If you love this series....buy this book !! You have to love the way these characters come alive and the events that were once so one dimensional with black and white newsreels...become living events. A must read for any military history buff.