No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal

"No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal," by Merrill B. Twining, is a memoir by a U.S. Marine Corps officer who served on the headquarters staff of the First Marine Division during World War II. The book is edited by Neil G. Carey and features a foreword by Lieut. Gen. Victor H. Krulak, USMC (retired). Gen. Twining tells of the the Marines' stay in New Zealand in preparation for battle, the amphibious assault on the island of Guadalcanal, combat on the island, and the aftermath of his time on Guadalcanal. This is a fascinating account of the massive effort to transform this island into what Twining calls "an unsinkable aircraft carrier." He offers a comprehensive and compelling look at how all the various individuals and organizations contributed to this epic effort, among them Marine aviators, Navy Seabees, the Army Air Corps, Navajo code talkers, native workers, U.S. Coast Guard personnel, Army National Guard troops, and more. He tells about American relations and encounters with British, Australian, and New Zealander personnel. Twining writes about the diseases, deprivation, and harsh conditions faced by the heroic personnel at Guadalcanal. But it's not all grim and serious. He offers colorful portraits of the people he served with and includes funny anecdotes--the book actually made me laugh out loud. Gen. Twining skilfully weaves interesting technical details about military tactics and gear into the compelling human story. Whether writing about techniques used to cool machine guns in the heat of battle or the merits of different boat loading techniques in an amphibious assault, Twining always offers some fascinating insights into the practical realities of war. But what really makes this book remarkable, and even fun, is Twining's tone. Yes, he is a serious military professional, with respect and affection for the many remarkable men with whom he served. But his voice is also often quite feisty and cutting. He doesn't hold back when criticizing many instances of military stupidity and short-sightedness. At times his writing even has a blisteringly satiric edge. "No Bended Knee" is a spirited and superbly written addition to the glorious canon of American military memoirs.

General Twining's account is more than first-person as that portends one who witnessed history. He made it on Guadalcanal. This book is a superior account for one who desires to understand how war plans are made, how to train a unit and how to motivate men to do what is not normally done. He treats us to an excellent first-person insight of how one plans, equips, trains, and leads in combat. It is not a book from someone who sits in an ivory tower and has a better way of doing business. Finally, he reminds us of why we have Marines. A force that truly is ready to do our nations dirty business so we can stay free and secure.

A very fine and important report from one of the very top participants on "the Canal" in 1942. It gives us an insight of the campaign from its planning stages to the day when the 1st Marine Division finally were allowed to rest. It brought my already immense admirations of the Marines to an even higher level. Thank you, is all I can say to Gen. Twining and his comrades in arms

General Twining writes on such a high level that his opinion is lacking in some of the grunt's feelings about the first American offensive of World War II. He sees the mud and blood in a different perspective than an enlisted man, and tells about it in language that make it sound like a board game. Having read many accounts of the battle for Guadalcanal, and having been there myself, I find the book highly informative. Now, I finally feel like I know why I was there. Bravo and Semper Fidelis