Islands of the Damned

R. V. Burgin's "Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific" stands as a powerful firsthand account of combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II. As a mortarman with the legendary K/3/5 unit of the First Marine Division, Burgin experienced some of the most brutal battles of the war, including Peleliu and Okinawa. This memoir, written with the assistance of Bill Marvel, brings readers directly into the harrowing reality of island warfare against Japanese forces.

The book distinguishes itself through its unflinching honesty and attention to the daily experiences of enlisted Marines. Burgin does not romanticize warfare or present himself as a traditional hero figure. Instead, he offers a ground-level perspective of what it meant to serve as a non-commissioned officer in the Pacific campaign. His narrative covers the period from his enlistment through his participation in some of the war's bloodiest engagements, providing valuable insight into the Marine Corps experience during this critical period of history.

One of the memoir's greatest strengths lies in its portrayal of the relationships between Marines. Burgin dedicates considerable attention to his fellow soldiers, depicting the bonds formed under extreme duress and the devastating impact of losing comrades in combat. These personal connections give emotional weight to the military operations described and help readers understand the human cost of the Pacific War beyond statistics and strategy. The camaraderie, dark humor, and mutual dependence among the men emerge as central themes throughout the narrative.

The combat descriptions in "Islands of the Damned" are notably visceral and detailed. Burgin recounts the specific challenges of island warfare, from the oppressive heat and tropical diseases to the terror of Japanese banzai charges and the constant threat of sniper fire. His perspective as a mortarman provides technical details about this particular weapon system and its tactical employment, adding a dimension often missing from more general accounts of Pacific combat. The Battle of Peleliu receives extensive coverage, reflecting both its intensity and its controversial place in military history.

Burgin's account also touches on the psychological toll of sustained combat. He describes the exhaustion, fear, and numbness that came with prolonged exposure to violence and death. The memoir acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining humanity in circumstances designed to destroy it, and Burgin's reflections on these matters add depth to what could have been a purely action-focused narrative. His observations about the nature of fear and courage ring true without descending into melodrama.

The book provides context for readers unfamiliar with the Pacific Theater, though its primary focus remains on personal experience rather than grand strategy. Burgin includes enough background information to orient readers to each campaign while keeping the emphasis on what individual Marines saw, heard, and felt during operations. This balance makes the memoir accessible to general readers while offering value to those already knowledgeable about Pacific War history.

For readers familiar with HBO's miniseries "The Pacific," this book offers additional context, as Burgin served alongside Eugene Sledge, whose own memoir "With the Old Breed" was a primary source for that production. Burgin himself appears as a character in the series. However, "Islands of the Damned" stands independently as a worthwhile historical document, offering perspectives and details not found in Sledge's more widely known account.

The writing style remains straightforward and accessible throughout. While the collaboration with Bill Marvel likely contributed to the book's readability, the voice remains authentically Burgin's, with the cadence and directness one might expect from a career Marine. The prose serves the story rather than calling attention to itself, an appropriate choice for this type of memoir.

Some readers may find the relentless nature of the combat descriptions emotionally challenging. Burgin does not spare details about the realities of killing and death in war, and the accumulated weight of these descriptions can be difficult. However, this unflinching approach serves the book's apparent purpose: to honestly convey what Pacific War combat entailed for those who experienced it firsthand.

"Islands of the Damned" makes a significant contribution to the literature of World War II in the Pacific. It offers a valuable perspective from an enlisted Marine who served through some of the war's most difficult campaigns and survived to tell his story. For readers interested in military history, firsthand combat accounts, or the specific experience of Marines in the Pacific Theater, Burgin's memoir provides an important and deeply human account of this pivotal period in American and world history.