Guadalcanal Diary (book)
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Guadalcanal Diary is a memoir written by war correspondent Richard Tregaskis. The book recounts the author's time with the United States Marine Corps on Guadalcanal in the early stages of the pivotal months-long battle there in 1942.
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[edit] Criticism of bias
The book has been hailed consistently for over half a century as a harrowing and realistic account of modern warfare as experienced in the tropical Pacific Theater of Operations, with allowances for the inherent bias of an American journalist living with American soldiers in a warzone. It is evident in the manuscript that Tregaskis did make sincere journalistic efforts to control his natural bias.
[edit] Criticism of racism
Marines interviewed in the work often referred to their Japanese counterparts in derogatory terms offensive to modern-day sensibilities. It is worth noting, however, that combat soldiers often dehumanize the enemy as a means of lessening the moral and psychological impact of their actions – particularly the prospect of killing another human being in combat.
[edit] Narrative style
Tregaskis relates combat and conversation in an immediately accessible vernacular, taking care to cite the full name, rank and hometown of each of the Marines he encountered over the weeks he was on the island.
[edit] Legacy
The book was so well received at home upon publication, and spoke such volumes on the camaraderie amongst the Marines, that the USMC still makes Guadalcanal Diary required reading for all officer candidates.
In 1943 the memoir was made into a film of the same name starring William Bendix, Richard Conte, Anthony Quinn, and John Archer, marking the film debut of Richard Jaeckel.
