Flamethrower

Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Recipient and U.S. Marine Woody Williams and His Controversial Award, Japan's Holocaust and the Pacific War

By: Bryan Mark Rigg

Narrated by: Bryan Mark Rigg

Late in the Pacific War, as Americans were fighting their way to the home islands of the Japanese Empire, one of the fiercest battles of World War II was raging. The Japanese had created, perhaps, the best defended area anywhere on an island called Iwo Jima. Days into the bloody battle, casualties were high on both sides. United States Marines were taking an awful pounding out in the open from enemy-fortified positions.

Imperial Japanese soldiers in pillboxes and bunkers knew that the greatest danger they faced was from a flamethrower if it could get near enough to hit them. Imagine a little guy strapping on a highly flammable 70-pound weapon, instantly drawing heavy enemy fire as he maneuvered close enough with a small team of Leathernecks to destroy a pillbox. Woody Williams did just that on the hellishly hot and sulfurous volcanic island of Iwo Jima, destroying Japanese emplacements against dire odds. He, along with numerous comrades, did it again and again, taking out hundreds of fortifications which had stalled their regiment’s advance to secure the islands airfields.

The capture of Iwo Jima helped the powerful new B-29s have P-51 fighter-plane escorts to help the bombers pound Japan into submission. Iwo actually was a backup landing zone for the Enola Gay if she had difficulties delivering her atomic bomb on 6 August, 1945, at Hiroshima - a bomb American leaders hoped would bring Hirohito to his knees, begging for surrender terms so World War II would stop.

Accomplished military historian Bryan Mark Rigg reconstructs Woody Williams’ remarkable story, from his youth on a dairy farm in West Virginia to his experiences as a Marine in Guadalcanal, Guam, and Iwo Jima. Using never-before-known documents and interviews, Rigg brings out new information about the Pacific War unknown until now. Rigg enables the listener to better appreciate the brave marines and their heroics.

©2020 Bryan Mark Rigg (P)2020 Bryan Mark Rigg

Excellent History

This book is full of details and excellently researched. There are a few mistakes such as referring to U.S. .30 caliber machine guns as 30 millimeter. Also he assumes that World War II U.S. Marine Corps Pioneers were black troops as was the case with U.S. Army Pioneers. They were not. However some U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima were indeed blacks.

Fantastic book

This is a long one, but well worth it. Read by the author, you can occasionally hear him turning the pages, some stutters, but nothing which was annoying or detracting; just a man reading his book, and I loved every minute of it.

The subject itself is graphic in nature so don't expect a glossed over version of history. Mr. Rigg has done a fantastic job of researching the material and has, unfortunately, uncovered some inconvenient truths in one man's Medal of Honor award. The book itself is about so much more than Woody Wilson's story, and dives deeply into the Pacific campaign of WWII, and Iwo Jima in particular detail.

Mr. Rigg has faced some legal issues from Woody Wilson getting this book out, but it should be noted that at no time does the author call his heroism into question; just the events surrounding the actions leading up to the MOH being awarded.

10 hours too long

I don't usually write reviews that are not five stars. This is my first. This book could be broken up into different books with different subject matters. If you want a book on the life of a flamethrower on Iwo, don't buy this book. If you want as book on the contaversial process awards are handed out there is a section in this book for you. If you want to know about Japans ideology regarding the emperor there is a section. Also a section of Japans rape on Nanjing. The information in the book is solid and well researched. It also tends to be all over the place. At times it sounds like the author has an axe to grind with Woody Williams and then in the next sentence he states something like "but his actions are still heroic". I also felf that I was getting a lot of personal opinion instead of history. This may be because I was getting bored with the content and just wanted the book to be over. I think the conclusion alone was at least 4 chapters. :(

Amazing historical read

As a former Corporal (0311) I found this book exciting and extremely informative. I could not put this book down and I have a new appreciation for my beloved Corps and my Marine brothers who displayed such courage and dedication under extreme conditions. Additionally, I was shocked to learn of the atrocities and war crimes the Japanese military unleashed on so many.

Great Read!

What a well researched and well written book! One of the best WW2 stories I have ever read! His pronunciation of several words were a bit distracting eg, Tinian which he pronounced Tininin! But with that small issue aside the book is Amazing! One of the best researched and accurate accounts of the story of Iwo Jima! I now plan to read every book that Mr. Rigg has written. I hope he also continues to write many more on WW2!
Worth the read at any price!
PS I am not sure what the cost is of hiring a professional narrator are but I hope Mr. Rigg springs for a narrator the next time around.