Having studied (and written) 20th century uniform books for many years, I'd like to list some of the best sources. These are the available books I have on my shelf and use all the time. Should you wish to order those still in print you can use the links provided to buy directly from Amazon.com through the mail. Amazon provides up to a 30% discount when ordering books (and no sales tax) so this can save you a lot off the list price. Hard to get books get a smaller discount. To find out the actual discount click on the link. If you have any problems with Amazon please let me know.
By Geoffrey Perrot
If you read just ONE book on the US Army in WW2 this is the one. You cannot claim to know anything about the role and development of the Army unless you've read it. Really, trust me on this one. Now available as an inexpensive paperback.Order it here
By Peter Mansoor, ISBN 070060958X
This is very good book on the American Army in the ETO. It particulary attempts to strike back at the "Germans are the best soldiers in the world" theory. I think this book will be considered one of the best on the subject for quite a while, except that it is hard to find. You'll probably not find this in any book store, and even over the net many dealers will not discount it as it is a university press title. Order it here
by John C. McManus, $28.95, ISBN 0-89141-655-2
Books like this normally get me nervous. The author attempts to make statements based upon quotes taken from various veteran interviews and memoirs. This technique works reasonably well when dealing with a very specific or limited subject, but trying to encompass all WW2 US combat in 300 pages is a tough job. This author clearly has a good background in WW2. He's checked a lot of different sources and the end result is well rounded. I do feel, however, that attempting to cover the food, equipment and weapons of WW2 in 34 pages is asking a lot for anyone. Its OK, but thin. This book is divided into two sections: the physical world of the combat soldier, and the soul (or inner thoughts) of the combat soldier. While not every soldier will agree with what other men say (particularly those in other theaters) its worth reading for some general overviews. Keen readers of WW2 memoirs will spot a few familiar names, but there is quite a bit of new material in here. It's very good for those just starting their excursion into the world of the GI and there's enough new material that "completists" will want it also. However, if you only seek information on uniforms and equipment you can pass it by.0891416552 Order it here
by Eric Bergerud
ISBN 0-670-86158-8, Viking, 1996,
Probably the best book to date on the average life of the GI in the Pacific War. The only thing I can fault it for is the section on weapondry in which there are a few slight errors. Other than that its good stuff. One of the few books of war in the pacific that does not have the marines as the central subjectOrder it here
By Stephen Taaffe
ISBN 0-7006-0870-2 $35.00
This book is a bit hard to find, and the cost is a bit steep, but it is a good history of the Army's Pacific war in the southwest Pacific. It covers more of a regimental/divisional/corps level, with a heavy emphasis on how MacArthur's personality affected the campaign. There are some nice tidbits in here. At one point a divisional staff eavesdropped on the coded transmissions between their own Corps and Army headquarters because they felt they were never being told what was going on. The high cost puts this book out of reach for the casual Pacific reader, but anyone with an interest in the Army's Pacific war should track it down. Order it here
By Geoffrey Perret, $15.00 (trade paper) ISBN 0-375-75047-9
For my money Perret is one of the best WW2 historians writing today. No one else understands inter-service rivalry in the American military like he does. Although GIJ normally does not concern itself with aviation matters, this is a great compact history of the Army Air Force during WW2. This is a fun book to read, as Perret not only brings you through the major aspects and developments of the air war, but provides enough anecdotes to keep dedicated AAF buffs interested. Even an infantry lover such as myself must have a basic understanding of the other branches, and this book gets my vote for the best single volume history of the American Air Force in WW2. If you have not read Perret's other books, you need to go find them. He's very, very good. Order it here
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