Battalion of the damned : the 1st Marine paratroopers at Gavutu and Bloody Ridge, 1942 by James F Christ

"It is a story of how in the face of overwhelming odds and seemingly irrational decisions from above, the battalion fought heroically, accepting orders without question and adapting to circumstances beyond its control despite sickness and a critical shortage of resources. In bringing public attention to the contributions made by these men during the first amphibious assault by U.S. forces in World War II, this book adds significantly to the history of the war in the Pacific." - Editorial Reviews