<p> "The great Prussian theorist of war Carl von Clausewitz wrote: “Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult. These difficulties accumulate and produce a friction [that] . . . distinguishes real war from war on paper.” Chris Hemler, a historian who spent ten years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, approaches his study of the use of “triphibious” warfare in the Central Pacific campaign of World War II, <i>Delivering Destruction</i>, with a Clausewitzian mindset that enriches our understanding of how U.S. naval and Marine forces achieved victories from Tarawa to Iwo Jima."—<b>New York Journal of Books</b><br /><br /> "Chris Hemler’s book on American amphibious assault fire support during the Pacific War is a valuable addition to a historiography that is slim-to-none in its current state." — <b><i>Journal of Military History</i></b><br /><br /> “Chris Hemler’s focused study on the critical role of fire support, from both ships and aircraft, during the amphibious campaigns of the Pacific War 1943-45, shows clearly how integration, coordination, and especially communication, are essential to effective combined arms operations.”—<b>Craig L. Symonds</b>, author of <i>Nimitz at War</i><br /><br /> “Hemler has written a brilliant account of a critical aspect of amphibious assault operations: the delivery, coordination, and integration of fires during the most difficult of military operations. This is a piece of the history of developing the ability to project power ashore against a hostile beach that has not received the attention and analysis that it deserved. Chris's excellent research and superb writing makes this a must read for all who study and enjoy military history.”—<b>Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret.)</b><br /><br /> "Depictions of the Marine Corps’ amphibious landings on Pacific islands during World War II show the explosive support given to the Marines by naval gunfire and close air support (NGF-CAS). Chris Hemler, a military historian and former Marine officer, describes how the success of the Marines’ island invasions was made by massive NGF-CAS that complemented and enabled the valor of the Marines. Key to the success of an invasion was the development of fire control and coordination, an effort that overcame institutional barriers and was refined as the war progressed and the Japanese defenders and their fortifications required more coordinated firepower to defeat. The author stresses the importance of communication and coordination in amphibious warfare.”—<i><b>Seapower Magazine</b></i><br /><br /> “<i>Delivering Destruction </i>brilliantly describes the importance of the human element in warfare. As his account makes clear, nowhere is the human element more important than in the detailed fire support coordination required for amphibious operations. The lessons described in this book remain deeply relevant as we prepare for conflict in this same region. Although the technologies and methods of combined arms have changed dramatically, the vital role of the human element remains constant. Chris’ work helps us learn from the past as we look to the next fight in the Pacific.”—<b>Col. J. P. McDonough</b>, 89th Commandant of Midshipmen, U.S. Naval Academy<br /><br /> "Chris Hemler is the latest scholar to demolish the simplistic notion that the Allies won World War II mainly due to massive material advantages. Hemler shows us that the effective use of naval gunfire support was not simply a matter of applying brute force, but was instead—much like Allied victory itself—the product of determination, innovation, and excellent teamwork. Highly recommended."—<b>John C. McManus, Ph.D.</b>, Curators' Distinguished Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology, author of <i>Fire and Fortitude, Island Infernos, </i>and<i> To the End of the Earth</i><br /><br /> “A must read! Extensively researched, lucidly written, and vitally important for those planning future Indo-Pacific operations, <i>Delivering Destruction</i> is destined to become the definitive study of how Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and pilots made ‘triphibious’ warfare work in World War II."—<b>Bryon Greenwald</b>, National Defense University and author of <i>The Anatomy of Change</i><br /><br /> "The strength of this book is that it is the first close look at how a small group of Navy and Marine Corps officers, whom he identifies and discusses, recognized the critical significance of naval gunfire and close air support to successful amphibious operations. They created the doctrine and techniques that largely enabled the United States to fight successfully against Japanese held islands in the Pacific. Through thorough research, clear writing and a focused, methodical structure, Chris Hemler has produced an important and illuminating study of a much-neglected topic."—<b>Strategy Page</b><br /><br /><i>“Delivering Destruction</i> is a concise history of the Central Pacific theater while expanding the historiography of Marine Corps and the Navy. In around 160 pages, Hemler expands on the understudied role of fire support in the Pacific War. While highlighting the devastation brought by the war, Hemler shows how organizational changes between battles played just as much of a role in victory as individual heroism. While Hemler focuses heavily on naval gunfire and Navy and Marine aviation throughout, he also opens the door for future research on Marine artillery and Army Air Corps concerning triphibious operations in the Pacific War. <i>Delivering Destruction</i>’s in-depth treatment of the JASCOs in the Pacific, and Hemler’s accessible writing style make this book fundamental for anyone looking to understand American triphibious strategy in the Central Pacific during World War II."—<b>H-Net</b><br />   </p><p>   </p>