Winner of THE GENERAL WALLACE M. GREENE, JR. AWARD for outstanding nonfiction



In May 1943 a self-described -really young, green, ignorant lieutenant- assumed command of a new Marine Corps company. His even younger enlisted Marines were learning to use an untested weapon, the M4A2 -Sherman- medium tank. His sole combat veteran was the company bugler, who had salvaged his dress cap and battered horn from a sinking aircraft carrier. Just six months later the company would be thrown into one of the ghastliest battles of World War II.

On 20 November 1943 the Second...