Contains 90 photos and 18 maps and charts. “In the grand strategy of the Pacific War, the Central Solomons operation constituted only a short step in the overall advance on Japan. But in the neutralization of Rabaul, Japan’s key holding in her "Southeastern Area," this campaign played a vital role. By early 1943 the Central Solomons area might be described as an amphibious no man’s land lying between Rabaul and the new Allied citadel of Guadalcanal, across which the two antagonists exchanged air and naval blows. The Japanese, by increasing the strength of their garrisons in New Georgia, had already begun their effort to control this strategic area. The Allied campaign that followed was designed to drive them out and establish a forward base from which Rabaul could be brought under constant assault. It is a source of extreme pride to me that those Marines who participated in the Central Solomons operations acquitted themselves with such distinction. Despite the most adverse weather, terrain and climate, the enemy was driven out and the mission finally accomplished. Growing out of this campaign was an extremely significant sense of mutual admiration between the Army, Navy and Marine troops involved.-LEMUEL C. SHEPHERD, JR. GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS”

This work presents a concise account of the Solomon Islands campaign. The details in this work are well-written and precise, which lets the reader understand this accurate report easily. The Solomon Islands campaign was a major Pacific War campaign of World War II. It began with Japanese landings and the invasion of several areas in the British Solomon Islands during the first six months of 1942. The Japanese occupied these areas and started the construction of various naval and air bases to safeguard the side of the Japanese offensive in New Guinea. This work is considered a part of the World War II Commemorative series. The author, Charles Melson, was the Chief Historian for the US Marine Corps. He also operated as a joint historian with the US Central Command and Special Operations Command. This is a definitive history of the Solomon campaign and an interesting piece of literature for history and marine enthusiasts.