PACIFIC FRONT PHOTO ALBUM SHOWS KAMIKAZE ATTACKS AND DEAD MARINES

PACIFIC FRONT PHOTO ALBUM SHOWS KAMIKAZE ATTACKS AND DEAD MARINES

Great content photo album, approx. 15 x 12 in., with 149 original b/w photographs of varying sizes, each well-captioned, presumably taken by a private in the American Marine Signal Corps. Some routine content, including photographs of USO shows, with performers like Bob Hope and Carole Landis, Hawaiian landscape and residents, and New Guinea tribespeople. The album notably contains nine images of intense naval combat, each with descriptions like "CARRIER U.S. RECEIVING DIRECT HIT AND ON FIRE BY AERIAL BOMBS", "HEAVY FLAKS OVER U.S.S. CARRIER AGAINST ENEMIES SUICIDE PLANES", and "JAP SUB LOST DURING THE BATTLE LEAVING BY BOAT". Most chillingly, one photograph, 8.5 x 7.75 in. b/w, shows a dead American soldier still clutching his combat knife, captioned beneath: "An unidentified Marine from Second Marine Division Killed in Action, Was Awarded from his commanding officer 'the Silver Star' to his beloved wife and 3 Children. For single handing wiping out 4 machine guns nest in pillboxes which were harassing the advance of the marines by the beachhead. Before he gave his life for his country, he also killed three Japanese soldiers in hand-hand combat. Receiving large portions of grenade shrapnel in his body." Pages disbound with ragged edges, original covers show damage to the corners, yet photographs themselves are in very good to fine condition. Should be seen!