April 1945. The end of World War II finally appears to be nearing. The Nazis are collapsing in Europe, and the Americans are vastly overpowering the Japanese in the Pacific. For a group of pilots in their early twenties who were trained during the twilight of the war, the biggest concern is that they'll never actually see real action and will go home without having a chance to face the enemy. They call themselves Tail-End Charlies. They fly at the tail end of formations, stand at the tail end of chow lines, and now they are prepared for battle at the tail end of the war. Little do they know that they will be key players in the most difficult and bloodiest of naval battles—not only of World War II but in all of American history: the campaign to take the Japanese island of Okinawa to serve as a basis for an eventual invasion of Japan. Derived from interviews with and newly discovered memoirs, journals, and correspondence of Okinawa veterans from both the American and Japanese sides, The Twilight Warriors provides a thrilling you-are-there narrative. Like the HBO series The Pacific, this book combines thrilling action with human stories of courage and sacrifice and triumph. It's Band of Brothers at sea and in the sky.
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"The battle for Okinawa was spoken of by my late father, Bert C. Hopkins who was at the Kerama Retto anchorage, a staging area for the invasion. He spoke of seeing a US Cruiser taking a Kamikaze at. tack between two smoke stacks. I always wanted to learn about this mostly forgotten epic battle."
— Bert (5 out of 5 stars)
" These tales of heroism can't be told too often. Such stories eventually evolve in the mythologies that are the backbone of our culture. "
— Ronald, 6/7/2011" one of the best unit level histories of the battle for Okinawa ive read. Mr. Gandt's personal experiences as fighter pilot probably helped as he gives you a look into the mindframe of pilots in combat quite well. recommended for any world war 2 history buff. "
— Kanak, 5/5/2011" Well written and kept my interest from first page to last. I always enjoy comments and viewpoints <br/>from the enemy's side of the same event. Each book I read reinforces that fact that war is both <br/>evil and the biggest waste of mankind. "
— Beth/Chuck, 1/28/2011Robert Gandt is a former US Navy fighter pilot, Pan American and Delta Air Lines captain, and author of eleven military and aviation books. His book Bogeys and Bandits was adapted for the CBS television series Pensacola: Wings of Gold.
John Pruden is an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. His exposure to many people, places, and experiences throughout his life provides a deep creative well from which he draws his narrative and vocal characterizations. His narration of The Killing of Crazy Horse by Thomas Powers was chosen by the Washington Post as a Best Audiobook of 2010.