The Heart of Hell, Mitch Weiss
The Heart of Hell, Mitch Weiss
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The Heart of Hell
The Untold Story of Courage and Sacrifice in the Shadow of Iwo Jima

Author: Mitch Weiss

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 13 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 03/01/2016


Synopsis

The Battle of Iwo Jima, a major event in the Pacific Theater of World War II—and one of the bloodiest in United States history—began on February 19, 1945. But what happened two days earlier has largely been a footnote, until now . . .

On February 17, Landing Craft Infantry 449 was among a dozen gunboats helping to prepare the area for their invasion two days later. U.S. military leaders thought that they had weakened Japanese forces in the area. However, from the towering slopes of Mount Suribachi, Japanese forces opened fire, forcing the U.S. commanders to recalculate battlefield plans. They shelled and bombed the newly discovered enemy positions. It was a move that saved countless lives two days later, when tens of thousands of Marines stormed the beach.

The Heart of Hell is the untold story of the crew of Landing Craft Infantry 449. Based on 130 exclusive interviews with sailors who survived the battle, the families of the men killed in the fight, and more than 1,500 letters the sailors mailed to loved ones during their long months at sea, this is a story of duty, brotherhood, love, and courage.

About Mitch Weiss

Mitch Weiss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist for the Associated Press. He currently works for the AP on investigative projects, and an investigative series he wrote about corrupt real estate appraisers won several national awards in 2009. He also was part of a team of AP reporters who won a George Polk Award in 2010 for their coverage of the British Petroleum oil-spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Mitch has also coauthored several nonfiction books, including No Way Out and Tiger Force.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jimmy

This book tells the story of a Navy craft on the eve of the Marines’ landing on the island of Iwo Jima. It is not a story of the small boat per se (the craft is Landing Craft Infantry 449) but the stories of the men who make up the crew of Landing Craft Infantry 449. This is the first naval history......more

Goodreads review by Mathias

Wow. What a book. Inspired me in so many ways, humbled me at the price others have paid, and made me weep as well.......more