In my last posted review, where I reviewed Mr. Estes’ book ”Marines Under Armor”, I mentioned this new title in a couple of instances. This book is a very different from that title as it contains the memoirs of Major Robert M. Nieman, USMCR as told to Mr. Estes, who has done additional research in order to flesh out some of the technical aspects of the text. This is an extraordinary story of a man, and his comrades who are of the “Greatest Generation”: those Americans who interrupted their lives to save the world, over sixty years ago.

But, more to the point, Maj. Nieman was intimately involved in the training of the Corps’ tank arm as well as a participant in many of the major engagements that took place in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

The book is divided into the following chapters:
1. The Early Days, 1918-39.
2. Joining Up, but with Whom?
3. First Organizations: Preparing for War.
4. Early Tests in the South Pacific.
5. Training Command.
6. Gearing Up for the Central Pacific: Roi-Namur.
7. Breaking the Japanese Barriers: Saipan and Tinian.
8. Infernal Iwo.
9. Okinawa: The Last Battle.
10. A China Fling: 1945-46.

In typical biographical fashion, the book begins by describing Maj. Nieman’s childhood, family life and education. It then goes on to describe his actions as a young man, just prior to the beginning of the war including his entry into the USMC’s very first pre-war Officer Candidate Class. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1941 (prior to the US entry into the war) he joined the 1st Scout Co. of the 1st Marine Division. One of the first things the young 2nd Lt. did was to help destroy one of the USMC’s Marmon-Herrington tankettes in a training mishap. This was, in fact, the first ever loss of a USMC AFV.

By 1942, Nieman was in New Zealand as the Executive Officer of D Company, 1st Marine Tank Battalion. As the fighting raged on Guadalcanal, D Company trained intensely on its M3 light tanks, in anticipation of joining the fray, all the while sampling the extraordinary hospitality of the locals, most especially their women-folk. But, instead of seeing combat, Nieman was re-assigned to the US where he was instrumental in setting up the training center known as “Jacque’s Farm” in California. His unit shortly received new M4A2 medium tanks (including welded-hood and direct-vision types), which they eventually took into combat for the first time during the landings at Roi-Namur on February 1, 1944. It was this unit that created the famous photo of a captured Japanese Type 94 tankette mounted on the engine deck of an M4A2. While these were mostly welded-hood versions of the ‘A2, there exists at least one photo showing a direct-vision ‘A2 on the island, something of interest to AFV modelers, to be sure. Also at this time, wood and concrete appliqué armor was used on the unit’s tanks.

After a brief stop in Hawaii where the unit trained in tank-infantry tactics, played with their Japanese tankette and added field mods to their tanks, the action moves on to Saipan. Here Nieman was awarded the Navy Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor). He received this decoration for having one tank shot out from under him and after transferring command, a second immobilized by a land mine. Taking over a third tank, he continued to lead the assault, which inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese defenders.

Next comes the invasion of Tinian, which was considered to be a text-book assault. Another stop in Hawaii sees the unit construct and test a flail tank while continuing to train and modify their new M4A3 tanks (they preferred the ‘A2, and he details the reasons why that was so), while they prepare for that hell-on-earth, Iwo Jima. Here also, Nieman is injured in a Jeep crash, but is released in time to participate in the landings on Iwo, where he receives the Bronze Star for heroism.

After Iwo, Nieman eventually wound up on Okinawa, where he was to command a Battalion whose CO had been reported to be incapacitated. Arriving and finding that this was not the case, he nevertheless applied himself to the job at hand, earning a second Bronze Star. At war’s end, he eventually wound up on occupation duty in China where life was good, even if there was the occasional run-in with roadside bandits. The remainder of the book deals briefly with his post-war business career.

Overall, the text is an extremely easy read as it is told in a very straightforward manner. Maj. Nieman’s personality comes through at every turn as the text reveals a man who has a purpose in life and a plan for its fulfillment. The text also details the training doctrine and equipment modifications that Maj. Nieman was involved with in fairly good detail. This part of the text should prove especially interesting to those who wish to know what that unusual “thing” is on a particular M4 and why it is there. The photos (mostly of M4 medium tanks, but also an M5A1, LVT-1 and a couple of views of the improvised flail tank) are all quite interesting, especially those that show unusual vehicle modifications. Other photos show personnel in a variety of situations in training, at leisure, aboard ship and in the combat zone. The maps depict the Pacific Ocean area and the islands of Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima, all in an easy to read fashion. The appendices include the Major’s citations, an after-action report from Iwo Jima and specs on many of the AFVs mentioned in the main text.

Altogether, this book is just the thing for those who model vehicles and those who have an interest in the “human factor” and how it affects the use of tanks in combat. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the Texas University Press (www.tamu.edu/upress) who provided this review copy.

Frank V. De Sisto
October 8, 2003