Pacific Rampart

Book excerpt: This book is a heavily illustrated, definitive history of the American-built forts and harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bay in the Philippines. This work tells the history of these fortified islands (the most famous is the island of Corregidor) from those built by the Spanish to what remains today. Years of research at several archives allows this book to describe in great detail the defensive plans as well as the fortifications built between 1904 and 1942. The book follows the day by day of the fighting early in the Second World War that led to the surrender of these defenses, as well as the combat engagements in early 1945 when they were retaken. Consequently, it is simultaneously a "unit" history (the Coast Defense units stationed in the islands), a weapon /technical history (the artillery in the fixed gun and mortar batteries) and a combat history (the taking and then retaking of the fortress in World War II). This 470 page, hardcover book has been exhaustively researched to become the definitive account of these aspects. The text is supported with thorough referenced endnotes, bibliographical section, and six appendixes of historical data) and heavily illustrated with over 340 illustrations (black and white photographs, maps, and diagrams for many of the fort structures). The author, Glen M. Williford, has invested over 30 years of research into Pacific Rampart making it an important addition to the body of knowledge on these historical defenses and a must for any serious student of these fortifications and the story of Corregidor.