The American 'island-hopping' campaign in the Pacific during the Second World War was a crucial factor in the eventual defeat of Japan in 1945. The assault and capture of these seemingly unimportant islands meant US bombers and their fighter escorts could now reach mainland Japan, eventually crippling Japan's war economy. In November 1943, Tarawa tested the doctrine of seaborne assault to the limit in a 76-hour battle in which Marines waded ashore from the surrounding reefs in the face of murderous enemy fire. Peleliu in September 1944 was the 'unknown battle', where a combination of poor planning, dubious leadership and a major change in Japanese defensive strategy turned what was expected to be a three-day battle into one of the most savage battles of the war. Iwo Jima in February 1945 was a titanic struggle that eclipsed all these battles, as three Marine divisions struggled in appalling conditions against an enemy for whom surrender was not an option. That April a massive Marine/Army operation against Okinawa was a foretaste of what could be expected in the proposed assault on the Japanese mainland. These battles were all characterised by savage fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. Employing archive colour and black & white photographs, maps and first-hand accounts, the author relates these pivotal battles to the wider struggle against the Japanese in the Pacific.

After the release of Volume 1, many readers and collectors pointed out several pieces they possessed which were missing from the book. Although including each and every item issued to the American soldier is a near impossible goal, the author started making a list of what should included in a reprint.

All chapters from volume 1 have been revised and updated (among others: uniforms, signal and medical equipment) and new sections have been added, including personal equipment, Stateside training, and the life of POWs in German camps.

More than 1,000 new artefacts with detailed captions are featured in this completely revised new work. Volume 2 of the G.I. Collector's Guide provides a complete and unequaled source of American ground force documentation for collectors and enthusiasts alike.