A Time of War

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this memoir recounts the experiences of William H. Whyte as he navigates the challenges faced by the First Marine Division during the Guadalcanal campaign. Following his training at Officer Candidate School, Whyte describes the initial optimism of landing on Guadalcanal and the harsh realities of combat that followed. The narrative highlights the inadequacies of planning and the intense struggles to secure a crucial airfield, ultimately revealing the lessons learned from one of the longest and most significant campaigns in Marine Corps history.