Tarawa, Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucesterappears in non-fiction

The places indicated were the sites of previous marine amphibious assaults. Although victorious, the marines suffered enormous casualties and experienced utmost savagery. Many of the marines in K/3/5 are veterans of Guadalcanal or Cape Gloucester, or both. The behavior of the Japanese defenses in all three battles consisted of an all-out beach defense followed by repetitive banzai charges. This defense was not particularly effective and was anticipated—wrongly—by the marines at Peleliu.

Pavuvuappears in non-fiction

Pavuvu is a small island in the Russell Island chain, northwest of Guadalcanal. It was used by the marines as a training and rehabilitation camp prior to the assaults on both Peleliu and Okinawa. Sledge found life on Pavuvu boring and largely unpleasant. A photograph of Bob Hope and officers attending a show on Pavuvu is included in the photographic plates in the text...