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40 Thieves on Saipan
- The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles
- Narrated by: Qarie Marshall
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: History, Americas
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Publisher's Summary
Before there were Navy SEALs, before there were Green Berets, there were the 40 Thieves: the elite Scout Sniper Platoon of the Sixth Marine Regiment during World War II.
Behind enemy lines on the island of Saipan - where firing a gun could mean instant discovery and death - the 40 Thieves killed in silence during the grueling battle for Saipan, the D-Day of the Pacific.
Now, Joseph Tachovsky - whose father, Frank, was the commanding officer of the 40 Thieves, also called Tachovsky's Terrors - joins with award-winning author Cynthia Kraack to transport listeners back to the brutal Battle of Saipan. Built on hours of personal interviews with WWII veterans, their personal papers, letters, and documentation from the National Archives, 40 Thieves on Saipan is an astonishing portrayal of elite World War II combat. It's also a rare glimpse into the lives of World War II Marines. The poorest equipped branch of the services at that time, Marines were notorious thieves. To improve their odds for victory against the Japanese, they found it necessary to improve their supply chains through "Marine Methods" - stealing. Being the elite of the Sixth Regiment, the Scout-Sniper Platoon excelled at the craft - earning them the nickname of the "40 Thieves" from their envious peers. Upon returning from a 1943 trip to the Pacific theater, Eleanor Roosevelt observed, "The Marines I have met around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marines."
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What listeners say about 40 Thieves on Saipan
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- licensedtorock
- 09-05-20
Incredibly written, incredibly told!
I’ve never had a more clear picture of the heinousness of war. The story of the “40 Thieves” was told in such a manner, I felt as though I knew each of the marines personally. Touching, heartwarming, heartbreaking; I am so glad I I became privy to this history.
11 people found this helpful
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- David
- 07-03-20
Excellent
Great untold story at least to my knowledge, great action and narration was a win... for those who gave it all, so we may remember their triumphs.
9 people found this helpful
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- DenGig
- 07-10-21
Reminds me of Leon Uris's novel Battle Cry
The authors remind me of Leon Uris's novel Battle Cry. A little known platoon put together near the end of the war in the Pacific. While Uris's book is based on similar history, this book is all history. And yet the authors involve you deeply in select characters. The narration is spot on without overdramatizing the dialogue. The Dirty Dozen are alive and well in this telling of the Forty Thieves. The book details the criteria was to find those that spent time in the brig, especially from a fight. But do not select the guy that went to the infirmary from the fight. They needed rough guys for this platoon. What a story!
8 people found this helpful
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- J. Hallan
- 09-17-20
Brings the Marines to life.
Wonderful story of battle from the men who fought it. Highly recommended to any one.
6 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 07-04-20
Awesome Read!! One that was hard to put down!
Very well written packed with tidbits you don’t hear about of a platoon of Marines and their experiences in the Pacific. Really enjoyed this story!
5 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-16-21
Awesome read
This book makes me so proud of the men I count as brothers I was age five when they were on Siapan. As a Vietnam bet they ate my big brothers
4 people found this helpful
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- David
- 08-09-20
Superb, moving history
On occasion an intimate narrative of war appears of special impact. I could not stop listening once started. As finely grained history of combat in the Pacific and as literature this book excels. It ends with the story of how the book came into being and brief sketches of the lives of the men after their hellish war ended - a wise choice as it brings closure to the poignancy of the sacrifice and heroism of these all too young men. Within them, the war never quite ended. The narration is equal to the story.
4 people found this helpful
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- SCOTT
- 07-09-20
What a great listen
True story’s are the best . Very well written and will bring a tear to the eyes
4 people found this helpful
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- MkgBen
- 10-26-21
A wonderful history of the battle for Saipan
A remarkable story of what some young men had to go through to save our democracy. On the ground hand-to-hand fighting most of us can not imagine, but must appreciate.
3 people found this helpful
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- Tom R
- 10-04-21
A waste of time
I thought this was about a special Marine group that went behind enemy lines. The first three agonizing hours was about their exploits in bars and dealings with women.
3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-09-22
A Great Book on a Small Piece of WW2
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. A bit slow at the start but ramped up well. Very thought provoking about the youth of that era. The things they saw, the hard times they endured and the bravery they showed. Much respect goes to them all.