Pacific Fortress

Pacific Fortress, A History of the Seacoast Defenses of Hawaii is a revealing historical account of the U.S. Army's coastal defenses of Oahu. This work provides a thorough account of both the seacoast and anti-aircraft branches of the Coast Artillery Corps in this important American Pacific base. It presents a detailed chronicle of the building and operation of the defenses from shortly after the territory's occupation in 1907 through the tense pre-war period and the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 to the impressive wartime enhancements. At its culmination in 1945, Oahu boasted the strongest coast defenses of any American harbor. Compiling research from the National Archives and many primary sources this work describes in great detail the defensive plans as well as the fortifications built between 1904 and 1945. 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 batteries) and a combat history. The text is supported with thorough referenced endnotes, a bibliography, and eleven appendices listing all fortification sites. This 450-page, hardcover book is heavily illustrated with over 460 maps, plans, and period photographs, this work is the most comprehensive coverage of these defenses ever offered in print. The author, Glen M. Williford, has contributed an important addition to the body of knowledge on these historical defenses. It is a worthy companion to the earlier publication, Pacific Rampart, A History of Corregidor and the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays by the same author and publishing team. Readers of both military and Hawaiian history will find this coverage fascinating.