"An elite platoon of Marine Scout-Snipers, Lieutenant Frank Tachovsky's "40 Thieves" were chosen for their willingness to defy rules and beat all-comers. When two Marines got into a fight, the loser ended up in the infirmary, the winner in the brig. Tachovsky wanted the winner on his team--a brush with military law was a recommendation. These full-blooded men were trained in a ruthless array of hand-to-hand killing techniques and then thrown into the battle for Saipan--Emperor Hirohito's "Treasure" and the bulwark of the Japanese Empire in the Pacific--where they would wreak havoc in and around, but mostly behind, enemy lines. They witnessed inhuman atrocities; walked into an ambush after the cunning Japanese used wounded Marines as bait; endured body-punishing extremes of heat, hunger, and thirst; fought a relentless enemy who would not surrender; and watched best friends die."--Inside dust jacket.

Includes index.

A mustang --The dumb hayshaker -- Mr. Kansas City -- Borawski done it -- Ellie, Tilly, Roxie and Ruth -- Sweet dreams -- I got me a new boss -- A full-blooded bunch -- Old dead dog! -- The black death -- Pololu -- A three-day pass -- Red sky at night -- Arello and Duley -- A pact and a premonition -- The kitchen sink -- Hell is on us -- All the devils are here -- Dark eyes -- Evans, Arello, and Johnson -- The road to Garapan -- Emerick -- Kenny -- Dyer -- Oliver -- Seven lives -- Good-byes -- Every day for the rest of your life.