author
Joseph H. Alexander
1938–2014
A retired Marine colonel turned acclaimed military historian, he wrote vivid, closely researched accounts of amphibious warfare and Marine Corps combat history. His work is especially known for bringing operational detail and firsthand understanding to battles in the Pacific and Vietnam eras.
3 Audiobooks
Across the Reef: The Marine Assault of Tarawa
by Joseph H. Alexander
Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima
by Joseph H. Alexander
The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa
by Joseph H. Alexander
About the author
Born in 1938, he served for 29 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an assault amphibian officer, including command in Vietnam and years at sea with amphibious task forces. After retiring as a colonel, he became widely known as a historian and writer focused on Marine Corps operations and naval history.
His books include Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa, Edson's Raiders, and The Battle History of the U.S. Marines. The U.S. Naval Institute describes him as a longtime contributor to Naval History and Proceedings, and noted that he received its Author of the Year honors more than once.
Alexander died on September 28, 2014. Readers value his work for its clarity, respect for the people in combat, and the way it combines careful research with the perspective of someone who understood military operations from the inside.