My Response for you History Enthusiasts!

In response to all the commentary that have come in over the last week or so, it is much appreciated, it means folks care deeply about their subject.   In part, to response to some of the criticisms, I’ll just have to say it is a work of fiction after all and not a doctoral dissertation.    Guided by Tolkien’s great maxim “write a rousing good tale” that was our effort and at times we did bend the rules a bit, such as Yamamoto’s range of command etc.     As mentioned earlier, even some of the primary sources on the campaign of December 1941, are loaded with glaring errors, as primary sources often are, and those are adopted by secondary sources and “become fact.”    We had a number of historians, experts on naval warfare etc., review our manuscript for some of the details as mentioned in the commentaries to this blog, and apologize if we did not hit the mark correctly on some points.    But then again, it is fiction.

A good analogy. I spent two years of my life doing a dissertation on an African American regiment, a good part of it, the role it played at the Battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864.   I guess you could say I’m one of the world’s leading experts on it and in my research discovered a number of details not known and a significant number of errors in the standard secondary works and even some of the primary.    It comes from that daily grind of what was sometimes 16hours a day, type of days.    I went nuts trying to endure “Cold Mountain,” both book and movie as but one result (besides living within minutes of where the story takes place).   We’ll take under advisement any errors noted, review, and learn.     A few are dead on, a few we could debate, I know all come from the heart which I appreciate, and please do remember we are in a fictional setting trying to learn some real world lessons.

Regarding MacArthur. . .hmmm. . .one is never suppose to give away what comes next, but let’s just say it is definitely a very big item on the table for the books ahead.   The debacles at the Philippines, Java Sea, and Singapore are the forgotten campaigns of our war in the Pacific because they were such stunning and humiliating defeats.     There was much that went wrong in our ill-preparedness, and in the flush of victory later, they became campaigns that few paid attention to.   Recall that John Ford, in 1945, made one heck of a movie about it “They Were Expendable” which barely broke even because when released the war was ending and “we” did not wish to see a movie about our worst defeat. . . .”Sands of Iwo Jima,” which was far more “Hollywood” and less accurate, was far more to our taste in the years after the war.

I appreciate your understanding as to why I can’t post my email directly.   I hear all sorts of horror stories from those who do.   One jerk of an author I know, frankly can’t stand the guy who is ultra revisionist, did have my email address, did some open postings regarding what he claimed was a new ground breaking book of his, (with recepient’s names listed) and wham, my mailbox just exploded after his posting.

Anyhow, hope my explanation to those of you with far deeper detailed knowledge is acceptable.

Sincerely,

Bill Forstchen

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By Anonymous @ Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:27 PM

As an aviation, WWII and Civil War buff, I enjoy reading your alternative history books, but the many minor technical errors are constant downers and spoil the enjoyment somewhat.
The Grumman F4F "Wildcat" did not have .30 caliber machine guns. It had six 50 caliber machine guns. It did not have "props", it had one 3-blade propeller. The propeller was referred to as the "prop", and the three individual propeller blades were called "blades", not "props".
The Wildcat did not have an electric control or button to retract or extend the landing gear. It was retracted or extended by laboriously turning a hand crank.
I just got finished reading "Team of Rivals", about Lincoln's war cabinet. It occurred to me that the most compelling and difficult Civil War alternative history story appears to have not been written. Not details about individual battles, but the big one! Leaving everything else alone, what if Lincoln had lived? What would the post war reconstruction and the subsequent history of America and the world have been like?

By Anonymous @ Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:56 AM

Just a couple of picky things for the next printing of Pearl Harbor: "James strapped down in the backseat of the open cockpit American-made Stearman biplane,..." page 41. The pilot flies from the backseat. A passenger would sit in front in a Stearman.

2."...a couple of gulls were happily tearing it apart,.." Page 284

P say there are no sea gulls in Hawaii. During 20+ years as a resident and sailor I missed them.

By Anonymous @ Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:55 AM

By Anonymous @ Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:33 PM

You excuse your factual errors by saying that this is, nevertheless, a work of fiction. Shame on you! You should not promote it under the guise of history.

By the way, the British code breaking was carried on at Bletchly Park, not
Benchly.

By Anonymous @ Sunday, April 26, 2009 6:59 PM

When are you coming out with the next book in the Pacific War series? I thoroughly enjoyed both Pearl Harbor and Days Of Infamy.

By Anonymous @ Sunday, February 01, 2009 7:55 PM

Enjoyed the Pearl Harbor book. Its content makes me think two books were not in your bibliography: Clausen's "Pearl Harbor-Final Judgment" and Stennet's "Day of Deceit". The Navy told Clausen there were no translators at Pearl, but Stennet shows the Navy lied so much to him that this is doubtful. Clausen also indicates Gen. Short deserved court-martial: he changed the meaning of the alert codes and never bothered to tell Washington.

Digression: Did you ever continue the book where Skorzeny raided Oak Ridge? If so, I never came across it.

By Anonymous @ Sunday, September 07, 2008 2:29 AM

Aloha Bill,
Thank you so very much! I just finished reading "Never Call Retreat". It did not disappoint! After reading "Gettsburg" and "Grant Comes East" I couldn't wait to finish the series. Thank you!
You and Newt captured me with "Days of Infamy" followed, out of order, by "Pearl Harbor". Wow!
May I ask, what projects are you working on? You and Newt are terrific writers and I am looking forward to your next book!
Mahalo, Walt in Honolulu

By Anonymous @ Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:49 PM

I noticed some glaring errors, and had to wonder of the "errors" were done intentionally for a reason that I didn't pick up on. By the way, I am thoroughly enjoying the books.
First, you referred to "the Enterprise class" of carriers. The Yorktown, CV5, was the first of the class, and therefore Enterprise, my favorite ship, is a Yorktown class.
Second, you did the same thing with the Lexington, referring to her as a "Saratoga class carrier". Again, the Lexington (CV2) came first, making them Lexington class ships.
Third, you referred to the Brewster Buffalo as "an Army plane". The Buffalo was flown by the Navy and the Marines, not the USAAF.
Lastly, and this point is admittedly not as pertinent, nobody that loves a ship would refer to her as an "it". You do this several times.
Again, I am thoroughly enjoying the books. I am just curious if there is a reason for these changes that I am not catching. Thanks!

By Anonymous @ Monday, July 14, 2008 1:13 PM

I really dislike saying this here but I have tried every thing to get a response about this purchase. Here is my last request for information: At this time I suggest you not purchase from Newt’s web - they will not respond.

5th request! I have been trying to get someone to respond concerning this order. I am being ignored. This is beginning to make Newt look really bad.

Are you going to do something about this problem?!?!?!?!

I purchased :
Product Name Options Product ID Item code Quantity Unit Price Amount TAX
Personalized Autographed Days of Infamy w/ a signed Gettysburg for just $5 49 1 52.95 52.95 0.00 %

Subtotal USD 52.95
Shipping & Handling USD 8.95
Total Incl. Tax USD 61.90

By Anonymous @ Monday, July 07, 2008 4:58 PM

I loved your Lost Regiment series so was excited when I saw "1945" co-written with Mr. Gingritch. Was there ever a sequel to that book? I was left hanging. I will be sure to start "Days of Infamy" as soon as I finish my current civil war book.

By Anonymous @ Monday, June 30, 2008 2:33 PM

Dear Mr. Gingrich,

I would ask you to search your inner heart, and ask yourself where this country is goign to be in 4 years with either Obabma or McCain, and if you feel as I do that we will be in deep trouble, I would ask you to immediately consider becoming a presidential candidate. I would vote for you, and I would servce your political campaign as I am looking for someone with leadership, logical thinking, and someone like you who has real solutions for real problems.

I vote "Gingrich" for President!

By saltysam96 @ Monday, June 30, 2008 12:14 PM

Sir,

One recommendation might be like what David L. Robbins does at the end of his novels. He lists much of the history on which he based the story.

In your case, the works of H.P. Willmott (EMPIRES IN THE BALANCE, PEARL HARBOR (2001 edition), THE GATHERING DARKNESS (co-authored)), Evans and Peattie's KAIGUN: STRATEGY, TACTICS, AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY, 1887-1941, Paul S. Dull's A BATTLE HISTORY OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY (1941-1945), Stanley Weintraub's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO WAR: DECEMBER 7, 1941 or Donald J. Young's FIRST 24 HOURS OF WAR IN THE PACIFIC.

By saltysam96 @ Monday, June 30, 2008 9:45 AM

Sir,

Thank you for your response. You are right I take this topic quite seriously. I have been interested in the attack AT Pearl Harbor since 9/11. I grew tired of many of the false analogies, discussions of "intelligence failure," etc.

You are correct there are multiple problems with both primary and secondary sources. Much of the primary sources I "trusted" during my research for my masters were either reports written by the US in 1939-1941 or translated from Japanese in 1945-1947. Recollections (or 'memoirs') are often skewed.

The broad scope of the opening campaign of the Japanese in December 1941 to April 1942 is amazing to ponder in relation to the era of warfare. Minoru Genda mentioned in February 1941 the IJN didn't have the technological or tactical capability to conduct the raid at Pearl Harbor; however, the IJN trained and developed what it needed to be able to make the raid.

Japan conducted coordinated operations over most of the Western Pacific. Guam, Wake, Midway, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, the list goes on.

I do understand your novels are fiction, but when I read so many people taking many of the comments as historical fact vice historical fiction, I worry about how the attack AT Pearl Harbor will be remembered. Too many people use it for their own purposes, never really taking the time to understand the true role/nature of the attack. Much of it comes down to one word: ON vice AT. Pearl Harbor was not attacked on 7 Dec 1941; the US Pacific Fleet AT Pearl Harbor was attacked (had the fleet been anchored at Lahaina Roads, would we still be calling it the attack "on" Pearl Harbor?).

Thank you for your time.

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