East Wind Rain

Stan Cohen

With Ernest Arroyo, Robert Bracci, David Aiken, Paul Bender

Pictorial Histories Publishing company, Missoula, MT

1981, 1999 revised 50^th Anniv. Ed. 298 pgs.

I bought this book upon the recommendation of David Aiken, one of the contributors. I must say that I have never been let down with either his information, or this book. This is truly an outstanding book covering the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The title of the book refers to the coded Japanese message that informed the Japanese Task force, and it's diplomatic corps around the world in 1941 of the Imperial High Command's decision to go to war with America. The message itself, intercepted by the United States has been of great issue since it's reception on December 4, 1941.

This book covers the battle from both sides with superior photography taken at the time of the attack from both the Japanese, and the American sides. Some of the photos were not published, I believe, before this came out. All the contributors and the Author are pedigreed in the field of research surrounding the attack, and have interviewed many survivors form both sides.

The profiles of the aircraft while few are accurate but for the last 2 years of research into the color of the Japanese aircraft, and the only criticism I have, is that I wish they had further coverage of the attacking forces aircraft, as well as the defending aircraft, ALA Model Art publications. The line drawings of the Arizona, and Utah in their present state are informative, and the other artwork associated in the book is right on the point.

The entries themselves of the writing are interesting mixed with survivor accounts, and scholarly works on what happened. All are short enough to read in a quick few minutes, and placed well to interact with the accompanied photos. All is covered from before the attack, through salvage of the ships, and some present day photos that really drive home the historical aspect of Pearl Harbor.

Perhaps the makers of Pearl Harbor The Movie, should have consulted with the Pearl Harbor Associates, as did the makers of the Academy Award winning docudrama, Tora Tora Tora. I believe many more of those who are either knowledgeable of history, or those who should be would then be better served. If you want the real history of the attack, or are even remotely interested in Pearl Harbor, buy this book. You will not be disappointed.