Contents: base defense in a possible war with Japan; an organization for base defense; organization & equipment for the defense battalion; the approach of war; the saga of Wake island; a defensive buildup; two African-American defense battalions; shoulder insignia; the South pacific; South Pacific tales; antiaircraft artillery; into the Central & Northern Solomons; antiaircraft machine guns; fighting boredom; the central Pacific drive; reorienting the defense battalion; coast & field artillery; fire control; armor & support; battalion summaries. Photos & maps.