The author picks a cast of characters, some of whom won the Medal of Honor for their actions, and follows them through the battle. While he occasionally zooms out to look at the strategic view and events back in Washington, most of the book is spent with the troops doing the fighting. It is a wonderful, engaging read. I'm removing one star because the peek at leadership from Truman and MacArthur didn't seem particularly focused, more an opportunity to tell an amusing piece of trivia.