Ricard B. Frank is a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and retired attorney. His first book, Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle (Random House, 1990), won the General Wallace M. Greene Award from the U.S. Marine Corps. His second work, Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire (Random House, 1999), received the Harry S. Truman Book Award. The first volume of his narrative history trilogy about the Asian-Pacific war, Tower of Skulls, will be published in March 2020. 

Articles by Richard B. Frank

Navy Art Collection, Naval History and Heritage Command

North from Guadalcanal

By Richard B. Frank
July 2013
Guadalcanal had only been the beginning. Now it was time to slug it out up the Solomons to the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul.
U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

Defeat into Victory

By Richard B. Frank
July 2013
Faring poorly early in the war, U.S. destroyers and destroyer doctrine came into their own at Vella Gulf and other Upper Solomons clashes.

Picking Winners?

By Richard B. Frank
May 2011
FDR'ss secret list of top flag officers in 1942 offers a lesson in 20/20 hindsight—especially considering who's not on the list.

The Melbourne Interlude

By Richard B. Frank
April 2010
Following the battle at Guadalcanal, General Vandegrift sent scouts to find a place where the 1st Marine Division could go to recover and unwind, and further their training and preparedness.
Navy Combat Art Collection, Naval History & Heritage Command

First Contact with the Enemy

By Richard B. Frank
April 2010
Richard B. Frank describes the events and highlights of the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He features the 1st Marine Division led by Major General ...
David James/HBO

An Overdue Pacific War Perspective

By Richard B. Frank
April 2010
The HBO miniseries "The Pacific" provides a much-needed and refreshing look at the Pacific Theater of World War II. It takes an in-depth look at the events that transpired leading ...