Early Life
Manchester grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. His father served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War I. After his father's death, and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, William Manchester likewise enlisted in the Marine Corps. However, he was ordered back to college until called up. Although he had expected to serve in Europe, Manchester ultimately found himself in the Pacific Ocean theater. After rising to the rank of sergeant, he served in Pacific War's final campaign on the island of Okinawa, he was severely wounded on June 5, 1945, and he was awarded the Purple Heart. (Note: Reference in other biography Web sites and in at least two British newspapers to a second Purple Heart, a Silver Star Medal, and a Navy Cross are incorrect.)
Manchester's wartime experiences formed the basis for his very personal account of the Pacific Theater, Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War. In this memoir, Manchester uses some personal anecdotes from his service on Okinawa in his descriptions of battles on Guadalcanal and Saipan. He stated this in the notes following his memoir, as well as clearly denying any attempt at a chronological account. However, without this additional reading at the end of his memoir, to honor those he loved, many would mistakenly believe that Manchester served in three different campaigns. He wrote of World War II in several other books, including his second of a planned three-part biography of Winston Churchill, and a biography of General Douglas MacArthur, American Caesar.
Manchester worked as a copyboy for the Daily Oklahoman in 1945 before going to college. In 1946, he completed his B.A. from the Massachusetts State College, and in 1947 he earned his master's degree from the University of Missouri.
Manchester married Julia Brown Marshall on March 27, 1948, and they had one son and two daughters.
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