Surviving Bataan and Beyond: Colonel Irvin Alexander's Odyssey as a Japanese Prisoner of WarDeeply moving, intensely graphic account of World War II prisoners of warIncludes a gut-wrenching description of the Bataan Death MarchFew American prisoners of war during World War II suffered more than the group that was captured on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. The men were forced to endure the infamous Death March, a series of overcrowded prison camps, and the "hell ships" transporting them to Japan and Korea. Among them was Col. Irvin Alexander, who recounts his harrowing experience as a captive of the Japanese. As a midlevel commander, he knew the politics behind the surrender in April 1942, but he also suffered with the rest of the men through a horrific confinement. This is the story of one man's struggle to survive a brutal, often unfathomable captivity. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aglaloma Alexander's American arrived artillery attack barracks Bataan Peninsula battalion Battle of Bataan beriberi Bilibid Blood Brothers bombers bombs Cabanatuan Camp O'Donnell Clark Field Colonel Alexander combat Corps Corregidor Death March December defense division commander doctor enemy feet Filipino fire Fort Stotsenburg friends headquarters heard Hopkins Hoppy hospital Infantry Irvin Alexander Islands Japan Japanese in World Jinsen jungle King knew landing later latrine letter looked Luzon MacArthur machine guns Manila Manila Bay Mariveles miles military Mindanao morning Morton moved naval night Nip guards Nip officer Nip soldier Oryoko Maru patrol Philippine Army planes POWs prison camp Prisoner of War quartermaster Quinauan Point received regiment reported rice road San Fernando Sara Spindle scout ship Squadron started Stotsenburg Surrender and Survival tanks told trail troops truck U.S. Army United USMA Wainwright World War II wounded young
Popular passages
Page 16 - We're the battling bastards of Bataan; No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam No aunts, no uncles, no cousins no nieces; No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces . . . And nobody gives a...
Page 16 - We're the battling bastards of Bataan: No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam, No aunts, no uncles, no nephews, no nieces, No rifles, no planes, or artillery pieces, And nobody gives a damn.
Page 6 - Alexander focused his energies on working hard and accomplishing his missions as the assistant post quartermaster. The post quartermaster, Lt. Col. WE Durst, known as "Poppy," rated Major Alexander as "very well informed; has necessary intelligence [and] judgment to make decisions with force to accomplish them." Brig. Gen. EP King,25 the post commander, indicated that Major Alexander was in the "upper third; quiet, unassuming, capable, loyal, [and a] gentleman . . . especially desirable [for the]...