Escape From Davao: The Forgotten Story Of The Most Daring Prison Break Of The Pacific War (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
The subtitle says a lot about this book - forgotten and daring. It is an epic true story of the brutal reality endured by the survivors of Japan's overthrow of U.S. forces on the Bataan Peninsula and the only successful escape by americans from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Philippines. Lukacs succeeds in honoring the real life heroes, most of whom perished at the hands of their inhumane captors, and those very few who risked everything to escape to freedom. There are literally hundreds of real-life characters in this tragedy, yet Lukacs manages to put flesh on nearly every back-story and provides a strong sense that they were our fathers, sisters, brothers, classmates and neighbors. Sheesh! Did I just call it a tragedy? Make no mistake, it is a triumphant replete with determination against the impossible - but in the end triumph came for few, and so late. Honor them - the survivors and fallen alike; their sacrifice was for the just freedoms we enjoy in their absence - read it and remember. I am usually not a fan of military stories BUT having lived in the Philippines and visiting Corrigedor and other WWII battle sites, I was determined to try and read this account. At one point, I was so horrified and upset by the descriptions of what went on in the POW camps, that I couldn't sleep and was determined to not finish the book. However, I prevailed and couldn't put the book down as I read of their planning and escape and then the about the politics of the American government to keep the story quiet until it was to the Government's advantage to release the details. There are parts that become a bit complicated with details but you can quickly read those parts and not lose the thread of the story.
What do You think about Escape From Davao: The Forgotten Story Of The Most Daring Prison Break Of The Pacific War (2010)?
Another great WWII story. What courageous young men! It would be a great movie.
—fortier
