“The greatest World War II story never told” (Esquire)—an enthralling account of the heroic mission to rescue the last survivors of the Bataan Death March. On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected U.S. troops slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty rugged miles to rescue 513 POWs languishing in a hellish camp, among them the last survivors of the infamous … survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March. A recent prison massacre by Japanese soldiers elsewhere in the Philippines made the stakes impossibly high and left little time to plan the complex operation.
In Ghost Soldiers Hampton Sides vividly re-creates this daring raid, offering a minute-by-minute narration that unfolds alongside intimate portraits of the prisoners and their lives in the camp. Sides shows how the POWs banded together to survive, defying the Japanese authorities even as they endured starvation, tropical diseases, and torture. Harrowing, poignant, and inspiring, Ghost Soldiers is the mesmerizing story of a remarkable mission. It is also a testament to the human spirit, an account of enormous bravery and self-sacrifice amid the most trying conditions.
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If you like to read books about real life heroes, this is the one for you. This story about one of the greatest rescue missions of all time will grab you from the first page.
This book is about a group of US Army Rangers who volunteered to rescue 513 Allied prisoners of war in Cabanatuan, Philippines. The POWs were survivors of the Bataan Death March and had been living with illness, abuse, and starvation for over three years.
This book details both the volunteers’ and POWs’ stories with quite amount of depth on the execution of this successful mission.
A testament to the ingenuity, creativity and loyalty of our armed forces. Using their wits alone a group of men accomplished what was virtually impossible. Their actions proved the value and the necessity of special forces. A book to be read more than once.
One of the few books I really couldn’t put down.
Having lived in the Philippines in the mid-1950’s I got the opportunity to walk and drive along the Battan Death March route, as well as visit the ruins of Cabanatuan.
This was a good book describing an amazing and spectacularly successful rescue mission during WWII. The book sets the scene – a horrific POW camp in the Philippines whose inmates include survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March. Japan has earned a reputation for torturing and even massacring POWs. By the way, I found the parts of the book describing the worst of the treatment of POWs very difficult to read. Once the war had turned against the Japanese – there was growing concern within the US military that more POWs, even entire camps of POWs would be massacred. So with time running out, a newly created group of Rangers is given the mission to liberate over 500 sick and dying POWs. They, in partnership with *hundreds* of Filipino partisans, carry out a dramatic and overwhelmingly successful rescue operation. The first half of the book details the conditions of POW life. The second half describes the rescue. Definitely recommended for people interested in the history of WWII.
Good book , well worth reading.
Great book!
Helps us remember just how traumatic war can be. With more and more WWII soldiers dying every day, we tend to forget their sacrifice. Some gave it all and those who came home traded their youth for a life of nightmares and terror.
Thank you ALL veterans!
I am a female who likes to read books about historical events therefore I’m so glad that Hampton Sides wrote this book to tell about this particular & wrenching happening during WWII. So many people had to live through such sad, brutal circumstances, even die, to preserve America’s freedom … incl. the freedom of other nations!
I am immensely disappointed that current politicians and their constituents are throwing away these hard fought-for-freedoms by supporting the idea of socialism now being taught from K on up! They are so very NAIVE about how it fails!
I’ve also read Sides book “Hellhound On His Trail. It was chronologically informative but, for me, not as riveting as his “Ghost Soldiers”. Just saying!
Could not put it down.
re the guys left in the Philippines and their rescue years later…amazing, sad. and often tragic….just WOW!
As history goes, this is one of those stories that got forgotten. Amazing and memorable. For WWII fans, this is a don’t miss.
Wow!!! What a read!!! You never think about what our soldiers go through when they are in battle but this was a true eye opener. Very sad but very good at the same time. I definitely recommend this book!!
excellent read
Wonderful book, shedding new light on the subject.
One of the best historical novels I have ever read. It was interesting from the start and what these men and women did was inspiring and moving. Real American heroes.
Good book,well written!
Another great story about “The Greatest Generation.” I haven’t read many books good enough to reread, this is one of them. This book made me a Hampton Sides fan.
One of the best writers out there today. I read everything he writes.
Great story! True history can be more exciting than the best fiction thriller. Highly recommend