From the bestselling author of Hero Found comes the incredible true story of one of the greatest military rescues of all time, the 1945 World War II prison camp raid at Los Baños in the Philippines—a tale of daring, courage, and heroism that joins the ranks of Ghost Soldiers, Unbroken, and The Boys of Pointe du Hoc.In February 1945, as the U.S. victory in the Pacific drew nearer, the Japanese … Pacific drew nearer, the Japanese army grew desperate, and its soldiers guarding U.S. and Allied POWs more sadistic. Starved, shot and beaten, many of the 2,146 prisoners of the Los Baños prison camp in the Philippines—most of them American men, women and children—would not survive much longer unless rescued soon.
Deeply concerned about the half-starved and ill-treated prisoners, General Douglas MacArthur assigned to the 11th Airborne Division a dangerous rescue mission deep behind enemy lines that became a deadly race against the clock. The Los Baños raid would become one of the greatest triumphs of that war or any war; hailed years later by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell: “I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook operation for all ages and all armies.”
Combining personal interviews, diaries, correspondence, memoirs, and archival research, Rescue at Los Baños tells the story of a remarkable group of prisoners—whose courage and fortitude helped them overcome hardship, deprivation, and cruelty—and of the young American soldiers and Filipino guerrillas who risked their lives to save them.
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Fascinating report of a part of the Pacific war front during WWII. I learned several things I did not know about the capture of the Phiippines and MacArthurs subsequent return. There was a lot of detail about the 11 Airborne in the Army, which was all new to me. The treatment of the internees was abominable! I was glad to read that the camp …
Well-told story of a most unpleasant situation
Henderson brings his great story-telling style to this grand tale from WW2. He evokes the feelings of the civilian prisoners when they are thrown into captivity, and also the brave and heroic efforts of the soldiers who ultimately rescued them.
This book made me appreciate the special people(men and women) we had in the conflict of WWII. I am amazed that any of the people survived the terrible prison camps under the Japanese. Very good read. Msgt Denis L Neal USAF Ret
This is a ztory of one of the most well planned and timely operations in WWII. Fascinating story, couldn’t put it down.
This is a great book, what commitment the soldiers had.
In the space of just under a month, military forces under the command of Douglas MacArthur executed 4 prison raids to free prisoners held by the Japanese in the Philippines. Cabanatuan (about 500 POWs), Santo Tomas (3,785 mostly civilian prisoners), Bilibid Prison (700 POWs and 500 civilian prisoners) and Los Banos (2,147 mostly civilian …
Excellent account of a Little known rescue of 2000 civilian POWs held by Japan in the Philippines.
I liked the book…factual and historical…things we should never forget
If you like WWII history, this is good reading. Written about real people and their suffering as POW’s in the Pacific. Well written and well documented.
This was a great book on a truly nerve wracking rescue. I knew a gentleman who took part in the rescue. He was with the Amtracs. So it was especially interesting for me.
Very well written and researched. This is a lesser known chapter in the Pacific war and it holds your interest from the beginning to end with a good reporting of the players in the rescue and the POWs. I recommend it to anyone interested in history and especially WW II history.
Great story of an under-appreciated aspect of WW2
Great view of events leading up to the actual rescue – both inside the camp and the planning that went into the rescue.
Real people in a very real time. Beautifully described. Knowing something of the time and place the story is real and very well-told.
Actual facts about an unknown situation and outcome. Probably lots more situations like it of which 99% of adults are unaware. Well written and easy to read.