Customer Reviews

Corregidor

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"Corregidor" is a true-to-life "Winds of War" about the early stages of WWII for America. "Corregidor" traces memories of actual participants and research illustrating peacetime from mid year of 1941 to the fall of Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines from December 1941 to May 1942. Great adventure depicting a true-to-life drama. Illustrates the strong heart of the American and Philippine troops who fought the battles and the failure of an unprepared military leadership. Many lessons of military and national leadership are demonstrated. In an age when the American military is searching for meaning and redefinition this is a must read for those interested in a properly prepared military.

Excellent read for any one trying to understand the truth of the Battle of Corregidor.

As the son of a Corregidor veteran I found this book very helpful to understanding the Battle of Corregidor. My father like, like many veterans, struggled with his experiences at Corregidor and as a P.O.W. (May 6, 1942 until liberated in Japan September 1945) and found it difficult to talk about.

This book and others like it honor the Philippine Campaign Veterans.

This book by Eric Morris is GREAT!! The book is written in such a way that anyone will enjoy it. This book is about a forgotten part of US history. The place where the largest loss of the US Army took place. The place where thousands of soldiers were forgotten, left to die.

The author interviews like 40 different survivors with a sprinkling of the traditional narrative of the battle. The story line jumps from one survivor to another then to some narrative of events. This method makes it very interesting and fast paced. If you read this you might find yourself drawn into the story as if it was a novel. The way this story flows could easily transfer into a screen play. I felt that when I read it. I saw movie on every page.

Unfortunately this would be a very sad movie. The story of Corregidor and Baatan is a forgotten chapter of American History. Most people aren't aware that 19,000 Americans marched into captivity. Baatan remains the biggest surrender of the US Army in history. Due to the brutality of the Japanese many of those 19,000 did NOT make it home. There were around 50,000 Philippine citizens that also marched into captivity with those Americans. There were also thousands of US civilians who also were rounded up by the Japanese.

This book chronicles their story. You see vividly how the life in the Army prior to December 1941 was, good and easy. The war caught them by surprise. You learn new things to about their plight. The book, through eye witnesses eyes casts MacArthur in a new light. You will see that he isn't the hero or savior some will see. You will see how MacArthur's earned his nickname of dugout Doug. He even mentions how General MacArthur lied in dispatches and how he wasn't really in touch with the situation on the ground. His out of touch perceptions cost the Army a great deal. I won't spoil the story for you on how.

The big pull of the book is in the stories. You can see how Washington ignored their plight and how that effected their morale. You will see great heroism in their actions. They literally fought, way beyond expectations for four months until they were out of food. This book also shows how they did inflict a great harm on the Japanese, but were overwhelmed. Their stories are very heart wrenching. Your heart will pull on every page. They fought on with no hope of being saved, no hope of victory, with little food against great odds. You will be overwhelmed in the later chapters as you read about US citizens going to Camp Carrol and other places to their death. With all of that they marched on. Their effort will make you proud to be an American.

Everyone needs to read this book if for nothing else to learn about this chapter of US History people have forgotten.

The author has personally interviewed a number of veterans and others who were involved in this historic tragedy. He interwinds their remakable individual experiences within the context of the events that took place. Readers learn what dailey life was like, in this place of luxury, during the terrible depression era, for both officers and enlisted men. (What history books cover menus, prices, fashion, and the personal tastes of those involved: we learn about one officer who purchases a "34" Pasckard covertible sedan, in peace time, and in the end, when the two depart, the reader is as sad as the proud owner!)
This book actually puts the reader in the scenes, and one can feal the heat, the thirst and the hunger, and the frustration of men as they slowley give up the hope of rescue that thay have clung to so long. The reader frustratingly learns how early, and who made the decision to completely sacrafice this huge fighting force, for "the bigger" fight in Europe!
The local bad "tactical decisions" that accelerated the destruction of this army are covered within the context of who knew what - when! Some good leaders, who most have never heard of, shine through, like General Drake, who as Quartermaster, directly circumvented MacArthur's direct orders to get as much food and equipment directly to "his" fighting troops.
A book of this nature, acquainting the reader with the actual personalities of those who experienced this great betrayal by both their local commanders, and their country, leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of the battle, and a bitter sadness for both those that died, and those who survived.

Joe Maxwell