Horyo: Memoirs of an American POW [Hardcover]

Richard Gordon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Gordon enlisted in the US Army in August 1940 for duty in the Phillippines. On April 11, 1942, he was captured by the Japanese and remained a prisoner until September 4, 1945, when his camp was liberated by the British and Americans. >

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Paragon House; 1st edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557787816
• ISBN-13: 978-1557787811
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,324,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remember Bataan, July 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Horyo: Memoirs of an American POW (Hardcover)

This is an incredible well written narrative. Major Gordon is a major figure in the Battling Bastards of Bataan. His discussion of the events are well thought and eye opening. The conditions of the POW camps, their senior officers and the reflections of exactly what happened is told in a different light. His youth and early childhood reflect the reasons why a young man would enlist in the military. The deliberate thoughts that would enable a teenager of the 40's vs todays same teen. The respect for government vs 2000 traditional thoughts. The war in general tells much of the 1940's as seen from Major Gordon's eyes.His discussion of the POW conditions, the horror of war. The hostilities and the reasons for the early surrender. Much of what Major Gordon states is much different from the many history books that I have read. The major premise for reading this book is to make Americans aware of this battle and the horrible knowledge that these survivors were left behind. Today the Major is a battling force in helping Americans to remeber Bataan. A war cry of Remember the Alamo, Remeber the Maine, should now be Remember Bataan. We should all salute Major Gordon and his heroic comrades. We should all remember the heroes of Bataan.

37 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a daughter's search, January 30, 2000

By 

Sarah A. Williams "lover of good books" (Traveling all over the country) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Horyo: Memoirs of an American POW (Hardcover)

Richard Gordon and my father shared some of the same experiences, as they were both in the Bataan Death March, were on the same hell ship to Japan and were in the same prison camp together. My father went on to Kanose prison camp in 1944, as Mr. Gordon notes in his book. This book has enabled me in my research on my father, Jack, to understand what he went through. It has given me an even greater appreciation of those men who were prisoners of the Japanese. And for those captured on Bataan and taking the Death March, and those who fought on Corregidor, it only serves to further bring to the forefront, that these men were indeed considered EXPENDABLE by their government. In fact, in all of the hoopla of World War II, what happened on Bataan and Corregidor has all but been forgotten in the annals of history, except for those men and their families who fought there, died there, or were imprisoned. Some came home, most did not. My father notes in his letter home, after release, that of the 120 men in his company (Headquarters) in the 194th Tank Battalion, only 32 were coming home. He notes that that is apparently true with the whole battalion. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gordon, and several other men who were in prison with my father. I have been corresponding with others. I have met men who were in the 194th with him. How any of these men survived is a miracle. Mr. Gordon's story, along with those of others, deserves everyone's attention.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is time for Japan to apologize says a Californian, March 26, 2002

By 

Roger Mansell (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Horyo: Memoirs of an American POW (Hardcover)

Major Gordon's experiences accurate reflect those of thousands of his fellow prisoners of the Japanese. The nation owes a debt to Major Gordon, not just for his service, but for his willingness the recall the unending horror and write it DOWN!

Typically, post war records are replete with errors and it is only through thoughtful histories such as Gordon's can the next generation understand what price was paid for the freedom of the world.

Sadly, today we no longer teach the history of World War II. Ask any crowd of college kids and less than 5% would recognize the names of Bataan and Corregidor. Yet these same students can tell you every detail about the nasty twelve months of the "McCarthy Era" and, from their history text books, the life story of the "Beetles." The "Quislings" remain in control of our colleges and media. No one is ever taught about the Kamikazes of Japan and how the terrorists who attack today are absolutely the same enemy.

"Horyo" is a worthy addition for any serious student of World War II. Only with books like this, can the public ever understand why Japan owes the world an apology and reparation to its victims. Next to the Japanese, the Nazis appear angelic.