Hour of Redemption: The Heroic WW II Saga of America's Most Daring POW Rescue [Paperback]

Forrest Bryant Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

This is a gripping narrative chronicle of the US Army Ranger-led raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp in World War II, in which over 500 ragged POWs were liberated and half-led, half-carried to US lines.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Credited as a major source for last year's Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides, Hour of Redemption: The Heroic WWII Saga of America's Most Daring POW Rescue covers the elite U.S. Sixth Army Ranger force's liberation of 516 Allied prisoners from the Cabanatuan camp in the Philippines, most of whom were American survivors of the Bataan Death March. Former U.S. Army Captain Forrest Bryant Johnson first published this account in 1978, having interviewed more than 500 participants over a six-year period. Included are the important contributions of the Filipino guerrillas, who kept nearby Japanese forces at bay and decimated an entire enemy battalion without a single fatality. American causalities were two killed and only a few wounded; all POWs in the camp were rescued and taken back more than 25 miles to American lines. Japanese casualties totaled over 1,100. Photos and maps not seen by PW.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The brutality suffered by many prisoners of war in a POW camp is impossible to fully describe. Those who survived the Bataan Death March in the Philippine Islands during World War II, and who managed miraculously to live through the horrendous treatment by their Japanese Army captors at Cabanatuan, are the real heroes of this history. It details, in the former POWs' own words, their story of capture and ultimate liberation. The Cabanatuan POW camp was as infamous for cruelty to its prisoners as the later "Hanoi Hilton" was during the Vietnam War. This history is written in narrative style from interviews with former POWs, the famous Alamo Scouts, and Army Rangers led by Lt. Col. A. Henry Mucci. Johnson, a former U.S. Army captain, carefully documents the instrumental role of Philippine indigenous guerrilla forces in the daring raid. The pace of history accelerates toward a dramatic ending. Highly recommended for World War II collections and public libraries. Gerald Costa, Brooklyn P.L., NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446679372
• ISBN-13: 978-0446679374
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Saga of Survival, June 9, 2004

By 

Eric Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hour of Redemption: The Heroic WW II Saga of America's Most Daring POW Rescue (Paperback)

I couldn't have finished reading Hour of Redemption at a better time than on Memorial Day and just following the dedication of the WWII Memorial. This book is an amazing story of courage and survival.

When given this book, I was led to believe it focused on the WWII Bataan Death March. To my surprise, the author's scope was much wider and the events during the march were an important yet minor portion of this book. Author, Forrest Johnson, begins in April 1942 with the US Pacific Forces fully engaged and making great efforts to push back the Japanese advances. He uses the early part of the book to discuss the battle and eventual surrender at Bataan. His description of the infamous forced-march from Bataan is savage. I was struck by the reference to the approximated 72,000 Filipinos and Americans who began the match, only 52,000 arrived at the concentration camp.

Those who survived the brutal march were confined in a concentration camp and faced staggering death rates during the initial weeks. Slowly and through the help of local medical units, they were able to survive the disease and unsanitary conditions. Eventually, the death rate subsided and Johnson describes how the POWs began to organize within the camp structure. He describes how they risked sure death by smuggling contraband items and by building radios.

One of the more interesting portions of the book detailed the establishment of the first US Special Forces unit, The Rangers. They are the genesis of today's US Army Rangers; and along with the Alamo Scouts play a pivotal role in the march to free the POWs. (To read more about the Alamo Scouts, pick up Silent Warriors of World War II: The Alamo Scouts Behind the Japanese Lines by Lance Q. Zedric) Johnson uses the last half of the book to describe the planning and daring liberation of the POWs still held captive nearly three years following the Bataan Death March. The vivid details provide a reader with the tactical picture of the men who dared to rescue their comrades. His description of the rescue is a truly remarkable accounting of their triumphant efforts.

My only real criticism of this book is the lack of references. It is easy to see that Johnson devoted a great deal of time in researching the events and he honorably tells the story. He mentions in the author's notes section that there was little written about these events and that more than 500 people were interviewed to be able to write this story. The decision not to cite his references is unfortunate. He does include a general bibliography and a short glossary to enhance this book. Also included are various rosters noting the officers and men who served in the effort.

It is impossible to understand or even imagine the inhumanity that occurred during this part of the war. Only the people who experienced it truly know the hellish details. Forrest Johnson has done a masterful job of telling this saga.

I recommend this book.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best WW II book I have read, January 4, 2004

By 

Oscar Davis (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hour of Redemption: The Heroic WW II Saga of America's Most Daring POW Rescue (Paperback)

HOUR OF REDEMPTION is quite simply the best WW II book I have read. I finished 10 WW II books during 2003 and finished the year part way through three others. HOUR OF REDEMPTION was unquestionably the absolute best. It will make you proud, make you cheer, enrage you, and, most importantly, captivate you. I was enthralled throughout.

The book tells the story of the rescue of POWs in Cabanatuan in the Philippines. U.S. forces had landed in the Philippines and were in the process of taking the islands back from the Japanese. Many of the POWs at Cabanatuan were survivors of the Death March and, based on the prior conduct of the Japanese, would be executed before U.S. regular forces could reach the camp. To avoid the murders of these survivors, a plan was developed to go approximately 25 miles behind enemy lines and rescue these men. The raid was led by U.S. Rangers who were formerly the 98th Field Artillery (Pack), as well as by Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerillas. In one of the most perfectly executed military operations ever, these incredibly courageous men rescued more than 500 POWs without even so much as one POW being killed by the Japanese during the raid (one POW died of a heart attack and I believe one died of an illness). The rescue team killed approximately 1,200 Japanese soldiers while sustaining only 2 or 3 losses themselves.

I would suggest this book not only to WW II buffs but to anyone. It is an amazing story of courage and fortitude that will leave you thirsting for more. You will not be disappointed with this book ... save for the sleep you lose when you cannot put it down.