Customer Reviews

Surviving Bataan & Beyond

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was one of the best books on the subject of the Bataan death March and Philippine Invasion that I've read. Col. Alexander's personal account brings the events upfront and real to the reader. You truly feel part of the Col.'s ordeal. I reccomend it highly.

Read dozens of books on the subject of Japanese POWs and this one has a different slant because it comes from the viewpoint of an army officer. Most of the others books are written by or about the enlisted men who were imprisoned for most of the war. Colonel Alexander was a West Point grad and career officer. He was caught in the Philippines with his wife and child as war clouds boiled. His family, along with most other dependents, were sent home in May 1941. The Colonel's life was about to abruptly change from that of a quartermaster officer to a combat infantry soldier. This book is about his wounding, capture, imprisonment, torpedoing by U.S. subs and finally, six years later, was released and returned home. Dominic Caraccilo did a good job editing Colonel Alexander's notes.

The editing was sloppy with reference numbers wrong. He irritatingly keeps using the word `object' when he means of course `abject' Annoying to have to keep flipping to the back of the book which is composed of one third references.
However bearing he was an amateur I thought it was an interesting book and yes well worth a read of a first hand account of a quite dreadful experience.

The book arrived on time. It is a very detailed and well-written account of the events following D-Day.

I cannot of course write a review of this book yet as I do not have a copy. I do have the original manuscript and I will give you my opinions after I read the book. I am his daughter in law and the mother of his four grandchildren.

Janet Alexander 4910 Meadowlark ln. DICKINSON tX, 77539