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John W. Whitman

Bataan: Our Last Ditch : The Bataan Campaign, 1942 Hardcover – November 1, 1990

by John W. Whitman (Author)

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Print length

754 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Hippocrene Books
Publication date

November 1, 1990
Dimensions

6.5 x 2.25 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0870528777
ISBN-13

978-0870528774
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a superb tactical study of the battle for Bataan in 1942 by a lieutenant colonel on the staff of the Pentagon who served in Bataan with the 31st Infantry. The narrow focus facilitates a detailed and perceptive presentation of Japanese and Philippine-American fighting power. Whitman makes an original contribution by concentrating on Bataan's Filipino defenders, the newly raised Philippine army and the regular Philippine Scouts. The Philippine army, despite its lack of training and equipment, did most of the fighting and the dying. And the superb performance of the American-officered Scouts suggests that U.S. military interaction with Third World cultures is not always a disaster of mutual incomprehension. Recommended for all World War II collections.
- D.E. Showalter, Colorado Coll., Colorado Springs
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hippocrene Books; 1st edition (November 1, 1990)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 754 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0870528777
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0870528774
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.59 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 2.25 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,043,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21,117 in World War II History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
14 ratings

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Michael Herndon

Great History!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019

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After nearly 50 years of reading military history, I finally found a good solid history of the American-Japanese struggle in the Philippines. Although an older book, this is probably the best history of this campaign. Don't know how I missed this gem!

One person found this helpful

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Albert Rush

Warriors, with a capital "W".

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2012

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More than twenty years ago John Whitman succeeded in doing something that no other author on the subject of Bataan has done since. He succeeded in writing the finest single-volume combat book of America's first great land battle of WWII. In the years both before and after "Bataan: Our Last Ditch" was written, most authors have only glossed over the actual combat that took place over four brutal months, and instead they tend to focus on the Death March and the prisoner experience. While those "chapters" of history remain critical reading to Americans of all ages, Whitman's offering is instead a very disciplined and highly detailed account of the fighting before April 9, 1942. While a must have for any true WWII student, the book should also appeal to more casual readers. "Our Last Ditch" is a great testament to the Americans and Philippine Scouts who did so much to buy critical time in the early days of the Pacific War and fought valiantly to defend the Philippines. Whitman correctly identifies the Philippine Scouts as being among the finest soldiers in the US Army and provides numerous examples of their heroism under American command. There is also a healthy amount of information on the poorly equipped Philippine Army units that also did their share to defend their homeland, as well as the role played by the Marines, Navy Sailors, National Guard and Air Corps in the battle. Whitman ends his narrative on April 9th, intentionally leaving the Death March to other authors and choosing not to get into the final stand of the Americans on Corregidor. Instead, he offers a pure, if not somewhat formal at times, battle history of Bataan. Indeed, these men need to be remembered not simply as POWs or victims of atrocity, but also as Warriors with a capital "W".

7 people found this helpful

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Rob Orrill

A great read of Bataan history

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018

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A great read of Bataan history. Bringing back to light what my father survived since he wouldn't talk about it, even to me, a Vietnam Vet (1968)

One person found this helpful

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Thomas Stadtmiller

from a descendent of an American Defender of Bataan-one of the Battling Bastards

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2016

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My dada was at Clark Field and became a POW of the Japanese after the 9 April 1942 surrender. He was on the "Death March", "hell ship" Nissho Maru, at Keisen-23 POW Camp on Kyushu

Anything relating to Bataan and POWs of Japan I read. It contributes to my family history project

One person found this helpful

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bruce t klem

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the early phases ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2015

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I found this to be a very interesting book. Not much has been written specifically about the Bataan battle and this book provides a lot of detail. Mr. Whitman explains the troop status and strength and weaknesses. He provides detailed information on the unit status from initial mobilization and training or lack thereof. He points out that most of the mobilization took place between July and December. Camps had to be built supplies issued troops organized and all this takes time. Clearly there was not enough time for the units to complete basic much less get ready for combat against units of the Japanese that had been fighting for quite some time and were well trained. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the early phases of WWII. It will give you a clear understanding of the lack of readiness of the allies in the Pacific theater and the problems faced at the start.

5 people found this helpful

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R. Marino

A Great Read - Well Done

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014

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Information on this chapter in our history is very hard to come by and the author does an admirable job filling that gap. The opening chapter on the destruction of the Culo Bridge was very well written..... reminded me of Bruce Catton. Really took you there as the last of the army made its' way into Bataan. The content and style of the opening chapter provided a nice hook for the rest of the book.

Being a former Marine, I have always found Army unit designations somewhat of a challenge and an Order of Battle, (particularly for the Luzon Force), is the only thing that would have made this outstanding book a little better. A few more photos of some of the major participants would have been nice - but not required. I was able to go online and research as I read the book which provided some help.

The book is dedicated to the Philippine Scouts. I knew nothing of them prior to reading this book and came away with a healthy admiration of them, their abilities as soldiers and the sacrifices they made for their homeland and the U.S.

I also could not help but wonder how things would have played out if MacArthur (who believed in his own hype) had just followed War Plan Orange and left all the food stocks and ammunition in Bataan as originally planned instead of dispersing them all over Luzon and ultimately losing them to the Japanese. While the garrison would have eventually fallen, considering the beating they gave the Japanese in February of 42, having those supplies would have allowed them to last longer, take a greater toll on the Japanese and at least let them go down swinging. They deserved better during the war as well as after.

It is really a shame that some of these heroes were not recognized more while they were alive. To have fought as they did under those conditions is truly remarkable. As an infantryman, I could only shake my head in admiration.

4 people found this helpful

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P. Olsen

Im very impressed

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2016

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Excellent, comprehensive, and well-written history of the largest American defeat in US history.

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Mike D. Falkenstein

excellent history of the battle of bataan

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2010

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