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

Rating:
Summary: The best WW II book I have read
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: The best WW II book I have read
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Saga of Survival
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Saga of Survival
Review: 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.