The Rescue: A True Story of Courage and Survival in World War II

Rating:
Summary: Uncommon Heroism
Review: Author Smith has combined three almost independent stories, that of those rescued from the Japanese on the Philippine Island Negros, the saga of the submarine Crevalle which affects the rescue and the aftermath of the survivors' stories and the historic events of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, influenced by the secret documents spirited away by the submarine during the rescue. Smith richly details the lives and living conditions of 40 Americans who become trapped on Negros by the Japanese invasion of the Philippines after their attack on Pearl Harbor. He follows them as conditions worsen, ultimately causing the survivors to move further and further into the jungles. Some become involved in the Philippine resistance movement, and well documented and dramatic stories of heroism and sacrifice by these men, women and children abound. In time General Douglas MacArthur orders the rescue of these Americans and the Crevalle becomes the focus. The details of the cooperation between the US Navy, the Philippine resistance forces and the survivors leading to the dramatic rescue make for great reading. On a parallel track are events culminating in the crash landing on the east coast of Negros of a Japanese aircraft containing two very senior Admirals and the "Z" Plan for the Japanese conquest of American forces in the Pacific. Through a series of brave actions by Philippinos and Americans, the Z Plan eventually is recovered and liberated, along with the American survivors, by the Crevalle. The book culminates with the Battle of the Philippine Sea (The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot), greatly influenced on both sides by the Z Plan, negatively for the Japanese and positively for the Americans. The book concludes by bringing the reader up to date on the subsequent lives of the key figures described throughout the book. This book is a great read, rich with history, full of heroic actions and giving a unique insight into events of enormous import in the individual lives of ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary time.

Rating:
Summary: The Rescue
Review: Being a member of the crew on this submarine I have to rate it 5 stars. I didn't realize that Mr Smith dug so deep for his information. In colaborating with him I thought the book was only going to be about the time spent on the submarine but I found out that he really made it a history book on the refugees; prisoners of war and the whole war in the pacific . Even though I was in contact with most of the refugees for the past 8 or so years I learned so much more about them from reading the book. It was a story well researched and as Richard P.Henrick stated could easily grace the big screen of movie theaters.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read with some historical errors
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It makes what we see on shows like "Survivor" trivial trash. That said I offer the following comment in the spirit of constructive criticism.

More care should have been taken in research and/or being critically reviewed by a knowledgeable individual. The text (pg 284) mentions the Japanese carrier Zuikaku as being sunk in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Try getting sunk off Cape Engano later in the year. Also stated (pg 283) was the Shokaku as being "the last remaining from the fleet that had struck Pearl Harbor." The Zuikaku was. Incorrect also (pg 288) is the claim that two escort carriers were sunk by naval gunfire off Samar. I believe only the Gambier Bay was sunk in that manner. U.S.S St Lo went down due to a kamikaze strike. I am only a casual reader of history and found these errors. Anyone who puts out a book on historical events should take rigorous action to ensure accuracy. I seem to be finding more and more books coming out with errors which distract from the holy grail of historical fact.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read with some historical errors
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It makes what we see on shows like "Survivor" trivial trash. That said I offer the following comment in the spirit of constructive criticism.

More care should have been taken in research and/or being critically reviewed by a knowledgeable individual. The text (pg 284) mentions the Japanese carrier Zuikaku as being sunk in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Try getting sunk off Cape Engano later in the year. Also stated (pg 283) was the Shokaku as being "the last remaining from the fleet that had struck Pearl Harbor." The Zuikaku was. Incorrect also (pg 288) is the claim that two escort carriers were sunk by naval gunfire off Samar. I believe only the Gambier Bay was sunk in that manner. U.S.S St Lo went down due to a kamikaze strike. I am only a casual reader of history and found these errors. Anyone who puts out a book on historical events should take rigorous action to ensure accuracy. I seem to be finding more and more books coming out with errors which distract from the holy grail of historical fact.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Educational
Review: My husband and I read this book aloud to each other as we drove several thousand miles by car recently. It made the arduous trip insignificant because we enjoyed the content of this book so much. It tells the varying background stories of the various participants, friend and foe, so it doesn't read like a novel but takes more concentration to follow. However, it then tells about their lives converging at a specific time in history. It's an amazing story much better than fiction and a great history lesson from a broad personal perspective.
Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Brag for Life!
Review: Some books entertain, others educate, and the occasional few do both.

This book's has got it all. So you want women's liberation? Try bringing up your missionary family as a single mom in the mountains of Negros during a war. So you be a businessman? How about blowing up those sugar cane factories before the Japanese get 'em. You just like that war thang? This book will send you to the dictionary to look up all those really great technical submariner words and touch your heart as the bell is rung for each sub that didn't make it back. It's gotcha rooting for the good guys and holding your breath with the suspense.

So it reminds of a Royal Carribean Cruise ad with my own addition: Brag for Life! Get out there! Learn something!

P.S. Liked this book? Try a "A Peace to End All Peace." Get out there... learn something.

Rating:
Summary: A Triumphant Saga of Courage and Survival in World War II
Review: Stephen Trent Smith's "The Rescue" is not only a spellbinding account of the rescue of forty American civilians and soldiers from the Japanese-occupied Phillipines, but also a splendid terse look at the Pacific U. S. submarine campaign and the last decisive battle between Japanese and American naval forces; the Battle of the Phillipine Sea, more popularly known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". Smith possesses both a great photojournalist's eye for detail and the ability to write a gripping thriller; more often than not, "The Rescue" comes across as a well written World War Two espionage thriller. Smith describes one of the most exciting rescues of people trapped behind enemy lines during World War Two and succinctly places it in context within the overall war aims of both Japanese and American naval and general staffs as both sought air and sea superiority over the other. I strongly recommend this fine book as one of the best recently published histories of World War II. I look forward to yet another fine book from Steven Trent Smith on the still largely untold story of American and Filipino resistance to the Japanese occupation of the Phillipines.

Rating:
Summary: A Geat Yarn, True or False?
Review: This wonderful yarn will keep you reading until the final pages.

What makes it even more spellbinding, is the fact that this is no yarn, it is a true story.

The author has traced the lives of forty Americans trapped in The Philippines during World War II. Dozens of interviews and conversations with the remaining survivors and their families has produced a factual and historic look at the War arena in the Pacific.

The reader is drawn in to each family and each group of people involved in the hiding and rescue of these courageous Americans.

You feel the love they have for their families and their chosen mission, whether their mission was to teach the word of God , or to create as much chaos and damage to the invading Japanese army.

You feel their fear, their hunger and their despertion. You have to keep reading to learn of their outcome.

The history of the war, in the Pacific, is a gripping story in itself. We all know how that ended, but once again the author gives us an inside look at the personal lives and conditions of the daring and brave American submariners that took amazing risks on a daily basis for their country and fellow Americans.

For added excitement we are given the remarkable capture of Japan's "Z" Plan and the way it impacted not only the outcome of the war, but the rescue of the Americans from the Philipines.

This is not just a book for "War Buffs". It will appeal to readers that enjoy a thrilling story and those that enjoy how generously people treat other people in their most neeed hours.