Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission

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A tense, powerful, grand account of one of the most daring exploits of World War II.

On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected troops from the elite U.S. Army 6th Ranger Battalion slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty miles in an attempt to rescue 513 American and British POWs who had spent three years in a surreally hellish camp near the city of Cabanatuan. The prisoners included the last survivors of the Bataan Death March left in the camp, and their extraordinary will to live might soon count for nothing—elsewhere in the Philippines, the Japanese Army had already executed American prisoners as it retreated from the advancing U.S. Army. As the Rangers stealthily moved through enemy-occupied territory, they learned that Cabanatuan had become a major transshipment point for the Japanese retreat, and instead of facing the few dozen prison guards, they could possibly confront as many as 8,000 battle-hardened enemy troops.

Hampton Sides's vivid minute-by-minute narration of the raid and his chronicle of the prisoners' wrenching experiences are masterful. But Ghost Soldiers is far more than a thrilling battle saga. Hampton Sides explores the mystery of human behavior under extreme duress—the resilience of the prisoners, who defied the Japanese authorities even as they endured starvation, tropical diseases, and unspeakable tortures; the violent cultural clashes with Japanese guards and soldiers steeped in the warrior ethic of Bushido; the remarkable heroism of the Rangers and Filipino guerrillas; the complex motivations of the U.S. high command, some of whom could justly be charged with abandoning the men of Bataan in 1942; and the nearly suicidal bravado of several spies, including priests and a cabaret owner, who risked their lives to help the prisoners during their long ordeal.

At once a gripping depiction of men at war and a compelling story of redemption, Ghost Soldiers joins such landmark books as Flags of Our Fathers, The Greatest Generation, The Rape of Nanking, and D-Day in preserving the legacy of World War II for future generations.

What Customers Say About Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission:

My order came in a timely fashion. The book as advertised,was in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the service.

It was one of the best books I ever read as it gripped me. It reads very well, It shows how amazing this mission was and what they were up against, like 10,000 Jap troops nearby, a bridge with Japs near by and Japs within the camp itself. This is an exception recounting of a small band of Rangers going deep behind enemy line to rescue prisoners of war. You think it is impossible with all the travel, the problems, the locals etc and my god they did it. Well out numbered they travel 100 miles or so behind the lines, worked with the locals, the delays, the open ground they had to cover and of course getting all these prisoners back to American lines. No easy task. Will make your proud. I didn't say everything as I didn't wan,t to give it all away.

This book is good, if not as emotionally engaging as it possibly could have been. Definately interesting to listen to on audio but could have been better. The experiences of the prisoners in the first section of the story is gripping and not for the faint of heart. Then the story slows down. These men went to hell and back I have listened to similiar audios on similiar camp atrosities and the other books went into more detail.I recommend this book to all World War II historical interested people and would only add that absolutely anyone who reads this will discover nothing but courage from the men involved.

Could not believe the like new condition of the book at such a low price. Very fast and secure shipment.

Sides chose to pen, e.g., "enfilading", "ineluctable", "contretemps", "glurp", "crumped", "shiboleths""postpandrial", to name ONLY a few. I'm very interested in reading about WWII, and I really enjoyed this one. HOWEVER, this book would have been much more enjoyable without all the $64,000.00 words Mr. Extremely poor editing Doubleday. If you read this book, be sure to have a dictionary handy.