Bataan Survivor: A POWs Account of Japanese Captivity in World War II (American Military Experience Book 1)

A forgotten account, written in the immediate aftermath of World War II, which vividly portrays the valor, sacrifice, suffering, and liberation of the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor through the eyes of one survivor. The personal memoir of Colonel David L. Hardee, first drafted at sea from April-May 1945 following his liberation from Japanese captivity, is a thorough treatment of his time in the Philippines. A career infantry officer, Hardee fought during the Battle of Bataan as executive officer of the Provisional Air Corps Regiment. Captured in April 1942 after the American surrender on Bataan, Hardee survived the Bataan Death March and proceeded to endure a series of squalid prison camps. A debilitating hernia left Hardee too ill to travel to Japan in 1944, making him one of the few lieutenant colonels to remain in the Philippines and subsequently survive the war. As a primary account written almost immediately after his liberation, Hardee's memoir is fresh, vivid, and devoid of decades of faded memories or contemporary influences associated with memoirs written years after an experience. This once-forgotten memoir has been carefully edited, illustrated and annotated to unlock the true depths of Hardee's experience as a soldier, prisoner, and liberated survivor of the Pacific War. Drafted In 1945 Following The Author's Liberation From A Japanese Prisoner Of War Camp, This Personal Memoir Of Colonel David L. Hardee Was Forgotten For Over Seventy Years. A Career Infantry Officer, Hardee Fought During The Battle Of Bataan As Executive Officer Of The Provisional Air Corps Regiment. Captured In April 1942 After The American Surrender On Bataan, Hardee Survived The Bataan Death March And Proceeded To Endure A Series Of Squalid Prison Camps. A Debilitating Hernia Left Hardee Too Ill To Travel To Japan In 1944, Making Him One Of The Few Lieutenant Colonels To Remain In The Philippines And Subsequently Survive The War. Unlike Memoirs Written After Decades Of Fading Memories And Contemporary Influences, This Unique Prisoner Of War Memoir Is A Primary Account Written Almost Immediately After Liberation From Internment. This Once-forgotten Journal Has Been Carefully Edited, Illustrated, And Annotated To Reveal The Depth Of Hardee's Experience As A Soldier, Prisoner, And Liberated Survivor Of The Pacific War. -- Inside Jacket Flap. Section I: Fighting On Bataan -- The War Is On -- The Billion Dollar Christmas Tree -- Many Pilots And No Airplanes -- The Last Days In Bataan -- The Death March -- Section Ii: Death's Prison Camps -- Camp O'donnell -- Cabanatuan -- More Prison Life At Cabanatuan -- En Route To Dapecol -- Section Iii: Survival On Mindanao -- Life At Dapecol -- A Hernia Saved My Life -- More Life At Dapecol -- Final Days At Dapecol -- A Hellship Trip To Bilibid -- Section Iv: Liberation And Return -- Manila And Bilibid -- Life At Bilibid -- Final Days Of Imprisonment -- Liberation -- Homeward Bound. David L. Hardee ; Edited By Frank A. Blazich, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 267-283) And Index. The personal memoir of Colonel David L. Hardee, dictated and written at sea from April-May 1945 following his liberation from Japanese captivity, is a thorough treatment of his time in the Philippines. This once-forgotten memoir has been carefully edited, illustrated, and annotated to unlock the true depths of Hardee's experience as a soldier, prisoner, and liberated survivor.