Rescue at Los Baños : the most daring prison camp raid of World War II

From the bestselling author of __Hero Found__ comes the incredible true story of one of the greatest military rescues of all time, the 1945 World War II prison camp raid at Los Baños in the Philippines—a tale of daring, courage, and heroism that joins the ranks of __Ghost Soldiers, Unbroken__, and __The Boys of Pointe du Hoc__. In February 1945, as the U.S. victory in the Pacific drew nearer, the Japanese army grew desperate, and its soldiers guarding U.S. and Allied POWs more sadistic. Starved, shot and beaten, many of the 2,146 prisoners of the Los Baños prison camp in the Philippines—most of them American men, women and children—would not survive much longer unless rescued soon. Deeply concerned about the half-starved and ill-treated prisoners, General Douglas MacArthur assigned to the 11th Airborne Division a dangerous rescue mission deep behind enemy lines that became a deadly race against the clock. The Los Baños raid would become one of the greatest triumphs of that war or any war; hailed years later by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell: “I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook operation for all ages and all armies.” Combining personal interviews, diaries, correspondence, memoirs, and archival research, __Rescue at Los Baños__ tells the story of a remarkable group of prisoners—whose courage and fortitude helped them overcome hardship, deprivation, and cruelty—and of the young American soldiers and Filipino guerrillas who risked their lives to save them. From the New York Times–bestselling author of Sons and Soldiers comes the incredible true story of one of the greatest military rescues of all time.In February 1945, as the US victory in the Pacific drew nearer, the Japanese army grew desperate, and its soldiers guarding U.S. and Allied POWs more sadistic. Starved, shot and beaten, many of the 2,146 prisoners of the Los Baños prison camp in the Philippines—most of them American men, women and children—would not survive much longer unless rescued soon.Deeply concerned about the half-starved and ill-treated prisoners, General Douglas MacArthur assigned to the 11th Airborne Division a dangerous rescue mission deep behind enemy lines that became a deadly race against the clock. The Los Baños raid would become one of the greatest triumphs of that war or any war; hailed years later by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Colin Powell: “I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will ever be able to rival the Los Baños prison raid. It is the textbook operation for all ages and all armies.”Combining personal interviews, diaries, correspondence, memoirs, and archival research, Rescue at Los Baños tells the story of a remarkable group of prisoners—whose courage and fortitude helped them overcome hardship, deprivation, and cruelty—and of the young American soldiers and Filipino guerrillas who risked their lives to save them.“Riveting... Readers [will] be both shocked by the conditions that POWs had to endure and appreciative of the bravery and ingenuity of that generation we have come to call the greatest.” —The Washington Post The True Story Of One Of The Greatest Military Rescues Of All Time. In February 1945, As The U.s. Victory In The Pacific Drew Nearer, The Japanese Army Grew Desperate, And Its Soldiers Guarding U.s. And Allied Pows More Sadistic. Starved, Shot And Beaten, Many Of The 2,146 Prisoners Of The Los Baños Prison Camp In The Philippines--most Of Them American Men, Women And Children--would Not Survive Much Longer. Deeply Concerned About The Half-starved And Ill-treated Prisoners, General Douglas Macarthur Assigned To The 11th Airborne Division A Dangerous Rescue Mission Deep Behind Enemy Lines. General Colin Powell Has Called The Raid A Textbook Operation For All Ages And All Armies. Combining Personal Interviews, Diaries, Correspondence, Memoirs, And Archival Research, This Book Tells The Story Of A Remarkable Group Of Prisoners--whose Courage And Fortitude Helped Them Overcome Hardship, Deprivation, And Cruelty--and Of The Young American Soldiers And Filipino Guerrillas Who Risked Their Lives To Save Them.--from Publisher Description. The Fall Of Manila -- Prisoners Of The Japanese -- Los Baños Internment Camp -- Sky Soldiers -- You'll Be Eating Dirt -- Return To The Philippines -- Freedom Week -- Under The Cover Of Darkness -- The Killings -- Do It Right, Joe -- The Escapes -- The Los Baños Force -- Rescue Must Come Soon! -- The World Will Be Watching -- The Raid -- Rescue -- God Was With Us -- The Fate Of Sadaaki Konishi. Bruce Henderson. Map On Front Lining Paper. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 351-356) And Index. "Rescue at Los Baños tells the mesmerizing survival story of more than 2,000 civilian prisoners held in the Philippines by the Japanese during World War II--and the elite 11th Airborne Division's remarkable, heart-pounding mission to rescue them from deep inside enemy territory. As the U.S. victory in the Pacific drew near, desperate Japanese soldiers guarding these prisoners--most of them Americans--at Los Baños Internment Camp became increasingly sadistic and began starving, beating, and killing their captives. Fearing the loss of countless more lives if they were not rescued soon, General Douglas MacArthur gave the 11th Airborne Division the dangerous mission of freeing these beleaguered men, women, and children in a deadly race against the clock. In Rescue at Los Baños, #1 New York Times bestselling author Bruce Henderson weaves together dramatic accounts of life at the prison camp with the planning and execution of the military rescue operation. Combining interviews, diaries, correspondence, memoirs, and archival research, Henderson documents the incredible story of the prisoners and of the soldiers who risked their lives to save them"--Back cover The fall of Manila Prisoners of the Japanese Los Banos Internment Camp Sky soldiers "You'll be eating dirt" Return to the Philippines Freedom week Under the cover of darkness The killings "Do it right, joe" The escapes The Los Banos force "Rescue must come soon" "The world will be watching" The raid Rescue "God was with us" Epilogue: The fate of Sadaaki Konishi Dramatis personae Source and chapter notes Appendix: the camp roster. Draws on personal interviews, diaries, correspondence, memoirs, and archival research to document the bold 1945 World War II prison camp raid at Los Baños in the Philippines that freed more than two thousand brutalized men, women, and children