Before General Douglas MacArthur could fulfill his stirring promise of “I shall return” and retake the Philippines from Japanese control, a remarkable rescue mission would have to take place. Captured American soldiers had been held at the notorious Cabanatuan prison camp for more than thirty-three months. Emaciated and ill from brutal mistreatment, a mere 511 POWs remained from the 25,000-strong fighting force that MacArthur had been ordered to abandon on February 23, 1942.
On the morning of January 28, 1945, a small band of Army Rangers set out on an audacious and daring rescue effort to penetrate thirty miles into Japanese controlled territory, storm the camp, and escape with the POWs, carrying them if necessary.
The Great Raid is a thrilling true-life adventure story and an inspiring testament to American heroism and grit.
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"Great book, incredible story. I was inspired by the way the Filipino natives readily gave up their most valued possessions to help the POWs, rather like what the church is supposed to do for each other."
— Erik (4 out of 5 stars)
“A first-class historian.”
— Wall Street Journal“An exciting narrative presented by a first-rate storyteller.”
— Publishers Weekly“[A] compelling, action-oriented story, which translates well to audio. Patrick Lawlor capably keeps the story moving.”
— AudioFile“The book’s great virtue is that it allows a number of the rapidly diminishing band of survivors of the whole experience to have their say.”
— Booklist" If you've seen the movie you should read the book. There are important parts missing in the movie. You will have a better understanding of what the nurse does in the book. She is/was an amazing women. "
— Jennefer, 3/29/2012" Started out slow, but in the end a good read. "
— Gregg, 7/5/2011" Amazing story. Probably needed to focus in more on the individual lives involved in the raid, rather than telling the whole story of WWII in the Phillipines. "
— Andrea, 6/7/2009" I could not put this down. The book is great, the movie they made of it is not. "
— Nicole, 5/23/2008William B. Breuer is the acclaimed and award-winning author of thirty-four books focusing on World War II, the CIA, and the FBI, as well as the Korean War. Fourteen of his books have been selections of the Military Book Club. He lives in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Patrick Lawlor, an award-winning narrator, is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. He has worked extensively off Broadway and has been an actor and stuntman in both film and television. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many starred audio reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.