Given Up for Dead: America's Heroic Stand - Softcover

Sloan, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553381946 ISBN 13: 9780553381948

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 2005

Synopsis

Drawing on eyewitness accounts by survivors, as well as extensive research, a compelling account of America's first battle of World War II describes the ordeal of American soldiers and civilians who defended Wake Island against a surprise Japanese attack just hours after Pearl Harbor and were forced to endure nearly four years of brutality as Japanese POWs. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"A thoroughly researched, cleanly written blend of history, narrative, and professional insight that cannot help but move you."--James Webb, author of Fields of Fire and The Emperor's General

"Given Up for Dead is the riveting account of a small garrison of Marines, sailors, and civilian workers who handed the Japanese their first defear of World War II in the Pacific. It is poignant, solidly researched, and told with brilliance and sensitivity. My hope is that this book will serve as a lasting tribute to a remarkable and heroic group of men."--General P. X. Kelley, USMC (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps

"Drawing on the memories of a rapidly dwindling number of American (and a couple of Japanese) veterans ... [Given Up For Dead is] a blood and guts tale from the early days of WWII."--Kirkus Reviews

"Highly readable...exhaustively reported and researched, moves at a pace that screams."--Marine Corps Times

"Given Up for Dead is a welcome find.... It is the 15 days of siege forming the core of the book that most readers are quite likely to remember most vividly.... By producing a nuanced account instead of a jingoistic, gung-ho glorification of a distant battle in a long-ago war, Sloan has added a valuable book to World War II literature."--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Given Up for Dead is especially effective in telling the story of the individuals caught up in the battle.... A dramatic recounting of those desperate days of December 1941 when a small island and the courage of its few defenders momentarily held the attention of a proud and grateful country. "--Dallas Morning News

Synopsis:

Drawing on eyewitness accounts by survivors, as well as extensive research, a compelling account of America's first battle of World War II describes the ordeal of American soldiers and civilians who defended Wake Island against a surprise Japanese attack just hours after Pearl Harbor and were forced to endure nearly four years of brutality as Japan

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0553381946
• ISBN 13: 9780553381948
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432