The history was quite good, but the writing lacked a bit. ( )

Published just months after the events described, this has a fresh and naive feel about it. I am sure this is because we know what happened after these events and we know now why the US military was so helpless in those first few weeks. Having said that, it is still an amazing story of bravery and determination to continue the fight even after their weapons and ammunition were gone. White interview five surviving members of Motor Patrol Boot Squadron 3 stationed in Manila at the start of WW II. While they suspected a Japanese attack, when it came it was still a shock for which they were not prepared. Some of the propaganda is now humorous such as one comment by one of the sailors that he knew they were Japanese soldiers because they all wore glasses. One aspect that I might follow up on is what happened to the American nurses that were trapped in Bataan and Corregidor after the surrender for one of the officers described his relationship with one of them. The descriptions of the battles between the PT Boats and the Japanese vessels are exciting and probably a little too one sided to be absolutely true. The officers do comment on the propaganda and incorrect reporting of the first battles in the Pacific for the men & women trapped in the Philippines were misled into thinking help was on the way and when they realized it was not, they discovered they were expendable and thus were very bitter at being abandoned. ( )

Great read. Written long before the outcome of the war was certain. Tells of great heroism and perserverance in the face of unremitting adversity. ( )

WWII, Torpedo Boats ( )

Written during the early months of WWII while the outcome was still very much in the balance. Members of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 have just returned from a humiliating defeat in the Philippines where they participated as best they could with limited supplies and against overwhelming odds. They tell their stories to author White who relates them to us in the language and emotion in which he received them. The five officers who returned are the lucky ones who were flown out of the Philippines as it fell in order to bring their skills and experiences back to help in the training program. The other members were dead or expendable. A highlight of the book is the first hand account of the daring dash with MacArthur, his family, and the most important of his staff from Corregidor to the Southern Philippines where they were then picked up by a plane and taken to safety in Australia. W.L. White is faithful in reporting the very bad news brought to him by these PT boat officers at a time when American media was downplaying losses in order to keep up the morale of a very shocked and dispirited nation. The officers display and embody the very best in selflessness and courage that we have come to idealize in the WWII serviceman. ( )