Rating: 
Summary: Great Read
Review: Excellent read. Great story of a forgotten part of WWII, and the sufffering our POW's went through at the hands of the Japanese.
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Story of Survival
Review: I have read many books about the war in the Pacific, but this has to be one of the best. As soon as I started reading I was hooked. The hardships that the men of Bataan had to face at the hands of the Japanese were unbelieveable. Hampton Sides tells their story in a way that draws the reader in and doesn't let them go. The book's chapters alternate between the Death March in 1942 and the liberation in 1945. I particularly enjoyed this format very much. I haven't read very much about the Death March, but Mr. Sides brings this tragic event to life and makes the reader feel as if they are walking side by side with the prisoners. We also see their liberation through the eyes of an extremely heroic group of American Rangers who, along with filipino soldiers and civilians, thwart the Japanese and free these American soldiers. If you enjoy books about the Pacific war and human triumph, then be sure to read this excellent book
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Tale!
Review: Another amazing story in the annals of US Military history. I am always intrigued by the bravery of our men at arms. This book tells the forgotten story of WWII prison camps and Japanese atrocity. While it's heart rending to read of our young men being beheaded by brutal enemy soldiers or stabbed to death with sabers, it's important to remember that the reality of war often exposes the savagery of men. Ghost Soldiers is a gripping tale of heroism and endurance, you will weep for the young prisoners as they die at the hands of their Japanese captors and rejoice when the Ranger Battalion finally reaches them in the most daring rescue of World War II. I strong recommend this book to any avid reader of military non-fiction. It is very well written, fast paced and historically accurate. Add it to your library proudly.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Gripping, simply amazing. The story almost seems like fiction. Absolutely astonishing what happened. Written well enough for me reading it in one sitting. This author should write another book on the Alamo Scouts which he mentions but doesn't really develop. Great read.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate Accounts
Review: Wonderful book accurate accounts. My Uncle's name is in the first of the Book-Russell Boatwright. My father was also a POW Lloyd L. Boatwright and I believe from all the stories I have heard throughout my life that the accounts in this book are accurate. These stories can be pretty depressing to most of us who had family there but it is a story that must be told. This part of WWII has been kept "secret" for tooooooo long.
Rating:
Summary: Three sets of heroes
Review: This book is a great contribution to our World War II heritage as we read about three sets of heroes: 1) The sick and emaciated prisoners of the Cananatuan POW camp in the Philipines, 2) the gallant group of US rangers lead by Col. Henry Mucci who set out to rescue them, and 3) the Filipino guerrillas who accompanied the rangers and battled Japanese troops in providing cover and support for the rangers. The accounts of these heroes is such engrossing reading that you cannot put the book down. Most of the prisoners were survivors of the Bataan Death March. Through cruelty and neglect, many died during the march and many more died in the POW camps. There were a little over 500 prisoners left at Cabanatuan after the original group of thousands was thinned out due to death and placement elsewhere. Given past history (vividly described at the beginning of the book), there was every reason to believe that the population of the POW camp would be exterminated by the Japanese rather than allowed to be liberated by the oncoming Americans. Therefore, there was an extreme urgency to this liberation raid since the war in the Pacific was in its final days as the Philipines was falling into American hands. The prisoners endured countless acts of cruelty. They were ill fed and unmedicated. All sorts of tropical diseases were killing and disabling them. They were subjected to deliberate acts of cruelty and punishments as well as terrible neglect. During the three years in captivity, they felt abandoned. Since Japanese culture considered surrender to be a dishonor, these prisoners were looked down upon by their captors. Their survival and desire to cling to life is inspiring. The actions of medics and doctors, who were sick themselves, in tending to their fellow prisoners were a great testiment to compassion and the Hypocratic oath. This book, in switching back and forth from the horrible, yet inspiring saga of the POWs to the tale of the Rangers' and guerrillas' preparation and execution of the raid does great justice to the heroism of the WWII generation. The actions of Col. Mucci and Captain Robert Prince in executing the raid should be read about by all who wish to honor those who served in WWII. The personalized accounts of individual POWs and rangers give an appreciation of their bravery and ability to overcome incredible odds. I highly recommend this enthralling book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing of an excellent story
Review: I read this book in 4 sittings, it is compelling, captivating and extraordinary. This story could only have been forgotten during the turmoil of WWII. This story is not only fascinating but phenomenally well written - proof: my wife is reading this book. Reading this book after reading "War without Mercy" and you begin to understand and grasp the cultural rift that existed between the Allies and the Japanese. These two cultures fought one of the most vicious conflicts ever. Not even the Russian-German conflict found so many units and soldiers holding out to the very last man battle after battle, island after island. Reading of the treatment of the survivors of the Bataan Death march creates feelings of confusion and animosity similar to those that arise when one reads of the Holocaust. It is hardly comprehensible that human beings can do these things to each other on the field of combat, much less to unarmed prisoners. Read this book, it is a great story and great literature. Mr. Sides out did himself with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not exactly what I was expecting
Review: I was suprised how much of the book was devoted to Bataan death march and the life of the POWs in the Cabanatuan camp. The chapters go back and forth between the actual rescue and the story of how the POWs got there, etc. The camp raid itself was probably only about 50% of the book. And I have to agree with another reviewer -- the author seemed to be giving excuses for the Japanese soldiers and officers who committed so many atrocities in the Phillipines. (Reading the back, I saw that the author spent a lot of time getting the Japanese side of the story from ex-soldiers and Japanese historians.) Still, it was an interesting book about the POWs and everything they went through.
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Summary: The Ghost in you
Review: This is the tale of the Army Rangers rescue mission to save American POWs, many whom were survivor's of the Bataan Death March. The POW's were interred at Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines, and the returning invasion of McArthur worried the Japanese would massacre them. The author alternates chapters between the stories of the POWs and the Rangers. The POW chapters cover the fall of Bataan, the Death March and the interment at the Cabanatuan Prison. The Ranger chapters briefly cover the history of the Rangers and discusses in detail the preparations for and the raid itself. Despite the historical topic, the book is a real page turner. The author, who is a journalist, does a great job of creating suspense where the outcome is known, and paints a graphic portrait of life as a POW. One commendable thing I found about the book was the evenhandedness of the accounts of the Japanese war crimes and atrocities. There was no attempt made to lambast the Japanese, some effort was made to explain their acts without presumption of being able to fully divine their intent and yet at the same time there was no exoneration either. One of the most fascinating themes for me in college was that of War. Why we go to war? What devices are used by political entities to employ a countries resources, human and otherwise in war? etc. One of my favorite quotes from the book was: "the story of war is always the story of hate; it makes no difference with whom one fights. The hate destroys you..." I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A most amazing book...Ghost Soldiers
Review: This is one of the most incredible books I've ever read. This story deserves to be shouted from the rooftops and told over and over. I don't think I've ever read a book that had me more emotionally involved - and it is a true story. If you want a book that will inspire you, make you grateful for those who have fought and died in service to America so you can enjoy your freedom...don't miss this one!!! It shows the highest peaks of human compassion, loyalty, honor and courage...and also some of the lowest levels to which humanity can sink. THIS IS A "DON'T MISS!!" BOOK!!!! I'd give it 10 stars if they let me in this review. You'll be riveted from page one through the end...
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