Ghost Soldiers

The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission

By: Hampton Sides

Narrated by: James Naughton

Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

A tense, powerful, grand account of one of the most daring exploits of World War II.

On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected troops from the elite US Army 6th Ranger Battalion slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty miles in an attempt to rescue 513 American and British POWs who had spent three years in a surreally hellish camp near the city of Cabanatuan. The prisoners included the last survivors of the Bataan Death March left in the camp, and their extraordinary will to live might soon count for nothing - elsewhere in the Philippines, the Japanese Army had already executed American prisoners as it retreated from the advancing US Army. As the Rangers stealthily moved through enemy-occupied territory, they learned that Cabanatuan had become a major transshipment point for the Japanese retreat, and instead of facing the few dozen prison guards, they could possibly confront as many as 8,000 battle-hardened enemy troops.

Hampton Sides' vivid minute-by-minute narration of the raid and his chronicle of the prisoners' wrenching experiences are masterful. But Ghost Soldiers is far more than a thrilling battle saga. Hampton Sides explores the mystery of human behavior under extreme duress - the resilience of the prisoners, who defied the Japanese authorities even as they endured starvation, tropical diseases, and unspeakable tortures; the violent cultural clashes with Japanese guards and soldiers steeped in the warrior ethic of Bushido; the remarkable heroism of the Rangers and Filipino guerrillas; the complex motivations of the US high command, some of whom could justly be charged with abandoning the men of Bataan in 1942; and the nearly suicidal bravado of several spies, including priests and a cabaret owner, who risked their lives to help the prisoners during their long ordeal.

At once a gripping depiction of men at war and a compelling story of redemption, Ghost Soldiers joins such landmark books as Flags of Our Fathers, The Greatest Generation, The Rape of Nanking, and D-Day in preserving the legacy of World War II for future generations.

©2001 Hampton Sides (P)2001 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Divison of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[It] took me on a queasy journey deep into the realm of pure evil - then rescued me in a blaze of heroics and righteous vengeance. There's grief, despair, and terror here, but there's also adventure, courage, and joy. (Erik Larson, author Isaac's Storm)

Great piece of history

Very well top and painted a very surreal and important view not too many know about ww2.

Must read book

Tremendous, gripping,touching book on the fate if the defenders of Bataan in WWII to include the Death March and the operation to rescue them. Unlike the movie, The Great Raid, the book gives a more accurate account of the Filipino Guerillas' pivotal role in the success.

Better than fiction.

I really enjoyed listening to this book.Well narrated, it is a great story. You really look forward to the next chapter.

Wonderful, sobering and moving story

Well written narrative of the final story of the Batton death march. Moving, emotionally intense. One of the best narrated stories on audible.

Rescue

Very well written. At the end I had tears. If you are a history buff, you’ll love this book.

Great read! loved it in audio form

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, it is a historical novel written in an engaging format.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The POW survivors

Which scene was your favorite?

The liberation of the camp

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes, it made me cry and feel thankful for our patriotic soldiers

American pride

American pride at its best!
No wonder these people are called the greatest generation. Thanks

Brilliantly written. Very engaging.

The story was masterfully written. I was highly engaged through the entire story. There’s nothing like a true rescue story. My only issue is that of the human race being so proud, greedy, and manipulative that we put each other in these war situations that require an inspiring rescue.

Reads like a thriller. Great narrator.

I am an avid reader of nonfiction, and this book is precisely why. It is my favorite type of nonfiction - packed with action, relevant but not excessive historical context, and good source material. The story came from interviews with varying participants and also clearly a fair amount of researching primary sources on the author's part. The narrator is great (though they didn't do an entirely bang up job editing out his inhales. I got used to it, but it was initially distracting). The author's choice of wording is great, and the narrator really brings it to life. (Example: a brief story about a rat chewing on someone's toenails is executed to perfection by the narrator and adds the precise amount of humor that aids in painting a clear picture.)

Obviously do not read this if you are easily horrified by stories of war, death, and disease. It is graphic, particularly the anecdotes from the Battan Death March. It is by no means offensive, but definitely a very clear picture of the brutalities of war.

Most excellent

Well read. And wonderful story of bravery, endurance and determination. Sad truth of the horrors of captivity.