Valor

The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man's Defiance and Indomitable Spirit

By: Dan Hampton

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Valor is the magnificent story of a genuine American hero who survived the fall of the Philippines and brutal captivity under the Japanese, from New York Times bestselling author Dan Hampton.

Lieutenant William Frederick “Bill” Harris was 25 years old when captured by Japanese forces during the Battle of Corregidor in May 1942. This son of a decorated Marine general escaped from hell on earth by swimming eight hours through a shark-infested bay; but his harrowing ordeal had just begun.

Shipwrecked on the southern coast of the Philippines, he was sheltered by a Filipino aristocrat, engaged in guerilla fighting, and eventually set off through hostile waters to China. After 29 days of misadventures and violent storms, Harris and his crew limped into a friendly fishing village in the southern Philippines. Evading and fighting for months, he embarked on another agonizing voyage to Australia, but was betrayed by treacherous islanders and handed over to the Japanese. Held for two years in the notorious Ofuna prisoner-of-war camp outside Yokohama, Harris was continuously starved, tortured, and beaten, but he never surrendered. Teaching himself Japanese, he eavesdropped on the guards and created secret codes to communicate with fellow prisoners. After liberation on August 30, 1945, Bill represented American Marine POWs during the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay before joining his father and flying to a home he had not seen in four years.

Valor is a riveting new look at the Pacific War. Through military documents, personal photos, and an unpublished memoir provided by his daughter, Harris’ experiences are dramatically revealed through his own words in the expert hands of bestselling author and retired fighter pilot Dan Hampton. This is the stunning and captivating true story of an American hero.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Dan Hampton (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

True American Hero

Amazing story about the human spirit, perseverance and will to survive in light of insurmountable circumstances. Excellent narration.

Epic story of survival, and sacrifice

Unbelievable story of a Marine who refused to surrender, and paying the ultimate sacrifice for his county

We don’t appreciate what we have in this country nor what it has taken to preserve it

Wow, two 5-star ratings in a row this week. This book had me a on the edge of my seat multiple times. What an incredible telling of the journey of a few through our invasion of the Philippines, an escape, and long long journey to the end of the war. I’m so glad I took the advise of so many reviewers. This was an incredible book. I’ll likely read this again soon. Highly recommend. I’ll warn you though, i was surprised to hear of new methods of Japanese torture that I’d never heard of- very disturbing. War is ugly. I’m blown away by this story. I hate that there are so many amazing stories of soldiers that I’ve never heard. They need to be told.

A patriotic story of sacrifice

This book was wonderful in it’s description of the flight of Lt. Harris and others to get away from the Japanese so that they could fight another day.

The ending was a bit of a surprise so do not skip ahead. I am very happy to have finished this book on July 4th.

Hero

Amazing story of an indomitable Marine who never gave up and gave his last, full measure of devotion to America he loved.

LtCol William F Harris USMC

Gripping from beginning to end.
This book will stay with you.
The narrator did an excellent job.

Tears

I wish that I could articulate how this story moved me. Well done in every way, it is a call to remeber and never forget why Americans are who they are, and never let anyone, countrymen, or invader, take that from us.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭

I’m so grateful his story was told.