Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II’s Greatest Rescue Mission

by Hampton Sides

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Book Overview: Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II’s Greatest Rescue Mission

NATIONAL BESTSELLER – “The greatest World War II story never told” (Esquire)–an enthralling account of the heroic mission to rescue the last survivors of the Bataan Death March–from the author of Blood and Thunder.

On January 28, 1945, 121 hand-selected U.S. troops slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines. Their mission: March thirty rugged miles to rescue 513 POWs languishing in a hellish camp, among them the last survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March. A recent prison massacre by Japanese soldiers elsewhere in the Philippines made the stakes impossibly high and left little time to plan the complex operation.

In Ghost Soldiers Hampton Sides vividly re-creates this daring raid, offering a minute-by-minute narration that unfolds alongside intimate portraits of the prisoners and their lives in the camp. Sides shows how the POWs banded together to survive, defying the Japanese authorities even as they endured starvation, tropical diseases, and torture. Harrowing, poignant, and inspiring, Ghost Soldiers is the mesmerizing story of a remarkable mission. It is also a testament to the human spirit, an account of enormous bravery and self-sacrifice amid the most trying conditions.

ISBN-13	9780385495653
ISBN-10	038549565X
Publisher	Anchor
Publication Date	2002-05-07
Edition	1 ANCHOR
Language	en
Pages	384
Dimensions	in x in x in
Weight	lbs

Editorial Reviews

“[Sides] liberates his story from documentary and turns it into epic. . . . More than any monument, Ghost Soldiers is the memorial both prisoners and liberators deserve.” — The Seattle Times

“The greatest World War II story never told.” — Esquire

“[A] beautiful account of heroism . . . Sure to be a classic.” — Men’s Journal

“Riveting and patriotically stirring without ever slipping into mawkishness or sentimentality.” — The New York Times

“Thoroughly researched and artfully told. . . . A compelling story filled with colorful characters.” — The San Francisco Chronicle

About the Author

Hampton Sides

Hampton Sides is a renowned American historian and author, best known for his compelling exploration of historical events in nonfiction literature. Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1962, Sides graduated from Yale University and later honed his storytelling skills as a journalist for reputable publications like The New Yorker, National Geographic, and Esquire. His ability to vividly chronicle the past in a format that both educates and engages his readers has established him as a heavyweight in the realm of historical nonfiction.

Sides’ notable works include “Ghost Soldiers”, “Blood and Thunder”, “In the Kingdom of Ice”, and “On Desperate Ground”. These captivating narratives often revolve around key events and symbolic figures in American history, rendering historical events with the drama and flair often reserved for works of fiction. “Ghost Soldiers”, a World War II story, notably won the PEN USA Award for nonfiction in 2002.

Beyond simply being an author, Hampton Sides is an editor-at-large for Outside magazine and a frequent lecturer on history, writing and the outdoors. He has also contributed his expertise to various television productions as a historical consultant. Sides’ passion and commitment to his craft have added richness to the broader conversation about American history, clearly asserting his legacy as an author who is not just read, but widely respected and admired.