I found this book from a HISTORY TV channel story featuring the author. As a baby-boomer I saw the movie WAKE ISLAND several times, but didn't realize it was made before any of the actual participants had returned from the POW camps. There is more Hollywood fiction in the movie than historical fact. But that's show business. The author covers in great detail the actions by major commands, individuals and everybody in-between. Considering how badly Wake was prepared to defend itself, the Marines did a great job for two weeks holding off superior forces. If only there had been more construction effort put into beach defense and airplane protection before Dec 7th. The Japanese underestimated the resistance in their first landing attempt. I was also surprised how close US forces came to rescuing the defenders, but were called off at the last moment. This a great book for Marine fans of WWII.

This book is an instant classic! I enjoyed reading this massive book cover to cover. The title "facing fearful odds" is an apt title. The quick change from peace to war trapped these brave men on an island that would become a symbol for the war in the pacific. The book reads well, and tells the tales of the civilians who stayed behind to defend Wake. The fact that they were so close to relief, and held out for so long is a testament to the warrior spirit. A must read!!!!

Since my father was a .50 captain on the island and I was with the 5th Marines in VN, I have read every work out on Wake Island. This author not only interviewed survivors but did massive research work tying in the Japanese situation and strategy with the situation on Wake Island and the strategies and reactions of Washington and Pearl Harbor, where Wake Island received its orders. He covers the air, naval,artillery and infantry actions and the personalities and historical disagreements of the participants. He speculates on alternative possibilities thoughtfully. I doubt, with the participants dying off so quickly now, that this book will ever be topped as the definitive work on the battle for wake island and he does a good job on the captivity time as well.

Jim's Journey: A Wake Island Civilian POW's Story is the compelling, true-life account of James A. Allen and his survival of 1,354 days of imprisonment as a civilian prisoner of war after being captured by the Imperial Japanese navy in December 1941 when the Marine garrison on Wake Island was finally overwhelmed. Jim was held in Japanese POW camps in China, Korea, and Japan. In addition to his eye-witness account of life as a POW, Jim's Journey also relates what happened to him when he was finally liberated and returned to America. It would be thirty-seven years before the U.S. government would official recognize that Jim and other eligible civilian POWs for their contributions to the dramatic defense of Wake Island against insurmountable hostile forces. Jim's Journey is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to the history of POW experiences arising from World War II in the Pacific Theater.

This is the story of a civilian POW contracted to help build a naval air base on Wake Island shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is a thoroughly researched and compelling account of a young man whose early life and influences shaped him in ways that would only be beneficial to his efforts to survive terrible hardhips later. After playing a vital role as a civilian defender of Wake Island, Jim spent more than four years in various POW camps. On many occasions, he was a hairs breadth away from death, but his persistent courage and ingenuity sustained him. He used his intuitive understanding of Japanese culture to outwit the enemy in ways that required them to see things his way and thus spare his life. Japanese pride dictated that they give in to prisoners' demands at times in order to "save face". Jim's keen intelligence and resourcefulness kept him alert at all times as he constantly sought ways to help himself and his fellow prisoners to stay alive.
This book is a remarkable memoir, vivid and graphic, sometimes uncomfortably so, in its portrayal of the horrific experiences of the POWs and their unflinching will to survive. It is a living testimony to the freedom of the American spirit and should inspire great respect for all those men, whether military or civilian, who did not shrink from the responsibility of defending this country in a dark time of history. Some of these heroes,like Jim, were fortunate enough to live to tell us about it.

God Bless Jim and all his Wake Island buddies. There is a place already set aside in heaven for all of you.

An outstanding book on what has become a not so well known battle at the beginning of WWII. The author did a great job of research in bringing this book to life.All of the men who fought and died on those 3 islands and the ones who lived we owe a never ending debt of gratitude.What they endured during their capitivity and how each man delt with the punishment and cruel conditions makes this book a must read for anyone interested in history,especially World War II buffs.Great book!

"Those guys are legendary in the Navy and Marines for what they did, and whenever one is around you pay him the highest respect." - a fellow Marine describes a Wake Island defender.

Author John Wukovits has selected the perfect title for his new book, "Pacific Alamo." Like the famous stand of Colonel Travis and Jim Bowie that helped win Texan independence, the battle of Wake Island in December 1941 was a hopeless cause that turned into a tactical victory as the gallant and vastly outnumbered defenders managed to buy enough time for their comrades-in-arms to organize for eventual victory. In the process, the defenders of Wake gave America a much-needed rallying cry as it regrouped from the initial disaster at Pearl Harbor.

Wukovits's outstanding military history is a fitting tribute to the military and civilian personnel who fought and died on Wake Island in the dark days immediately following the Japanese attack on Hawaii. The author sets the stage by introducing key figures who fought there and describing the political situation that led to the Japanese first strike. The accounts of the battle itself are particularly well rendered, mostly told through the recollections of the defenders themselves. The accounts several Japanese soldiers are also included, helping to provide balance to the battle descriptions.

Equally important, Wukovits doesn't end the book with the American surrender, but instead goes on to describe the experiences of the survivors in Japanese captivity. The description of their three-plus year ordeal of beatings, starvation and appalling living conditions are as harrowing as the accounts of the battle. In the final chapter, Wukovits describes the fates of the survivors of the battle after the war. In the end, the picture that emerges is of a group of reluctant heroes who did their duty when their country called.

Overall, "Pacific Alamo" is a compelling work of narrative military history that should appeal both to history buffs as well as to general readers.

Brigadier General James Devereux's "Story of Wake Island," is based on his own recollection and the few records available at the time. It's less than 200 pages and is the ideal book for the beginner who wants to learn about the struggle for the tiny atoll. Devereux never pretends to speak for anybody but himself, so we see the Wake Island fight unfold in his eyes and at his command post. Still, the author pays heady tribute to the other Marines with whom he served and he illustrates his account with many amusing sidebar stories. For readers who are politically and culturally sensitive, be warned: Devereux uses the epithets "Japs" and "Jap," countless times. However, considering his ordeal in Japanese prison camps, his feelings are well understood. Still, this is a fast read and the General tells his story with simplicity and clarity. Definitely worth looking for if you care to read a good introductory yet concise account of the Battle of Wake Island.

The late Brigadier General James P.S. Devereux commanded the motley detachment of defenders at Wake Island. Virtually cut off from the rest of the world, with just twelve Wildcat fighters serving as all-purpose aircraft and a small number of old heavy guns, the marines held off repeated Japanese landing attempts for an astounding 14 days, until they were eventually overwhelmed and forced to surrender. Despite the seeming defeat, the marines inflicted obscenely huge losses on the invading Japanese forces with disproportionately tiny casualties to themselves. Even the Japanese were genuinely surprised when they eventually discovered the puny forces which had thrown so much at them. The incredible casualty figures (5,700+ Japanese as opposed to 96 Americans) speak for themselves.

Devereux, then Major, writes simply and clearly without mentioning any events beyond his knowledge at the time. His straightforward and detailed account cites practically all notable instances of individual combat, giving readers an exciting ground-zero experience. The epic defense of Wake Island is replete with miracles, small and large, as the marines hold on day after day producing victory after victory despite insurmountable odds, eventually forcing the exasperated Japanese to divert two aircraft carriers to assist in the invasion. The final defeat is borne with equal courage and honour as the men are shipped away to separate prison camps in occupied China. The POW odyssey is detailed in the final chapters.

Before the war, it was not known if the "well-fed, lazy Americans" could resist the Japanese juggernaut. After Wake Island, no one would ever doubt the spirit and heroism of the Marine Corps or the courage of Americans.

This is one of the more enjoyable personal accounts to come out of World War 2. You can't go wrong with this book.

This book covers a critical period in American history. It shows the bravery of American marines, sailors and civilians in fighting superior Japanese forces in defense of Wake Island. Through photographs, art and text, it shows that bravery can be demonstrated in a prisoner of war camp as well as at a battlefield. Warfare makes ordinary men into heroes and villains and this is shown here. This book is a must for the World War Two reader.

This is an outstanding account of the battle for Wake Island at the outbreak of WWII. Duane Schultz offers a well researched and very readable history of this battle, which while an American defeat was also one of its earliest victories. While the Island was eventually surrendered to the Japanese, the price they had to pay for it was very steep. The American public needed good news at the start of the war, and for sixteen days the Wake Island defenders gave it to them. Also covered here are other topics of interest including; Japanese war crimes (100 civilian construction workers were executed by the paranoid Japanese), and the controversy of who was in ultimate command of Wake Island (Cmdr W. S. Cunningham was the senior officer on Wake Island but was completely left out of all accounts of the battle, including award citations). This is a great book and one I highly recommend.

Written by the garrison commander during the battle for Wake Island, the book entitled simply "Wake Island" serves as both a fact-laden chronology of those December events, and an emotional and "personal" depiction of the bitterly heroic struggle. Colonel Devereaux writes with heart and skill, and his stirring words cannot help but evoke strong response in those sensitive to the terrible transpirings of those days. I would definately recommend this as THE book for those interested in Wake Island's terrible yet shiningly heroic history.

The first two chapters were a warm up for the real guts and glory! I have never met the author but just reading his book made me proud to be an American. Using the genious approach to cannibalizing parts to fly planes that had no chance of surviving against such great odds is overwhelming.

My advise is to buy the book and read, start to finish!

This is not a bad little book on the topic. It does not have the detail of a Stephen Ambrose book, but the author does keep the story moving and before you know it you have completed the book. This book provides the reader an enjoyable way to read about a battle that most have heard of but few know the details of. There were a number of good personal stories of the "average Joe" slugging it out. This is a good first step to learning about the combat experience in the Pacific. You will not regret this purchase.

Duane Schultz's "Wake Island," is an excellent account of the lost cause that bought American forces in the Pacific a little breathing space in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Like the battle of the Alamo, the fate of the American defenders of Wake Island became a rallying cry during subsequent encounters. This is not an epic work, checking in at just over 200 pages. But it is exciting and well written military history in the fine tradition of Stephen Ambrose and Cornelius Ryan. It is also an excellent tribute to the brave Americans who fought vallantly against hopeless odds to stem the tide of the enemy in the Pacific.

The Battle for Wake Island inspired a nation after the horrendous loss at Pearl Harbor. This is a remarkable compilation of first hand experiences, both by the author and the men of all ranks who fought alongside. The smoke and haze of battle prohibits any one person from experiencing the whole. Cunningham cleverly weaves the stories and memoirs of his fellow Wake Island defenders into tapestry that gives a remarkable vision of this heroic defense.

Taken as prisoners, the men were enslaved in the highly profitable Japanese War machinery, enriching companies like Mitsui and Hitachi. The savagery and endless brutality of the Japanese against the POWS became an a living hell. Truly, Cunningham has written the personal answers of so many to the question: "What really happened to these gallant men?"

Regrettably, little is said of the gallantry of the civilian construction company employees, many of whom were equally gallant defenders.