66 hours to Manila : survival and liberation at Santo Tomas, 1942-1945 / Edward G. Miller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Miller, Edward G., 1958- Author.

Series:

Williams-Ford Texas A&M University military history series http://id.loc.gov/resources/hubs/da72ce23-6463-b71f-6908-cbb72651f626

Williams-Ford Texas A&M university military history series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Philippines--Manila.

World War, 1939-1945.

World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, Japanese.

Internment camp inmates--Philippines--Manila.

Internment camp inmates.

Santo Tomas Internment Camp (Manila, Philippines)--History.

Santo Tomas Internment Camp (Manila, Philippines).

United States. Army. Cavalry, 1st--History.

United States.

Physical Description:

xiv, 286 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Sixty-six hours to Manila : survival and liberation at Santo Tomas, 1942-1945

Place of Publication:

College Station : Texas A&M University Press, [2026]

Summary:

"At 85 years of age, reflecting on his experiences in the Pacific Theater in World War II, former US Army cavalry soldier Warren E. Murtha said, "The proudest moment of my life occurred when I went through the gate at Santo Tomas in Manila and I saw the faces of the prisoners-the men, women, and children-their smiles, their expressions of relief and gratitude. . . . Suddenly I knew why we were on this mission . . . I thought to myself . . . all of it had been worthwhile in return for this one moment." During World War II, the Japanese government held over 130,000 "enemy alien" civilians throughout the Pacific-including nearly 78,000 women and children. Most of the 7,800 civilians rounded up in the Philippines were American expatriates, and at any one time, about half of these were held at the campus of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. By late 1944, Washington, DC, was concerned that any ground gained as the US Army approached Manila in the early days of the new year would result in execution of the prisoners. Out of other options, a risky behind-the-lines attack was launched with 20,000 Japanese soldiers and 100 miles standing between the captives and their liberators. Until now, no book has effectively blended the story of the internees with the military operation to free them. Discussing uncomfortable topics such as racism, collaboration with the enemy, and illicit personal relationships, Sixty-Six Hours to Manila: Survival and Liberation at Santo Tomas, 1942-1945 shines new light on what has largely been a neglected chapter in the story of World War II in the Pacific"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

"An Act of Madness"

Protective Custody

"The Luxury of Hope"

Running Out of Time

Flying Columns

"They're Here!"

First It Was Starvation, Then It Was Artillery

"Everything I Had Is Gone"

Appendix 1. Postscripts

Appendix 2. Commandants

Appendix 3. Organization for Combat, First Cavalry Division, 31 January 1945

Appendix 4. Abbreviations.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version Miller, Edward G., 1958- Sixty-six hours to Manila

ISBN:

9781648433467

1648433464

OCLC:

1518185823

Publisher Number:

90104356002