Prologue Summary and Analysis

In 1942, following the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese assaulted the Philippine islands and ultimately captured them. This action resulted in many prisoners of war as the American Navy was unable to evacuate most soldiers. Many thousands of prisoners were interred in the Cabanatuan Camp, where they languished without medicine, adequate food, or other supplies. In 1945, American forces were recapturing Luzon and fearing the Japanese would massacre the approximately 500 surviving prisoners of war at Cabanatuan, a rescue mission was successfully carried out.

On December 14, 1944, the 150 American prisoners of war interred at Puerto Princesa Prison Camp, Palawan, Philippines, spent the morning doing what they had done nearly every morning for about thirty-months—repairing a large and isolated runway. Early in the afternoon they were returned to their prison camp and ordered by Japanese Lieutenant Sato to seek shelter in extemporized...