Burma Rifles - a Story of Merrill's Marauders

by Frank Bonham

Jerry Harada had to stand by, silent, as he watched super-patriotic neighbors smash his ham radio. All Nisei were suspect in the frightening days after Pearl Harbor.
But American-born Jerry, even in the relocation camp, far from home, wanted only the opportunity to prove his loyalty to his native country. When the United States Army needed Japanese-speaking interpreters in the Pacific theater, he volunteered. Through army training hat was often vigorous and monotonous, across the Pacific in a crowded troop transport to the jungles of Burma. Jerry Harada proved himself in the face of terrifying dangers and stomach-knotting fears. For always there hung over Jerry the knowledge of the horrible torture and death the Japanese had reserved for captured Niseis.
Jerry Harada's exploits were not carried out by himself. His glory lay in being part of a unit that waged a campaign that will long live in our history, under a commander who demanded of every foot soldier the best that was in him.
Burma Rifles is a taut story, crammed with action and courage and spiced with humor and warmth. It is the story of a determined and realist young man.

Genres: World War II, Fiction, Historical Fiction

260 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Frank Bonham (February 25, 1914 – 1988) was an author of Westerns and young adult novels. Bonham wrote 48 novels, as well as TV scripts. Bonham was born in Los Angeles. He was a UCLA graduate. Bonham was known for his works for young adults written in the 1960s, with tough, realistic urban settings, including The Nitty Gritty and Durango Street, as well as for his westerns. Several of his works have been published posthumously, many of which were drawn from his pulp magazine stories, originally published between 1941 and 1952. Durango Street was an ALA Notable Book.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this book back in the late 60s but I still remember how exciting it was. It's largely nonfiction although I think there are some fictionalized elements. I remember it very fondly, which is why I finally purchased a copy to own.

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm fairly confident that I read this during my middle school years. It's definitely the type of book I loved to read then, and still love to read today. This is an exciting fictionalized account of those brave Nisei of America's Greatest Generation. Highly recommended.