Rescued by Mao: World War II, Wake Island, and My Remarkable Escape to Freedom Across Mainland China

by William Taylor

For the first time ever, Bill Taylor shares his story of escape as a prisoner of war during World War II. This biography details Taylor’s astonishing experiences as a prisoner of war, an escapee, a wanderer through a strange land, and his eventual meeting with the famous Communist leader, Mao Zedong. This fascinating and engaging story shares the life of a war hero who was the only World War II prisoner of war to successfully escape, inspiring readers by revealing the personal strength and courageous adventures of a lone survivor.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2007

Reviews

[Sonyajohnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Taylor’s nephew is who told me about the book. I was friends with Bill Taylor’s sister. I love these kind of personal stories from the perspective of someone who experienced it. Bill did make it seem like the United States was expecting the Japanese to do something before Pearl Harbor. I do love how the men on Wake Island fought the Japanese. The description on the cover Wake Island: the Alamo of the Pacific is so appropriate. It did seem like one miracle after another that Bill was able to survive. I’ve already got a couple of people waiting to pass the book on to read. I can’t wait to talk to them about their impressions.

[Mark Oulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across Taylor's book while doing some research. It's a very readable record as to the real events of the late 1941 battle on Wake Island and fleshes out some of the more known events from the 1942 movie "Wake Island". The story of Taylor's subsequent incarceration in China is a lengthy and his final escape from the Japanese a riveting ending.

[Daniel K Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt like listening to a grandpa share old war stories. In that regard the book excels. The story is certainly interesting and shines a light on a lesser known saga of the Pacific War. These young men went through quite an ordeal and their experience is so foreign to us living today.

Memoirs are notoriously difficult to review. I believe this book does a good job of sharing the author’s authentic viewpoint and understanding of life. I appreciate that window into his world. My misgivings about a stronger recommendation are writing style, accuracy, and opinions the author provides without citations. His time in the POW camp bounces chronologically, with very little order. At one point he’ll be talking about early 1942, then talk about a P-51 and B-29 raid (which entered the war in mid to late ‘44), then right back to early ‘42. This lack of continuity may be why he repeats himself many times.

He freely shares his opinions about the motives of others—such as admirals—without citing any sources. He wasn’t privy to their discussions, so he is simply using his platform to spread conjecture. He states that Charles Lindbergh was a “good man” (famously, that issue is rather complicated) and, when talking about the German American Bund, states they disliked Jews for their dislike of Nazis “and Socialism.” This is quite the opposite. The Nazis were fascists—the far right—not socialists on the far left.

In the end, I wish he titled his book differently. He wasn’t saved by Mao. He met Mao briefly well after he was saved. A title about being a POW from Wake would have been interesting enough. Semantics matter and I wish the author had gotten it right.

All in all, as a story where you take the author’s opinions on broader issues with a grain of salt, this is a fine book I would recommend. It is what it is—a religious man who volunteered to work on Wake Island, and had a remarkably challenging and interesting three and a half years.

[Kai Hicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Apart from the good story, it ended up unexpectedly being also a story of faith for me. I love the way Bill Taylor tries to see the best in others and the blessings in his situation, and it really helped him in all his situations. I definitely found things in this book that I can use to improve my attitude and actions in difficult situations.

[Launette Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspiring! I am acquainted with and related to a couple of families that worked on Wake Island with Bill Taylor so it was especially interesting for me.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Taylor is my uncle, so I had heard his story verbally many times, but really enjoyed getting the full version in the book. It was such a harrowing, amazing experience he had that affected the rest of his life. It is a riveting story. He was truly a great man. The publisher did a horrible job of marketing this book, and Bill's widow (my aunt) ended up with a lot of unsold books - so I made a website to help her sell them. If you are interested in a copy, you can contact me, or look for seller imag@hotmail.com at Amazon.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is a little rough in this book; he repeats himself in a few spots, but the story is incredible and true. My uncle (Paul) in Las Vegas knows the author and recommended it to me. Also Beth read it and liked it. It's personal history so of course I loved it too. The author's wife is a Nay cousin of ours. Although Mao's name is in the title, his part in Bill's rescue is very minor, but the Communist Chinese are the ones who help him get out of the POW camp.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could give this 3 1/2 stars I would. I thought it was a great story, and I found Taylor's views on Mao very interesting, especially considering the butcher that Mao turned out to be. Still, he had an amazing experience. It was not very well written, but I admire his faith and perserverance throughout his ordeal.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual escape was interesting. It's worth reading as so many of our WWII veterans are passing away each year. This man was a civilian, however, in a Japanese POW camp. This book reads a little too much like an old man's ramblings, so that's that's my one caveat--he repeats details/sayings a little often. A better editor would've made this a better book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of a man who overcame so much and has lived a remarkable life. The book reads as if it has been dictated and then typed by a third party, but this should not detracted from this true story.

[Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

In honor of Memorial Day today, I want to recommend this book. It's an incredible story of a U.S. civilian captured and placed in a Japanese prison camp on mainland China and how he escapes. It's an unbelievible story that reminds me of another amazing story of survial, Unbroken.

[Granny Babs]

Since the author is my husband's uncle, we have a vested interest in the story - I have heard if for the last 40 years so it was very informative to hear it all together with all the details.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written by Josh's step-grandpa, the first part is a bit tedious, but the story after he becomes a POW is fascinating.

[Gina Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Taylor came and spoke to my department when I was working at the MTC. What an amazing story!