Behind Japanese lines : an American guerilla in the Philippines

by Ray C. Hunt, Bernard Norling

This is an action-packed true story of the war in the Pacific--guaranteed to fascinate those interested in military history and combat stories. Here is the story of Ray Hunt--one of the few American soldiers on the Bataan Death March who escaped.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, World War II, Military History

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at a accidental guerrilla leader in the Philippines after the fall of Corregidor at the start of World War II. I say accidental because he escaped from the march and was more intent on just surviving at first. He then wanted to protect the Filipinos he knew from the Japanese and then fought back actively against the Japanese occupation.

He does go into some details of the various political leaders of the Philippines before and after the war that he had interactions with and doesn't gloss over the fact that there were a lot of them who were just in it for power either during the war or after the war.

I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a honest book with -no ulterior motives- on history of what it takes to survive under enemy occupation. He does tend to downplay his own actions somewhat and that is what makes it interesting.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing of the subject of this book before reading it. Not every member of the US and Philippine troops surrendered when Bataan and Corregidor fell in the spring of 1942. Hundreds of them slipped into the mountains and jungles of the Philippine Islands. On Luzon, these numbers grew by men who were able to escape the Death March of Bataan. The men that survived organized into bands of guerillas. They tried to defend themselves, collect what information they could and harass the Japanese if they could. The book is primarily the account of one guerilla, Ray Hunt, secondary, that of several others. The book read as easily as a novel.

[Amanda Horsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a first hand and realistic experience of the fallout of war.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book about one man's experiences as a guerrilla fighter in the Philippines during World War II. Initially captured at the fall of Bataan and forced to endure part of the Death March, he escapes and spends the next three years hiding out from the Japanese and waging a guerrilla campaign on Luzon. There isn't much combat in the book, but it has lots of interesting stories about the Philippines, other guerrilla fighters, prominent Filipinos and a life filled with the constant worry of capture, torture and death at the hands of the enemy. Definitely a must read if you're into Filipino culture and history, but not so much if you're looking for lots of action.

[bibliotekker Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Hunt recalls the invasion, followed by struggle and escape during the Bataan Death March, succeeded by three years fighting as a guerilla, until the final defeat of Japan. In addition to his amazing story, he reflects on the war, the Philippines, American involvement there, and what could have been done differently as only someone who cares about a place and its people could.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very detailed book about the guerilla system in the Philippines during world war ii. it lacked readability because of the details given at times. But the personal feelings of the guerrilla leader and his perspective was fascinating at other times. This book is only for the serious student of the war in the Pacific.

[Richard Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of those remarkable stories of survival and resistance to Japanese occupation in the Philippines during World War II.