This is another first-person account of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. I recently finished "Guerrilla Wife," an American woman's perspective of the Filipino guerrilla struggle. This book is also from an American woman's perspective, except she is a Filipino-American, whose father---William Ghent---left the U.S. Army after the Philippine-American War, remained in the Philippines and married a mestizo (Filipino-Spanish) woman and had thirteen children.
He died before World War II began, but four of his sons fought with the guerrillas and all did well after the war. In fact, one of his sons later commanded the Philippine Navy. His daughters also contributed and this book is based on Marion's, his youngest daughter, experiences before, during and after the war.
Marion's daughter assisted her mother in rewriting four manuscripts into this book. This explains the frequent repetition of text throughout the book, but does not distract from the story.
Due to Marion's father transition from an alcoholic to the biggest Bible seller in the Philippines after a conversion, this book is heavily faith based. As he passed his beliefs on to his children. Once again, this does not distract from the story. In fact, Marion's strong belief that God directed her life is sustained by many events in the book, especially a fantastic and almost unbelievable coincidence which occurred on Leyte near the end of the war. I won't relate it here as it would spoil it for other readers.
I only gave it four stars due to some errors in World War II history in the book. Due to my extensive reading about the Pacific campaign and especially the history of the Filipino guerrilla resistance, some parts of the book shouldn't be taken for granted by a reader unfamiliar with that history. For example, at one point the book states General MacArthur planned for the guerrilla resistance even before leaving the Philippines to escape to Australia. Which never happened, except in MacArthur's memoirs. He and his staff---especially his self-serving chief of intelligence---had no idea there was a guerrilla resistance until almost a year later when the Mindanao guerrillas under Colonel Fertig managed to create a radio from spare parts and reported their existence. A U.S. Navy station in San Francisco picked up their transmission and then informed MacArthur's headquarters, which didn't believe the report.
Still, Marion Ghent's first person story is based on what she experienced and should be taken as truthful.
I couldn't post "Guerrilla Wife" as it is in poor condition, but I'm posting this one to share Marion Ghent's remarkable story.
He died before World War II began, but four of his sons fought with the guerrillas and all did well after the war. In fact, one of his sons later commanded the Philippine Navy. His daughters also contributed and this book is based on Marion's, his youngest daughter, experiences before, during and after the war.
Marion's daughter assisted her mother in rewriting four manuscripts into this book. This explains the frequent repetition of text throughout the book, but does not distract from the story.
Due to Marion's father transition from an alcoholic to the biggest Bible seller in the Philippines after a conversion, this book is heavily faith based. As he passed his beliefs on to his children. Once again, this does not distract from the story. In fact, Marion's strong belief that God directed her life is sustained by many events in the book, especially a fantastic and almost unbelievable coincidence which occurred on Leyte near the end of the war. I won't relate it here as it would spoil it for other readers.
I only gave it four stars due to some errors in World War II history in the book. Due to my extensive reading about the Pacific campaign and especially the history of the Filipino guerrilla resistance, some parts of the book shouldn't be taken for granted by a reader unfamiliar with that history. For example, at one point the book states General MacArthur planned for the guerrilla resistance even before leaving the Philippines to escape to Australia. Which never happened, except in MacArthur's memoirs. He and his staff---especially his self-serving chief of intelligence---had no idea there was a guerrilla resistance until almost a year later when the Mindanao guerrillas under Colonel Fertig managed to create a radio from spare parts and reported their existence. A U.S. Navy station in San Francisco picked up their transmission and then informed MacArthur's headquarters, which didn't believe the report.
Still, Marion Ghent's first person story is based on what she experienced and should be taken as truthful.
I couldn't post "Guerrilla Wife" as it is in poor condition, but I'm posting this one to share Marion Ghent's remarkable story.
