Publishers Weekly
02/28/2022
A U.S. Marine’s daring escape from the Japanese-occupied Philippines is recounted in this dramatic WWII adventure story. Former combat pilot Hampton (Viper Pilot) details how Lt. William Frederick Harris, the son of Marine Corps general Field Harris, was taken prisoner at the Battle of Corregidor in May 1942, escaped captivity by swimming three miles across Manila Bay to Bataan, dodged Japanese patrols, fought alongside Filipino guerillas, and attempted to sail first to China and then to Australia before he was recaptured and taken to a series of POW camps on the Japanese home islands, where he endured beriberi, dysentery, starvation, and torture while teaching himself Japanese in order to spy on the guards. After his camp was liberated in August 1945, Harris witnessed the formal signing of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. Eager to command his own battalion, he stayed in the Marines, married, and had two daughters before being sent to Korea, where he disappeared during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Hampton skillfully interweaves Harris’s travails with the major events of the Pacific war and draws a nuanced portrait of the dynamic between father and son. The result is a captivating portrait of courage and determination during wartime. (May)
From the Publisher
Hampton skillfully interweaves Harris’s travails with the major events of the Pacific war and draws a nuanced portrait of the dynamic between father and son. The result is a captivating portrait of courage and determination during wartime.” –Publishers Weekly
“The spectacular adventures of an American soldier who refused to surrender after the Japanese conquest of the Philippines....A fast-paced WWII tale for military-history devotees.” –Kirkus Reviews
“From the relentless defense of an island fortress, to a desperate trek behind enemy lines, this is World War II adventure at its finest. Not only did the heroes of this book outlive the unthinkable, they went on to do something unusual for their generation: they actually wrote about it. Now, Dan Hampton has unearthed their story and given it the reverence it deserves. The reward is all ours. Valor is a true time capsule of World War II history.” —Adam Makos, New York Times bestselling author of Spearhead
“Valor reads like an action/adventure thriller, but this is a true story of extraordinary courage in the face of overwhelming odds. At a time when America is searching for real heroes, Dan Hampton has found the genuine article in Lieutenant Bill Harris. As a combat veteran myself, I salute the heroism and memory of Lieutenant Harris, and as a writer, I salute the writing skills of Dan Hampton. I could literally not put this book down.” –Nelson DeMille, bestselling author of Plum Island and The Deserter
“An extraordinary tale told extraordinarily well, Valor is the intense, gripping saga of a Marine Corps officer little known today. Dan Hampton's highly detailed account of Lt. Col. Bill Harris' remarkable service in WW II and Korea benefits from in-depth research and an attention-getting writing style.” –Barrett Tillman, author of Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945 and US Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II
