Prisoner of the Rising Sun

William A. Berry, James Edwin Alexander

ISBN 10: 0806125098 / ISBN 13: 9780806125091

Published by University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 1993

About this Item

University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK. 1993. Hardcover. First Printing by Line Number. Book is tight, square, and unmarked. Book Condition: As New. DJ: As New. Black boards and spine with bright gilt lettering on spine 241 pp 8vo. The author was a Navy Ensign on the Philippine island of Corregidor when it was captured by the Japanese in WWII. This is his first-hand story of surrender then escape from a POW camp, his recapture, re-imprisonment, and survival in Bilibid Prison. Lucky to be alive, he tells his story with candor and engaging good humor, bringing life to the events, circumstances, and friendships of his wartime adventures in the Philippines. A clean pristine edition.

Seller Inventory # 002599

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Prisoner of the Rising Sun
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK
• Publication Date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0806125098
• ISBN 13: 9780806125091
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: As New
• Seller catalogs:
  • Autobiography
  • Prisoner of War
  • WWII in the Pacific

About this title

Synopsis

Berry was among 11,000 American prisoners of war taken by the Japanese after months of battle in the Philippines. He tells his remarkable story of capture, escape, recapture, punishment, and survival with candor and engaging good humor. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Reviews

Berry and two Navy comrades were probably the only escaped American POWs recaptured by the Japanese during WW II who lived to tell about it. Stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded, the three ensigns participated in the defense of Corregidor until the American surrender, were captured, and then escaped and hid in the jungles of Luzon. Turned over to the Japanese by natives, the three were tried and sentenced to three years as "special prisoners" at the infamous Bilibid Prison in Manila. According to Berry, he wasn't executed because he claimed he had escaped in order to return to his mother, whose picture he carried. (The photo is reproduced in the book.) Berry's engrossing memoir, written with Alexander, an investment adviser, adds to our knowledge of Japanese policy toward prisoners of war and reveals how resourceful Americans could manipulate their captors without losing their honor or their lives. Berry is a retired justice of the Oklahoma supreme court.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.