This non-fiction WWII tragedy is one of the most interesting and well-documented stories I have ever read. It fits with the fictional novel, Giants on Earth, and nonfiction novels from World War II such as Intact Y Tears in the dark. The writing is smooth and natural with a talented literary depth. The research is phenomenal with abundant first-hand interviews, numerous letters, and a variety of sources. Wake’s troops and civilians can be compared to the Americans and Filipinos at Bataan, the Spartans at Thermopylae, and the Texans at the Alamo.
Wake Atoll, made up of the Peale, Wilkes, and Wake Islands, was an American outpost in the mid-Pacific before World War II. Pan American Airlines had an airstrip, barracks, and hotel and, along with American construction workers and Chamorros (Guameños), there were approximately 1,100 civilian workers on the atoll. The atoll was protected by a handful of soldiers and sailors, and nearly 500 Marines, led by Major James Devereaux. All of Wake Atoll, both military and civil, was under the command of Naval Lieutenant Winfield Cunningham.
Those brave armed forces and civilians held off the attacks of the destructive Imperial Forces for two weeks. Wake’s defenders were a source of pride in the continental United States, especially after the demoralizing news of the devastation of Pearl Harbor.
Wake’s calculating and courageous defenders were responsible for inspiring victories over the Japanese Imperial Forces, including the destruction of seven enemy warships, a cruiser, four destroyers, a submarine, a gunboat, nine aircraft, and over a thousand enemy troops. The Americans lost 124 men; however, on Christmas Eve 1941, they were finally overrun by Japanese ground troops. Some have blamed Major Devereaux or Lieutenant Cunningham, but both courageous leaders set the example and acted shrewdly against overwhelming adversity and without reinforcements.
Some of the surrendered troops were killed outright, 98 civilians were executed, and the surviving men suffered starvation, beatings, torture, slavery, numerous illnesses, and deaths throughout the remainder of the war. Like the defenders of Bataan, the defenders of Wake were left to their own devices … a truly sad point in the history of the United States and the Roosevelt administration.
Wake’s story is naturally interesting and inspiring, but Wukovits takes it to a new dimension. Other books have been written about this battle of Wake Island but, in my opinion, this is the most accurate, unbiased, and interesting read. I recommend this book to all readers.
