Wake Island Pilot: A World War II Memoir

Kinney, writing with McCaffrey, who teaches history at the Univ. of Houston in Texas, here relates how, as a boy in the 1930s, he fell in love with flying; became a Marine pilot before WWII; and took part in the epic defense of Wake Island. On December 11, 1941, four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked Wake but were repulsed with heavy losses inflicted by marine and navy defenders. Returning in greater strength on December 23, the enemy made a successful landing and forced the American surrender. In this gripping memoir, Kinney conveys the shock of sudden incarceration and also recalls, inspiringly, how he and his comrades coped with harsh conditions in Japanese prison camps. There is an exciting account of the author's escape and arduous trek to friendly lines. Kinney retired as a brigadier general after a career in the marine corps that included having command of a fighter squadron in the Korean War. He explains that his motivation for writing his memoir was ``to show families of future prisoners of war that a man's life need not end when he enters into a prison compound. He can survive, recover, and lead a useful, productive life.'' Photos not seen by PW. (July)