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In the early hours of July 5, 1943, the destroyer USS Strong was hit by a Japanese torpedo. The powerful weapon broke the destroyer's back, killed dozens of sailors, and sparked raging fires. While accompanying ships were able to take off most of Strong's surviving crewmembers, scores went into the ocean as the once-proud warship sank beneath the waves—and a young officer's harrowing story of survival began.
Lieutenant Hugh Barr Miller, a prewar football star at the University of Alabama, went into the water as the vessel sank. Severely injured, Miller and several others survived three days at sea and eventually landed on a Japanese-occupied island. The survivors found fresh water and a few coconuts, but Miller, suffering from internal injuries and believing he was on the verge of death, ordered the others to go on without him. They reluctantly did so, believing, as Miller did, that he would be dead within hours.
But Miller didn't die, and his health improved enough for him to begin searching for food. He also found the enemy—Japanese forces patrolling the island. Miller was determined to survive, and so launched a one-man war against the island's occupiers.
Based on official American and Japanese histories, personal memoirs, and the author's exclusive interviews with many of the story's key participants, The Castaway's War is a rousing story of naval combat, bravery, and determination.
- Sales Rank: #40838 in Books
- Published on: 2016-05-03
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.10" h x 1.20" w x 6.10" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 320 pages
Review
Advance praise for The Castaway’s War
“Stephen Harding is the best kind of war historian: clear, fact-based, precise, careful to avoid hype and tall tales—but also sensitive to the intensely human drama of men struggling to maintain their existence and sanity—and even dignity—under the most dire and extreme circumstances. In Lieutenant Hugh Barr Miller, Harding has found a character for the ages and told a gripping story of survival and quiet heroism.”—Evan Thomas, author of John Paul Jones and Sea of Thunder
“Stephen Harding is an extraordinary historian, has somehow found a virtually unknown story about World War II, then told that story with such detail and precision that it comes alive—and is impossible to put down. The Castaway’s War reads like a thriller, proving again that true history has a punch that few novelists ever achieve.”—Alan Furst, bestselling author of Dark Star and Night Soldiers
“Stephen Harding has done it again! He has somehow found a truly extraordinary story from World War II that has all the elements of a Hollywood thriller or adventure movie, and yet is true in every regard. We’re all familiar with the stories of sole Japanese who stayed in obscure island jungles fighting on after the peace, but here is its exact mirror image: an American who fought on during wartime on an island from which he had no hope of escape. Unbroken meets The Sands of Iwo Jima.”—Andrew Roberts, author of Napoleon and The Storm of War
“Stephen Harding pulls back the jungle canopy on Arundel Island to uncover a riveting story of courage and resilience from World War II. The Castaway’s War weaves together meticulous research and gripping storytelling to bring alive a story that transcends the war. At its heart, this is a book about finding the inner strength to battle on.”—Brian Murphy, author of 81 Days below Zero
“In The Castaway’s War, noted author Stephen Harding brings to life an epic tale of one man triumphing over the elements, fear, privation, and the Japanese. In stirring prose, Harding relates the saga of naval Lieutenant Hugh Barr Miller, a World War II Robinson Crusoe whose amazing exploits while stranded on a Japanese-controlled island seem ripped from fiction. His tale, ably brought to life through Harding’s skillful prose, shines as an example of what one person can achieve.”—John Wukovits, author of Hell from the Heavens and For Crew and Country
Kirkus Reviews, 3/1/16
“A suspenseful recounting of the torpedoing of the USS Strong in the South Pacific in July 1943 and one soldier's subsequent eluding of capture on the Japanese-held Solomon Islands. An author who knows how to tell an exciting war story…Harding builds the suspense with intricate detail—and refreshingly, without, phony dialogue…An amazing journey through adversity and desperation.”
San Antonio Express-News, 3/13/16
“A fascinating account of a sailor’s determination to survive in the face of wartime adversity…A captivating look into one man’s will to not only live, but to also deliver critical information regarding enemy movement in the area…The book grabs the reader in a stronghold…Harding, a journalist specializing in military affairs, has transformed himself into a master storyteller who has given World War II readers a book they will find difficult to put down until the final page.”
Booklist, 5/1/16
“Harding, an experienced author of military history, balances detail with content…A superb work with interesting historical propinquity.”
New York Journal of Books, 5/2/16
“Although this is an essentially obscure World War II event, it needs telling, if for no other reason than to demonstrate to the generations that have followed that of the ‘greatest’ the sacrifices were made by those who survived as well as those who paid the ultimate price…All of their stories need to be told, and this is one that needs to be read.”
Portland Book Review, 5/17/16
“The story is well told with a structure that allows easy understanding of the events leading to the episode as well as what followed. It allows one to appreciate what Lt. Miller experienced and how he sustained himself.”
InfoDad blog, 6/2/16
“The Castaway’s War is a sort of Robinson Crusoe tale with espionage and bullets.”
Collected Miscellany, 6/20/16
“Harding brings the story to life with his excellent prose.”
Masculine Books, 6/29/16
“[An] informative book…Harding does history a service by doing a tremendous amount of research to unveil this tale for today’s readers…He is clearly a scholar who digs deep when learning about a subject…Gripping…Provides vivid accounts of battle…It really captures what it was like to stare death in the face day after day…If you’re a fan of military history, then you must add this book to your collection.”
World War II Magazine, September/October 2016
“Exhaustively researched, scrupulously footnoted, and carefully written…Gripping.”
Washington Independent Review of Books, 8/9/16
“A heart-pounding history of tragedy at sea…From the first chapter, Harding’s extensive knowledge of ships and navy life materializes in detailed descriptions sure to trigger memories for veterans or engage an eager hobbyist…A pulse-pounding tribute to a highly decorated veteran whose story has finally been told for a wider audience.”
Naval History, October 2016
“[A] gripping story…Harding has infused his tale with fascinating detail and moving scenes interspersed with action, which is edge-of-the-seat stuff. The book often reads like a thriller…Superbly researched and referenced…Harding has mined another forgotten gem of World War II—a story that grabs us from the start and drags us remorselessly into a wartime heart of darkness…An uplifting account of the resilient nature of the human spirit.”
WWII History, October 2016
“An inspiring story of what a single man is capable of when he keeps his wits about him…An interesting tale of survival, endurance, and hardship.”
About the Author
Stephen Harding is the author of nine previous books, including the New York Times bestseller The Last Battle, which is now in production as a major motion picture. Harding is also a longtime journalist specializing in military affairs. For nearly two decades he was on the staff of Soldiers, the official magazine of the U.S. Army, reporting from Northern Ireland, Israel, Egypt, New Zealand, Bosnia, Kuwait and Iraq. Currently he is editor-in-chief of Military History magazine. His contributions on defense topics and aviation, military and maritime history have appeared on National Public Radio and in the The Daily Beast, Time, History News Network, the San Francisco Chronicle, Air & Space Smithsonian, World War II, Jane's Defense Weekly, and Air Enthusiast.
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
The Navy's One-Man Army
By Jeffrey T. Munson
On July 5th, 1943, the destroyer USS Strong was part of a task group of American ships patrolling in the Kula Gulf. In the early morning hours, a Japanese torpedo slammed into the destroyer. The ship's keel was broke and many men were hurled into the water. Among those was Lieutenant Hugh Barr Miller, the ship's anti-aircraft director. As the ship slipped under the waves, her depth charges began detonating underwater. These explosions killed some of the men in the water, while others such as Hugh suffered terrible internal injuries.
Hugh and several other men survived three days in the water before reaching land. Once ashore, Hugh's real odyssey began, for unknown to him at the time, he would endure thirty-nine days on the island of Arundel. His raft mates would eventually die, leaving Hugh alone. During this time, Hugh had to deal with his painful internal injuries while trying to evade capture by Japanese patrols. Living off coconuts and water from springs, Hugh tried to keep one step ahead of the Japanese. Conflict proved inevitable, as Hugh had to fight against the Japanese while maintaining his cover. He managed to destroy several Japanese machine gun nests using grenades taken off dead Japanese soldiers. He also managed to acquire two bags full of important Japanese documents.
Finally, Hugh was spotted by a low-flying American plane and was rescued. He endured months of debriefings and hospital stays. After arriving back in the United States, he was interviewed by numerous media outlets, and there was even talk of making a movie about his exploits. But Hugh was content to live life with his wife and family, which is what he did.
"The Castaway's War" is a heroic story of survival against nearly impossible odds. Author Stephen Harding has written a fine book that describes naval combat as well as the determination to survive at all costs. Highly recommended.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
A once of a kind experience
By Toe Tag
This is the story of small-time Southern lawyer who sought a commission as an officer in the US Navy prior to the Pearl Harbor attack. What follows is a fascinating story of a man whose ship is sunk by the Japanese navy and details how he escaped to a deserted island. Well, almost deserted, except for the Japanese navy garrison stationed there.
Inside the book the author describes how Hugh Miller used his hunting, trapping and fishing skills, learned as a young man in Alabama to survive. He manages to ambush Japanese soldiers and witness’s terrible attacks on the Japanese by American PI boats. I did get a laugh at the curious nature of the Japanese military rations. The difference between nations is very diverse.
The story of Miller’s situation remained such a large national interest that no-less than John Wayne meet with Miller and discussed the possibility of turning his story into a movie. In fact, the story went national with the October 1943 edition of Life Magazine.
I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it well written but it showed a totally difference side of the war. However, the most interesting thing about the book was how often the author and I may have actually been in the same city and didn’t know it. There are a lot of connections to my college days within his experiences.
If you enjoyed this book then you might also want to read, “My thirty year war,” by Hiroo Onoda. Onada missed the memorandum regarding the end of the war and fought on within the Philippines long after the Japanese had been forced off the islands.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Three Stars
By John D. Gehlhausen
He writes with too much irrelevant detail.You get lost in the story for all the trivia.
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