Given Up for Dead

America's Heroic Stand at Wake Island

On December 8, 1941, just five hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes attacked a remote US outpost in the westernmost reaches of the Pacific. It was the beginning of an incredible 16-day fight for Wake Island, a tiny but strategically valuable dot in the ocean. Unprepared for the stunning assault, the small battalion was dangerously outnumbered and outgunned. But they compensated with a surplus of bravery and perseverance, waging an extraordinary battle against all odds. 

When it was over, a few hundred American Marines, sailors, and soldiers, along with a small army of heroic civilian laborers, had repulsed enemy forces several thousand strong - but it was still not enough. Among the Marines was 20-year-old PFC Wiley Sloman. By Christmas Day, he lay semiconscious in the sand, struck by enemy fire. Another day would pass before he was found - stripped of his rifle and his uniform. Shocked to realize he hadn't awakened to victory, Sloman wondered: Had he been given up for dead - and had the Marines simply given up?

In this riveting account, veteran journalist Bill Sloan re-creates this history-making battle, the crushing surrender, and the stories of the uncommonly gutsy men who fought it.

©2003 Bill Sloan (P)2021 Tantor

Excellent

Little known story but was well worth the listen. Highly recommended for World war 2 buffs.
Excellent.

Excellent book. Never trust your government

TL;DR

You’re the head of the navy

Decide wake island essential to your war plan

Send out personnel to prepare base

Pearl Harbor

Marines unexpectedly repel invasion

Send relief force, setting up precisely the battle you planned for, exactly how you planned for it

Chicken out, leaving personnel to be literally burned to death

Lessons:

Harold Stark America’s CNO is a moral coward

Never trust the navy to have your back, ever

Marines rock

A well told forgotten tale of a total failure of leadership at all levels

The defenders were awesome

And the despicable, pathetic leadership was never held to full account

For want of a nail...

Wake fell because our phone lines were not buried and the Japs cut them so that Deverau could not obtain a proper strategic view. This point is not adequately presented. The Marines were actually pushing them into the sea.

anyone who loves the US Marines will love this story.

5 stars, not enough

5 stars, 500 stars better..
you will enjoy the read. I would like to see wake in person..

Narrator ruins great book

Great story about the Marines and Sailors on Wake. Unfortunately the narrator did not take the time to pronounce locations or even military aircraft names properly.