The Indomitable Florence Finch

The Untold Story of a War Widow Turned Resistance Fighter and Savior of American POWs

By: Robert J. Mrazek

Narrated by: Dan Woren

The New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls shares the riveting story of an unsung World War II hero who saved countless American lives in the Philippines.

When Florence Finch died at the age of 101, few of her Ithaca, NY neighbors knew that this unassuming Filipina native was a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, whose courage and sacrifice were unsurpassed in the Pacific War against Japan. Long accustomed to keeping her secrets close in service of the Allies, she waited fifty years to reveal the story of those dramatic and harrowing days to her own children.

Florence was an unlikely warrior. She relied on her own intelligence and fortitude to survive on her own from the age of seven, facing bigotry as a mixed-race mestiza with the dual heritage of her American serviceman father and Filipina mother.

As the war drew ever closer to the Philippines, Florence fell in love with a dashing American naval intelligence agent, Charles "Bing" Smith. In the wake of Bing's sudden death in battle, Florence transformed from a mild-mannered young wife into a fervent resistance fighter. She conceived a bold plan to divert tons of precious fuel from the Japanese army, which was then sold on the black market to provide desperately needed medicine and food for hundreds of American POWs. In constant peril of arrest and execution, Florence fought to save others, even as the Japanese police closed in.

With a wealth of original sources including taped interviews, personal journals, and unpublished memoirs, The Indomitable Florence Finch unfolds against the Bataan Death March, the fall of Corregidor, and the daily struggle to survive a brutal occupying force. Award-winning military historian and former Congressman Robert J. Mrazek brings to light this long-hidden American patriot. The Indomitable Florence Finch is the story of the transcendent bravery of a woman who belongs in America's pantheon of war heroes.

Critic reviews

One of BookBub's 12 Best New Nonfiction Books This Summer!One of Amazon's Best Books of July 2020!

"A riveting story of courage and sacrifice....Mrazek's book is a treasure, an eminently readable tribute to the wartime heroism of one brave woman."—The New York Times Book Review

"A monumental biography....Details of Finch's life are blended deftly with the chronology of the Philippines and the world at large....What is special about this biography is the fashion in which certain interesting and controversial topics come into view... historians have long debated whether or not America was really prepared for World War II....Robert Mrazek is to be praised for his serious research and superior writing style, both of which make this chronicle of Florence's real-life adventures an absorbing saga. Her receipt of the Medal of Freedom spotlighted her brave, fearless war effort, just as The Indomitable Florence Finch brings her life and service to our attention."—Washington Independent Review of Books

"This soul-stirring story of a true heroine of World War II brought tears to my eyes."—James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom

"'Indomitable' is an understatement. Florence's breathtaking story causes us to remember that one person, can indeed, change the lives of many."—Judith L. Pearson, award-winning author of Belly of the Beast and Wolves at the Door

"A wonderfully graphic and moving account of the selfless and courageous role played during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines by Florence Finch, one of the great unrecognized heroines of World War Two."—Saul David, author of Crucible of Hell: The Heroism and Tragedy of Okinawa, 1945 and The Force: The Legendary Special Ops Unit and WWII's Mission Impossible

"The searing tragedy and epic heroism of Florence Finch... is an enthralling and inspiring narrative.... A stellar hero of the Philippine resistance who risked all to save the lives of many others."—Richard B. Frank, author of MacArthur and winner of the Truman Book Award

"An incredibly moving and powerful story. In these absorbing pages, the Filipino experience in World War II comes to life.... Mrazek shows us the triumph of the human spirit over the worst of adversity. Florence Finch is a hero for the ages."—John C. McManus, PhD, Curators' Distinguished Professor, Missouri S&T, author of Fire and Fortitude: The U.S. Army in the Pacific War

An inspiring story

This is a riveting, inspiring biography of a heroic woman whose courageous efforts against the Japanese invaders of the Philippines during World War need to be told. Thoroughly captures the reader’s attention! Highly recommend.

What a powerful read!

Finally, I have read a book about a true woman heroine that was so inspiring and humbling. I had relatives in the Philippines and Pacific, and I had no idea the extent of the atrocities that went on there. This should be a part of required reading!!! This was so well written without pretense, i love that it was succinct and without rewriting the history through current lenses.

Unforgettable…

This is an unforgettable true story of many heroes! Seen through the eyes of Florence Finch, parts of it are very hard to read or listen to! But that should not stop anyone from purchasing this retelling of the war in the Philippines! Everyone should know about the sacrifices made in the name of war and the extreme need for freedom! Florence Finch had such spirit and that spirit helped her and was shared with those she touched! I learned so much and will never forget this brave woman and others who fought in the Pacific war, including my father!

great story

I love reading about unsung heroes (and heroines). My father served in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during WWII. He was blessed not to have been captured! Great story!

Florence Finch is an Inspiration

As a Fil-American who grew up in the United States this book was really important to the connection I have with my Filipino heritage. To this day, the U.S. educational system focuses heavily on the European theater of war. This book gave much needed context for the atrocities committed by the Japanese against civilians and POW; context that will be needed as we move further away from WWII.
The context of history is easy to forget in the sea of facts printed in the pages of textbooks. The Indomitable Florence Finch holds its own in that fight, rising up as victor with details and emotions that are important to see the human side of the war.

P.S. The reader didn't pronounce most of the tagalog words and names properly, but he's clearly an American. My tagalog-speaking relatives don't pronounce English words and names properly, either.