Wake, War And Waiting…

Nonfiction, History, Germany, European General, Military, United States
Cover of the book Wake, War And Waiting… by Rodney Kephart, Verdun Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Rodney Kephart ISBN: 9781786251305
Publisher: Verdun Press Publication: November 6, 2015
Imprint: Verdun Press Language: English
Author: Rodney Kephart
ISBN: 9781786251305
Publisher: Verdun Press
Publication: November 6, 2015
Imprint: Verdun Press
Language: English

Before the thunderous bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the outpost of Wake Island was a backwater dotted in the Pacific Ocean with only a handful of military personnel and construction workers on the roster. Among the construction workers was Rodney Kephart of Iowa, signed up with Morrison-Knudsen company of Iowa, and about to be attacked by the might of Imperial Japanese Navy. The heroic but unsuccessful defence of Wake led Kephart and his fellow workers into Japanese captivity for how long they could not guess.

Captivity for the prisoners was a war in and of itself; and Kephart’s short narrative gives a vivid account of the daily struggles against starvation, against the petty viciousness or outright brutality of the captives, against dirt, time and terror.

Yet, despite his photographic realism, Mr. Kephart’s saga is not essentially one of pessimism or despair. Out of the darkness of slavery flash those small victories or omens that men could cherish and hold against the ultimate hope of freedom—the Christmas celebration, the miracle of a Red Cross package, the sight of the first American bomber. And then, with the surrender of the Japanese, came that unforgettable moment. They were free men again! For the reader who has lived through the disappointments and triumphs of the book, that long- awaited moment will be no less thrilling.

Rodney Kephart was born in Spencer, Iowa, in 1917. After attending school in South Dakota, he went to Bethel Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Until his capture on Wake, he was at various times a farmer, a carpenter, and an unofficial Protestant minister. Since his return from the Pacific he has been studying business administration, first at the Boise Junior College and later at the University of Minnesota.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Before the thunderous bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the outpost of Wake Island was a backwater dotted in the Pacific Ocean with only a handful of military personnel and construction workers on the roster. Among the construction workers was Rodney Kephart of Iowa, signed up with Morrison-Knudsen company of Iowa, and about to be attacked by the might of Imperial Japanese Navy. The heroic but unsuccessful defence of Wake led Kephart and his fellow workers into Japanese captivity for how long they could not guess.

Captivity for the prisoners was a war in and of itself; and Kephart’s short narrative gives a vivid account of the daily struggles against starvation, against the petty viciousness or outright brutality of the captives, against dirt, time and terror.

Yet, despite his photographic realism, Mr. Kephart’s saga is not essentially one of pessimism or despair. Out of the darkness of slavery flash those small victories or omens that men could cherish and hold against the ultimate hope of freedom—the Christmas celebration, the miracle of a Red Cross package, the sight of the first American bomber. And then, with the surrender of the Japanese, came that unforgettable moment. They were free men again! For the reader who has lived through the disappointments and triumphs of the book, that long- awaited moment will be no less thrilling.

Rodney Kephart was born in Spencer, Iowa, in 1917. After attending school in South Dakota, he went to Bethel Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Until his capture on Wake, he was at various times a farmer, a carpenter, and an unofficial Protestant minister. Since his return from the Pacific he has been studying business administration, first at the Boise Junior College and later at the University of Minnesota.

More books from Verdun Press

Cover of the book Marines In World War II - The Seizure Of Tinian [Illustrated Edition] by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Hell At 50 Fathoms by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Principles And Experiences Of Position Warfare And Retrograde Movements by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Helmet For My Pillow [Illustrated Edition] by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Earl Kitchener Of Khartoum: The Story Of His Life [Illustrated Edition] by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book World War I Leadership Characteristics That Could Make Future Military Leaders Successful by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Nery, 1914 by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book The Battle For Leyte Gulf [Illustrated Edition] by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Operational Logic And Identifying Soviet Operational Centers Of Gravity During Operation Barbarossa, 1941 by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Marines In World War II - Marine Aviation In The Philippines [Illustrated Edition] by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book The German Pirate; His Methods And Record by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Betio Beachhead by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Guam USA: America's Forward Fortress In Asia Pacific by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book A Surgeon In Wartime China by Rodney Kephart
Cover of the book Lithuanian Freedom Fighters' Tactics: Resisting The Soviet Occupation 1944-1953 by Rodney Kephart
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy