Valley of the Shadow

"Still, a man of ingenuity can often think himself out of a tight squeeze...if he can hold on a little longer and fight a little harder."

This World War II memoir begins in 1942 with events leading up to the surrender of the last American soldiers in the Philippines to the Japanese Army. Major characters are composites of actual American Army leaders and their fellow prisoners. Disobedience was not tolerated, but the POWs did give their Japanese captors names such as Pussy and Scurvy. The author records the events over a three-year period from extensive diary pages. Other than composite characters, very little is fictional.

The reader shares the emotions of the captured men―experiencing fear and demoralization from being forced to exist daily on a meager portion of rice, moved from camp to camp, packed inside ships and trains―as the Japanese seek to evade the approaching American Army. The story ends in August 1945 with the arrival of the Russian army, newly entered on the Allied side, to free them from Camp Hotten in Manchuria. The captives, saved as a bargaining chip, were not killed but still treated inhumanely: deprived of Red Cross contact, withheld food and mail, promised but denied basic privileges, and cruelly confined in solitary 3x3 foot ESOs for any infraction.

Atypically written in the third person, the author assumes the pseudonym of Cameron. The tale is a psychological study of what happens to men in horrible conditions. Some, like the character called Paul, reveal a Christian character. However, most when denied leadership become selfish, absorbed with survival as a server might get a bone or more grains into his own rice bowl. Similarities to MASH characters may be noted, although minus lighthearted camaraderie and a chief officer worthy of respect. Bravery could rise from any rank as could injustice and cruelty. In short, this is a poignant tale well worth reading.

You have no doubt heard stories about the military when they are overseas for missions, and heard about prisoners of war. The stories are often told of brave men and women who defended the country in combat against armies from other nations. There is also the unfortunate side where soldiers get killed on the battlefield and others captured by the enemy. Valley of the Shadow: An Account of American POWS of the Japanese gives a detailed account of such events, telling passionate stories of soldiers and their role in national matters.

I was impressed that the book starts with a Psalm verse from the King James Version Bible. This verse is significant in that, the person saying or praying through the Psalm is assured that the Lord will not leave him, and will protect him during the tough times. This is important considering the stories being told later in the book are those which involve battles and wars.

The book tells the story of Colonel Nick Galbraitha, fellow prisoners of wars, and their Japanese captors. Every prisoner of war has his own tale. I thought it was very well done how Colonel Nicoll F. Galbraith arranged his story. He explained the influence of religion vis-à-vis being in captivity, the orders of battle, personal discipline, shortcomings and the diet. Each prisoner of war had to devise a way of surviving. The period between their capture and rescue was dark. With just a little hope to hold on, the prisoners of war endured the most extreme situations. The Japanese were not kind to the Americans, to say the least.

For three and a half years, these soldiers had limited freedom. Their stories were told in a personal way, that all I could feel throughout was empathy. The accounts of the soldiers evoke emotions, and one can’t help but feel sad for what had happened to them.

As much as the stories told were extreme in their cruelty, there are a few lessons one can learn from the book. One is that hope enables man to live on. With a little faith and spirit of persevering, one can break from whichever chains they are locked in. The other lesson is love for the country. The book enabled me to see how much work, effort and risk soldiers put in to protect the country. They are prone to a lot of dangers when fighting on foreign soil, but they still keep pushing because of their love for the country. It is noble to be patriotic, and unselfish in the most basic human way.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading war stories and wants to read a non-fiction account, with detailed events, about being a POW. The writer did a fantastic job of compiling all the stories, as each soldier has a different way to cope with this dire situation. This book is a great read for a wide audience of soldiers, patriots and civilians alike, and should make it to everyone’s to-be-read list.