Hirohata POW Camp

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- Recommended Books -
3 Star = very good  4 Star = Highly Recommended  5 Star = Accurate, worth every dime

Rand, James L., Bataan Diary, self published, 1984, revised 2000.
Diary of a soldier from Bataan, Cabanatuan, Hell Ship to Osaka and slavery at Hirohata. An unusual and very detailed summation from a contemporaneous diary. Fellow POW, Wallace Hastings (ex Royal Navy, Hong Kong), says, "I have to say that Jim Rand’s account gives the truest picture of life in that establishment." Order direct from author


Girocho, A GI's Story of Bataan and Beyond easily ranks among the ten best books written about the POW experience and an outstanding description of life in Hirohata. A rare example of mastery in writing, typography and story telling that should make it a classic.Complete review and excerpt.


The Eighty Thieves is an excellent book that covers the POW experiences at Hirohata. Written by John Iannarelli, son of Tony Iannarelli, a Navy man captured on Guam, the book tells of his capture and transport to Japan. Fluent in Japanese, Iannarelli relates his experiences at Zentsuji, his transfer to Osaka and the final transfer to the punishment camp of Hirohata. Contains roster of Guam captives. Order direct from the author.

First Captured, Last Freed by Ed Hale. Survived sinking of USS Penguin on Guam and exploits through Zentsuji to Hirohata. More...

 


When Help Never Came (Review and excerpt) by Quentin Sabotta. Story of veteran of Bataan, escaped to Corregidor and eventually shipped to Hirohata. Some factual errors but good insight into labor at Hirohata. Contains excerpt.

Not Recommended:
Yanks Don't Cry - Martin Boyle: Written to make a movie
Fire In The Ashes - Llyle W. Eads: Close but still fiction