Captured: The Japanese Internment of American Civilians in the Philippines, 1941-1945

by Frances B. Cogan

More than five thousand American civilian men, women, and children living in the Philippines during World War II were confined to internment camps following Japan's late December 1941 victories in Manila. Captured tells the story of daily life in five different camps―the crowded housing, mounting familial and international tensions, heavy labor, and increasingly severe malnourishment that made the internees' rescue a race with starvation. Frances B. Cogan explores the events behind this nearly four-year captivity, explaining how and why this little-known internment occurred. A thorough historical account, the book addresses several controversial issues about the internment, including Japanese intentions toward their prisoners and the U.S. State Department's role in allowing the presence of American civilians in the Philippines during wartime.

Supported by diaries, memoirs, war crimes transcripts, Japanese soldiers' accounts, medical data, and many other sources, Captured presents a detailed and moving chronicle of the internees' efforts to survive. Cogan compares living conditions within the internment camps with life in POW camps and with the living conditions of Japanese soldiers late in the war. An afterword discusses the experiences of internment survivors after the war, combining medical and legal statistics with personal anecdotes to create a testament to the thousands of Americans whose captivity haunted them long after the war ended.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 27, 2000

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written about events of another time, place, time, and circumstances, "Captured" daily influences my response to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) panic and pandemic.

"Captured" showed me the importance of some things we need to survive and thrive. Things like preparedness. Ingenuity and can-do attitudes when faced with shortages. Patience with long lines. Humor and hope amidst rampant rumors. Courage. Gratitude for the smallest blessings. The importance of looking out for one another—especially those less fortunate than ourselves.

"Captured" is a good read because it is a well-researched academic book that also allows the personalities and the hearts of the characters to shine through.

I read "Captured" as part of my research for a story I’m writing about an American expat imprisoned in the Philippines during WWII. As a reader, I found the material fascinating. As a writer, I hope to learn from Professor Cogan’s example and high standards for research and writing.

I wanted to thank the author for writing "Captured." It saddened me to learn that Professor Cogan passed away in 2016. I wish I could have chatted or corresponded with her about her book which captured my heart and imagination.

I'm giving "Captured" a five-star rating because I found it so useful to my research.

[Christine Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and fascinating book that I used as a go-to reference for my audio drama, "Forbidden Diary: True WWII Prison Survival Story" based on the book "Forbidden Diary" written by Natalie Crouter when she was interned in a Japanese prison camp in the Philippine from 1941-1945.