The Second Shot: A Green Beret's Last Mission

by Gene Yu

The riveting true story behind an unsanctioned rescue mission in the jungles of the Philippines, engineered by former Green Beret and unlikely American hero Gene Yu.

Evelyn Chang and her husband were vacationing in the Philippines when they were ambushed by terrorists. Evelyn’s husband was killed. She was kidnapped and disappeared into the lawless netherworld of the Sulu Archipelago. There was no hope of a rescue.

Former Green Beret Gene Yu was five years out of the military, unemployed, and struggling with his transition back to the real world when Evelyn’s family asked for help. His improbable mission: infiltrate one of the most dangerous corners of the world and get her back. Alone.

Mindful of “every young Asian kid in America struggling to fit into a dominant white culture,” Gene’s harrowing, self-deprecating, and provocative memoir is really the story of two rescues. One, a personal liberation and the discovery of self-identity beyond both literal and figurative battlefields. The other is set amid the excruciating ordeals of a jungle war zone, where an Asian American man, once self-described as “nobody squared,” defied all stereotypes and expectations to become a woman’s last hope of survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Asia

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Gene Yu was born in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1979, and entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1997, where he majored in computer science and graduated top of his class. Gene served in Korea and Japan as a US Army Armor and Special Forces officer. He deployed for four combat tours in Iraq and the southern Philippines, and is a recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, two Joint Commendation Medals, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. In 2015, Gene founded Blackpanda Group, a cybersecurity insurance and emergency response services company headquartered in Asia, and currently serves as the CEO. Gene is also an alumnus of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Reviews

[cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something I really appreciated and wanted to highlight about The Second Shot is this titular idea of the second shot, second chances, and being kind to yourself in that way. Once he introduces this concept, Yu does a great job of hammering it home, especially in telling the main story of Evelyn's rescue. I think it could have been that much more effective if it came up earlier than a third of the way through, though. From the moment it was mentioned, the narrative made a lot more sense to me, and I became more invested. On another note, for a while, I was struggling to figure out if his account felt too glorifying of war, but I think I'm settling in that I don't think he overly romanticizes it, and that he offers important critiques of the industry that is war. When it and the army are more glorified, they tend to be in reference to his own experience, which is obviously appropriate for his own memoir, and he also acknowledges plenty about the horrible racism he had to endure on his way to becoming a Green Beret. It definitely hits the hardest when he recounts the time his loyalty was questioned for his relationship with the Taiwanese president, and his anger is contagious.

This brings me to a slight complaint I had, which isn't too major. Like with his retelling of his loyalty being questioned, I felt that his tangents tended to be a little too long. He'd be telling us about an important story or about the main story, and I'd be invested, but then he would start to bring in another time in his life, and I'd get a little lost. These tangents would definitely be relevant, but they would drag on a bit too long, and it gets hard to keep the pace of the central story up. I definitely think that's why it took me longer to read this, because I'd get stuck on one of these tangents and have to put the book down once we returned to the main story.

Despite these qualms I have with the book, I still want to highlight the very rich picture it paints of an Asian man's experience in the struggles of the army. Yu's writing is very imaginative and picturesque, and I found myself lost in it more than once. Yu was able to leave me with a really important lasting impression: that people's best qualities can emerge despite war rather than because of war. The communities he found through his connection with the army and the way he was able to persevere with the help of others really touched me, and I was glad to have read this book regardless of my complaints :)

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to read this as an eARC!

[Jason Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, humbling, and strong read

A strong rescue story, a decent biography, a good exploration of values and life purposes. An interesting story sharing the background of a rescue through all the complications of international incompatibilities and fears, familial traditions and duties, and personal battles and beliefs. Often more a sad than triumphant story, and often far more about the author than the target. Experiencing the author's angst and anguish, while candidly shared, eventually became a bit of a chore as it never ceased. Surprisingly as well, after investing so much in both the target of the rescue and the biggest impediment to the rescue (of both target and author) - his mother - very little of them is discussed/revealed/shared at the culmination and denouement.

So overall an interesting and personally revealing book that grew less of interest and in the end made me feel the author was still seeking redemption or valuation. Great idea, probably very difficult to write both personally and legally, yet ultimately incomplete.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story

This is a very interesting story of Gene Yu’s military experience and how he became involved in a difficult hostage rescue situation. Having spent many years wearing various military uniforms I found the stories to be well told and interesting.

[J W Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to hear from a new gen SOLDIER!

This author has been able to relate the blood, sweat, and tears that go into a military career. In world full of liars, it is refreshing to hear from a truth sayer!
I wish you well and God Speed!

[Bret Hicks]

Book 3 - The Second Shot: A Green Beret's Last Mission by Gene Yu (Kindle) - This was a free Kindle giveaway by Amazon. It is the interesting true story of Gene Yu, a Chinese-American (the family immigrated from Taiwan before he was born). He went to West Point (Imguess he could not make it into the REAL academy 😉), became a Green Beret, joined even more elite teams, served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and also in the Philippines working against Abu Sayaaf before getting out of the military. The main focus of the book is how he found himself involved in helping rescue Evelyn Chang, a woman from Taiwan who was kidnapped by Abu Sayaaf. It is a behind the scenes look at how such operations are conducted (including portions blacked out by our government because they are still classified). The writing is not great, but the story is amazing. I do think you have to sort through his self-deprecation (which seems to be part of his Taiwanese cultural background while is a major part of his story). Rather than bragging, he makes himself sound like a failure at almost every turn. This is why he named the book “The Second Shot”. It is a sniper term about how important it is to make the most of a second shot if you ever get one. If you are interested in elite military stories, or true life rescues, it is worth a read, and you can even Google to find the news reports of her rescue (which mention him but not the other operatives who were still active duty in various nation’s elite forces at the time, but to whom he gives almost all the credit). Different than my recent books but I enjoyed it.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Gene Yu’s “The Second Shot” is a riveting true story that plunges readers into the heart of an unsanctioned rescue mission in the treacherous jungles of the Philippines. As a former Green Beret, Yu defies all expectations to become an unlikely American hero.

Evelyn Chang and her husband were on vacation in the Philippines when they fell victim to a terrorist ambush. Her husband was killed, Evelyn was kidnapped, disappearing into the lawless Sulu Archipelago. With no hope of official rescue, her family turns to Gene Yu—an unemployed former Green Beret—for help. His improbable mission: infiltrate one of the world’s most dangerous corners and bring her back. Alone.

“The Second Shot” is more than a tale of daring rescue. It’s a dual narrative—one of personal liberation and self-identity beyond battlefields, and the other set amid the excruciating ordeals of a jungle war zone. As an Asian American man, once self-described as “nobody squared,” Gene defies stereotypes to become Evelyn’s last hope of survival.

Gene Yu’s harrowing and self-deprecating memoir grips readers from the first page. His journey is not only about physical rescue but also about discovering identity and purpose. The tension is palpable, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Yu’s storytelling prowess shines, making “The Second Shot” an unforgettable read.

For fans of real-life heroism, resilience, and gripping narratives, “The Second Shot” delivers. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat, rooting for an unlikely hero who defies the odds.

[Diane Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best coming of age book for the tough wannabe Marvel action heroes stuck in video games

This is an amazing story because it was told. Not about the rescue, though details are there, but about all that went into getting to that ability, especially the stumbles and failures. We're all told to pick ourselves up and go on, but go where? Do what? What's the magic bean that you're telling me to carry? No one knows. In a video game, you get more lives or you buy them with real world dollars. So you try again. You get cheat codes or input from friends for things you can't figure out. It's kind of like that. But it's easier to start over in the quiet of your video cave with cheetos and red bull to keep you going. What happens when you're facing a literal foe on your school bus or in the school gym locker room, or even from the coach or teacher who are supposed to have your back? How do you do this and be a good son to your mother? What??? Where did that come from. I'm a super hero, not a son or daughter. But this book gives you a way to look at things, including your own setbacks and disappointments. I think this book should be part of the English language required reading list for every student, but just Advanced Placement, and we toss out the staid 18th century novels that bore our kids to death. The language skills in our schools and public forums is badly deteriorating, and books like this one can reach our kids in multiple ways, but mostly by telling them how to shake it off and step back up.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

insightful, introspective, inspiring

I don’t read a lot of memoirs, but this one caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. This is an inspiring rendition of a harrowing story set within an introspective exploration of a middle-aged man defining who he is, and how he became so. It's also the story of how many people with tenuous connections can come together for a common goal and succeed against unimaginable obstacles. I am not one to read beyond the end of a book. I normally skip all the niceties after. Not this time. I read the list of names he wanted to recognize multiple times, amazed - and also keenly aware that for every largely unknown person he mentioned there are many, many more heroes whose names have never been listed. Not only those heroes with the skill and opportunity to save lives in dramatic fashion, but also those who stand in the path of danger to help one another without anyone ever even hearing about it.

I highly recommend this book.

Also, as the mother of a part Asian son, I found the commentary on life as an Asian American boy to be really impactful and I can’t wait to share this book with my husband and son. Yu echoes many sentiments that my husband has expressed, some of which stunned me when I first heard them. We should never judge a book by its cover, or a person by their title, color, or anything other than the content of their character.

[Trudie Barreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gene Yu’s fascinating and deeply self-revelatory memoir is also a very probing analysis of the way race and self-esteem are linked in the Asian-American community, and the sociology of the elite military culture of Army Rangers, Green Berets, and Navy SEALS, The “second shot” referred to in the book title relates to the fact that sniper teams require both the “crack shot” and the “spotter”. If the first bullet misses the target, the spotter can offer analysis in real time so the shooter can adjust for conditions, and thereby hit the target on the second try. Failure doesn’t need to be final if one is prepared both to work with others in a team mode, accept correction, and keep trying. Although the “last mission” cited in the subtitle relates to an operation conducted in the Philippines to rescue a kidnapped Taiwanese, the action described took place after Yu had actually resigned his military commission, and, having tried and failed to make a career as a financier and entrepreneur, believed he’d reached a dead end in life. Visiting family in Taiwan at the behest of his mother, Yu got tangled up with politics and an attempt to “finish the job” of neutralizing a terrorist gang with which he had been engaged years before while still a Green Beret. Besides being an excellent and gripping narrative, this book is rich in insight and background. It is a very meaningful read.

[Reid Burroughs · Rating 4 out of 5]

what stops me from giving this 5 stars?

Sometimes I’ll give 4 stars and a good review and sometimes 5 stars and a not so good review.
If you like Autobiography you probably would enjoy this life story. Yes it is a memoir with a fair bit of name and incident dropping. However the self reflection and list of achievements is impressive. The level of achievement is intimidating considering the author still feels he is inadequate and under appreciated. Type A personality all the way and it sounds like he never relaxes. Also I’m not sure I agree with the perception of Asians. All my Asian friends are really good at describing their feelings towards one another. It’s a good book worth reading the exploits are not overhyped in any way to the contrary. His second shot is a particularly personal account of a successful career. I got the book as an Amazon first reads and would recommend it to anyone interested in Autobiography and especially the Philippine Islands. Though it sounds nothing like that area of the world that I’ve heard of and that might be due to the efforts of the author?

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggle rating memoirs because they are real stories and I never want to be mean about that but I honestly didn’t love this one. Elements of the story were interesting but it just wasn’t very cohesive. It starts off with a great prologue telling about the kidnapping of Evelyn Chang before jumping back to his childhood and becoming his memoir of school and time in the army. Some of the stories were interesting, I particularly liked his time in Ecuador, but i’m not sure how him playing tennis as a teen was in any way relevant to his rescue mission. Once it got back to modern day, nearly halfway through the book, he often went off on tangents with no clear signposting so it could get confusing. The rescue mission itself was a bit anticlimactic, again I feel bad saying that because this is real life but I had been waiting for this rescue for chapters. I think he’s led an interesting life that he should be proud of and he spearheaded a rescue mission and saved a woman’s life, it’s all very worthy. In this book though it felt like he wanted to include too many things and do too much rather than just sticking to rescue mission

[Chung Hae Casler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

American-born Chinese overcomes bigotry, self-doubts, & failure, saving an Abu Sayyaf hostage.

Clearly articulated the identity problems of Asian-Americans- we will never be able to blend in with White Americans and will always be more foreign than Black Americans. I think it’s hard to be humble when one has much to be proud about, but he was self-effacing & humorous. I did find some of his sentences to “run on”. I know he was trying to cram a lot of information in a sentence so we could get the full picture, but sometimes it was like reading one of Paul the Apostle’s sentences in the New Testament! Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading Yu’s book and was touched that all the proceeds from it will go the his Special Forces comrades for their choice of charities.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yu does a good job of describing complicated military and international relationships and agendas. The story was intriguing. I learned a lot about military culture, procedures, training, politics and details of the “war on terrorism.” Yu’s personal life and culture are interesting.

To improve the book, I’d recommend “show, don’t tell.” Some parts seemed like recitation of facts instead of bringing the facts to life and showing us a scene which would’ve been a lot more interesting. This also could’ve helped prevent the book from dragging slowly at some spots.

I read this book for the 2024 ATY Challenge: a book with a botanical cover

Thank you to Amazon First Reads.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book that opens with the kidnapping of Evelyn Chang and her husband in the Philippines. The story goes into the abduction and Mrs. Chang will survive. Then goes into the life of Gene Yu from his younger days to being accepted into West Point his time there and then into his life in the military and becoming a Green Beret. Goes into why he left and now the rest of the story is his second shot at rescuing Mrs. Chang and a second chance at redemption for himself. I enjoyed reading his story and once again I found parts of his story sad that politics led to him leaving the Army after all of the time and money the government spent on training and schooling. Overall a good book.

[Debbie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. It was far more interesting than I thought it would be, but also insightful, which I totally didn't expect. The author doesn't just write about his successes, but he includes his failures and difficulties. He gives credit to all those he fights with while being humble about his own achievements. The author is quite an extraordinary man.

I can't help but think of another military man whose book I read recently. These two books are like night and day. Or should I say, one is gold and the other is garbage. What a shame that the other book is more publicized. This book is 10,000 times better.

[Bob Prol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've rubbed elbows with special operators throughout my 23 years in the reserves. They are some of the most humble people I've met.

I vaguely remember when this story broke on the news. I paid a the usual attention, which probably lasted as long as it took to read the article. This book lays out the operation, and wraps in Yu's upbringing, his cultural influences, and how he struggled to be a success.

In the end it felt like a plug for his current employer, a crisis management company, but it was still a very good read.

[Lynn Privette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances

A deeply personal retelling of Gene's life that lead to his ability to participate in rescuing Evelyn Change from jungles on an island in the Philippines. I appreciate his ability to educate me about the terrorists there who are violent, without reducing them to less than human. His humility, skilled communication, and understanding of the himself were inspiring to learn of. His integration of the skills learned as a Green Beret make the retelling of this event more than just a story.

[Elaine G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-told memoir steeped in doubt and second chances

While “The Second Shot” admits fallacy, fault and even bad decisions by Gene Yu, it also emits truth and honesty in his doing what’s right with what’s called for. Everyone, including and especially Yu, is a justified hero for their journey traveled, their intelligence given, and their courage to face—not only themselves—but also the fears they wrestle within. Life holds no guarantees. These brave men knew it going in but took the risks anyway. Bravo…

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

very different perspective

A look further into who Asian Americans are and what other Americans interpret who they are and how stereotypes feed into interactions. A very good read into the rescue and the aftermath of the rescue. The background helps with how the rescue was done and its aftermath. I loved how he had to tell his mother afterwards and dreaded telling her; not sure if I am following the stereotype or how sometimes I dreaded telling my mom as well …

[Clay Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

How the World Really Works

An American tale about what can be accomplished by one person with the help of dedicated friends. Although told a little too much in the first person, the story is compelling in its detail of a hostage rescue. One is reminded that what one reads in the news either in the paper or on the Internet is rarely the whole story. In fact, never the whole story.

[Daniel Cooley]

I finished this book but I didn't read it to the end. There isn't one activity in the history of mankind that Gene Yu cannot master. He is a super human being yet when the second shot came (rescue) he abandoned his colleagues, he abandoned his plans, he abandoned everything just because his mother told him to come back to Taipei because she had a job for him there.

When I read that, I gagged and put down the ridiculous book forever.

[Nancy Cybulski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riverting read

I loved this book because of its honesty and ability to show vulnerability. The honorable servicemen in this book including the author are the definition of bravery. I would recommend this book to everyone as we need to remember the people out there who are still willing to lay this lives on the line for the greater good. My rating is for a captivating story that was well told. Thank you.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really glad I got to read this book. I do not have a military background and his explanations of the different facets of the military were excellent. I really appreciate how he described his feelings and experiences growing up and what led him into becoming a Green Beret. Gene Yu did a really good Job at taking the reader through the experiences. It is a somber story with little vignettes of humor.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting book about a Chinese American who was born in the eastern USA and moved to California in his teenage years. After graduating from high school he was accepted into West Point and eventually became a green beret where he spent multiple tours of duty in the middle east. He ends up getting involved with trying to rescue a family friend who was abducted and held for ransom in the Philippines.

[James BELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Written and Informative

I thoroughly enjoyed Gene Yu's informative and entertaining story. I can see that a lot of soul searching went into the writing of this book. I found it hard to put down once I started reading. Especially if you're interested in Asia Pacific region and the experience of the Asian people.

[Karen Berndt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gene Yu seems to be an interesting man....disappointed in his decision to leave the Green Berets.
Did a magnificent job organizing the rescue of Evelyn Chang, a kidnapped Taiwanese women.
Story moved quickly and then slowed. Would have liked to learn more about what happened to Evelyn during her capture.

[Joanne Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this memoir but found it hard to read at times due to the detailed information given about battles and such. But I liked the story and was so glad the women got rescued (not a spoiler as it was known she was rescued from the beginning). This book just detailed how and also gave some insight as to what it can be like being an Asian American.

[Mary Magin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself mothering the author throughout this book. Calm down! Wow! I'm so proud of you. Yes, you should be proud of yourself and, at the same time, recognize all the help you received. And them, "Yes! Take the credit you deserve!"
Once I got past the mothering, this is an extraordinary story and I am glad that I've now heard it.

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from beginning to end. I really liked the way the author, Gene, blended and shared his life around saving Evelyn Chang. I rnjoyed being brought along through the thick and thin of the entire journey. Experiencing how Gene grew emotionally, and physically was captivating.

Thoroughly enjoyed, a must read!

[Mary Mcgar]

Absolutely one of the best books I have ever read.

It was so enlightening to learn of the conflicts Gene Yu faced as a child and young man from two different cultures
His bravery and that of others with nothing to gain and much to lose is astounding. The actual operational details held my interest completely. The book was truly educational.