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Agent High Pockets
“To me Claire Phillips is four
First she is a fellow soldier’s widow.
Second, she is “High-Pockets,” the outstanding and resourceful spy operating in Jap-held Manila for over 2 years.
Third, she is a guerrilla officer; determined and able leader and organizer of the Manila underground.
Last, she is ‘Comadre,’ the intensely patriotic, and spiritually strong godmother of ragged, desperate men.” Major John Peyton Boone
Agent High Pockets is the remarkable story of a fascinating woman who under the pressures of war found any resourceful means to aid her friends against their common enemy, the Japanese, through the tumultuous years of World War Two.
This memoir, written by Claire Phillips, shortly after World War Two provides brilliant detail into her life as she spied, smuggled information, and funneled aid to American guerilla fighters who were hidden in the jungles surrounding Manila.
Shortly after arriving in the Philippines she fell in love with Sgt. John V. Phillips and became engaged to marry him. But before the ceremony could take place the Japanese Imperial Army invaded, forcing Phillips and her fiancé to retreat to the Bataan peninsula and conduct a quick ceremony in the jungle.
Claire’s resourcefulness allowed her survive through these turbulent years and she opened a nightclub, Club Tsubaki, on the Manila waterfront. The Japanese officers who frequented it had little knowledge that they were paying for the contraband that Claire and her friends were smuggling to POW camps and their loud, drunken conversations were being quickly relayed to American guerillas in the surrounding jungles.
She could not evade Japanese authorities forever, however, and in May 1944 she was arrested. While at the notorious Bilibid Prison she endured numerous forms of torture but refused to give any information away.
This remarkable account should be essential reading for anyone interested in the war in the Pacific and how civilians who had been caught up in the conflict fought to survive and support their country.
Claire was later given the Medal of Freedom for her activities through the course of the war. Her citation “By direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, the Medal of Honor is awarded to you by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, for the meritorious service which has aided the United States in the prosecution of the war against Japan in the Southwest Pacific Areas, from June 1942 to June 1944.”
After she returned to the United States she wrote her account of this time which was published as Manila Espionage in 1947. Her book was the basis of a Hollywood feature film, I Was an American Spy , released in 1951 and starring Anne Dvorak as Phillips. She died of meningitis in 1960.
First she is a fellow soldier’s widow.
Second, she is “High-Pockets,” the outstanding and resourceful spy operating in Jap-held Manila for over 2 years.
Third, she is a guerrilla officer; determined and able leader and organizer of the Manila underground.
Last, she is ‘Comadre,’ the intensely patriotic, and spiritually strong godmother of ragged, desperate men.” Major John Peyton Boone
Agent High Pockets is the remarkable story of a fascinating woman who under the pressures of war found any resourceful means to aid her friends against their common enemy, the Japanese, through the tumultuous years of World War Two.
This memoir, written by Claire Phillips, shortly after World War Two provides brilliant detail into her life as she spied, smuggled information, and funneled aid to American guerilla fighters who were hidden in the jungles surrounding Manila.
Shortly after arriving in the Philippines she fell in love with Sgt. John V. Phillips and became engaged to marry him. But before the ceremony could take place the Japanese Imperial Army invaded, forcing Phillips and her fiancé to retreat to the Bataan peninsula and conduct a quick ceremony in the jungle.
Claire’s resourcefulness allowed her survive through these turbulent years and she opened a nightclub, Club Tsubaki, on the Manila waterfront. The Japanese officers who frequented it had little knowledge that they were paying for the contraband that Claire and her friends were smuggling to POW camps and their loud, drunken conversations were being quickly relayed to American guerillas in the surrounding jungles.
She could not evade Japanese authorities forever, however, and in May 1944 she was arrested. While at the notorious Bilibid Prison she endured numerous forms of torture but refused to give any information away.
This remarkable account should be essential reading for anyone interested in the war in the Pacific and how civilians who had been caught up in the conflict fought to survive and support their country.
Claire was later given the Medal of Freedom for her activities through the course of the war. Her citation “By direction of the President, under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, the Medal of Honor is awarded to you by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, for the meritorious service which has aided the United States in the prosecution of the war against Japan in the Southwest Pacific Areas, from June 1942 to June 1944.”
After she returned to the United States she wrote her account of this time which was published as Manila Espionage in 1947. Her book was the basis of a Hollywood feature film, I Was an American Spy , released in 1951 and starring Anne Dvorak as Phillips. She died of meningitis in 1960.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2014
283 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Claire Phillips
32 books27 followersPseudónimo utilizado por María García Peche.
Estudió Derecho en la Universidad de su ciudad natal antes de trasladarse para su desarrollo académico y profesional a Madrid.
Ávida lectora desde niña, comenzó a escribir y crear historias propias una vez instalada en Madrid.
Estudió Derecho en la Universidad de su ciudad natal antes de trasladarse para su desarrollo académico y profesional a Madrid.
Ávida lectora desde niña, comenzó a escribir y crear historias propias una vez instalada en Madrid.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 28, 2020
Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/agent-high-...
It takes a while to get to the good stuff, with rather too much about her social life, etc. Even after the invasion, she spends a good while suffering from malaria in a hut. The more it goes on, however, the more this improves, as you began to understand the daily terror of living in occupied territory, where every night could be your last, and any knock on the door might be the dreaded kempei, the military police. It’s also fascinating to read her techniques for extracting useful information from her clientele with seemingly innocent questions like “How many will be in your party? I must know so that I can reserve places.” Her matter-of-fact recounting the horrors of prison life is also memorable, such as the incident where a fellow prisoner caught and skinned a cat, eating it raw. Worst of all is the sentence which follows: “There was another cat on the premises, and I began to look at it longingly.”
It takes a while to get to the good stuff, with rather too much about her social life, etc. Even after the invasion, she spends a good while suffering from malaria in a hut. The more it goes on, however, the more this improves, as you began to understand the daily terror of living in occupied territory, where every night could be your last, and any knock on the door might be the dreaded kempei, the military police. It’s also fascinating to read her techniques for extracting useful information from her clientele with seemingly innocent questions like “How many will be in your party? I must know so that I can reserve places.” Her matter-of-fact recounting the horrors of prison life is also memorable, such as the incident where a fellow prisoner caught and skinned a cat, eating it raw. Worst of all is the sentence which follows: “There was another cat on the premises, and I began to look at it longingly.”
September 23, 2018
The American way.
This story just goes to show no matter what happens the are those of us that will step forward in time of need. High Pockets and her fellows a great example of that America can do when call upon to do so. For a better understanding of what took place this is a must read.
This story just goes to show no matter what happens the are those of us that will step forward in time of need. High Pockets and her fellows a great example of that America can do when call upon to do so. For a better understanding of what took place this is a must read.
May 10, 2020
A brilliant little know piece of history
Claire Phillip's was illustrious in her story telling and character descriptions. This chapter told me of parts of the war I knew little about
Claire Phillip's was illustrious in her story telling and character descriptions. This chapter told me of parts of the war I knew little about
October 23, 2017
The story of Claire Phillips, agent High Pockets, is actually a fascinating one with little focus within most WWII writings. Claire claims she married a U.S. soldier in the weeks prior to Pearl Harbor and the day the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Her husband was captured, held in a Japanese POW camp, and killed. This motivated Claire, who was a singer known to perform in night clubs around Asia, to turn a U.S. spy. While her marriage is debated among historians her wartime deeds are corroborated. She performed a number of important and dangerous tasks for which she was eventually arrested.
This is her autobiography and it has all the flaws of an autobiography. It lacks introspection and objectivity as well as being self-aggrandizing at times. It is one of the reasons I rarely read autobiographies on historical figures. However, if you are unfamiliar with the story it is a fascinating look at a woman determined to do her part on the Allied war effort.
This is her autobiography and it has all the flaws of an autobiography. It lacks introspection and objectivity as well as being self-aggrandizing at times. It is one of the reasons I rarely read autobiographies on historical figures. However, if you are unfamiliar with the story it is a fascinating look at a woman determined to do her part on the Allied war effort.
June 14, 2018
A Woman of Great Endurance and Courage
This memoir begins with Claire returning to Manila in September 1941 after some time back in the States. Manila is having black-out drills and there is a rather humorous little story about a black-out drill and a bathroom window. On 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese and on 8 December bombs are being dropped on several places outside Manila. War has arrived in the Philippines. As the situation gets more precarious, Claire moves out of Manila but very soon it is obvious that the Japanese have taken the Philippines, and Claire ends up spending months hiding in the hills and mountains with her Filipino friends.
Claire is spirited back into Manila and acquires false documentation after which she opens a night club and embarks on a perilous course, along with others, smuggling food, news, and money into POW prisons, and also supplying a guerrilla group. The night club is a “clearing house” for gathering information, both military and naval to be passed on. On 3 May 1944, Claire’s precarious balancing act fails and she is arrested and taken firstly to a small cell in the grounds of the Japanese Administration Building where she undergoes a first round of “questioning”, before being taken to the dreaded Fort Santiago. She is put into a cell with six other women while fifteen other cells contain around 200 men. The number of prisoners increases for both male and female and soon the women number twenty-two and are moved to a larger cell. Prisoners are dying from disease and starvation as well as barbaric torture and very soon Claire undergoes horrific torture - and then the Americans begin bombing Manila and the surrounding area.
This book is very hard to read in parts, and I am sure Claire has left out some of the most graphic suffering she and others endured. It is one woman’s account of the part she played in the Philippines during the war, although she doesn’t just write about herself, but also about others, both American and Filipino, who all played their parts in the same dangerous undertaking. It shows the reserves of courage and endurance that ordinary people can draw upon when needed, and also shows the opposite side of the coin. No-one knows which side of the coin they will be on until they are actually faced with such a situation. I recommend this autobiography both for the story and the small window of history of WWII in the Philippines.
This memoir begins with Claire returning to Manila in September 1941 after some time back in the States. Manila is having black-out drills and there is a rather humorous little story about a black-out drill and a bathroom window. On 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese and on 8 December bombs are being dropped on several places outside Manila. War has arrived in the Philippines. As the situation gets more precarious, Claire moves out of Manila but very soon it is obvious that the Japanese have taken the Philippines, and Claire ends up spending months hiding in the hills and mountains with her Filipino friends.
Claire is spirited back into Manila and acquires false documentation after which she opens a night club and embarks on a perilous course, along with others, smuggling food, news, and money into POW prisons, and also supplying a guerrilla group. The night club is a “clearing house” for gathering information, both military and naval to be passed on. On 3 May 1944, Claire’s precarious balancing act fails and she is arrested and taken firstly to a small cell in the grounds of the Japanese Administration Building where she undergoes a first round of “questioning”, before being taken to the dreaded Fort Santiago. She is put into a cell with six other women while fifteen other cells contain around 200 men. The number of prisoners increases for both male and female and soon the women number twenty-two and are moved to a larger cell. Prisoners are dying from disease and starvation as well as barbaric torture and very soon Claire undergoes horrific torture - and then the Americans begin bombing Manila and the surrounding area.
This book is very hard to read in parts, and I am sure Claire has left out some of the most graphic suffering she and others endured. It is one woman’s account of the part she played in the Philippines during the war, although she doesn’t just write about herself, but also about others, both American and Filipino, who all played their parts in the same dangerous undertaking. It shows the reserves of courage and endurance that ordinary people can draw upon when needed, and also shows the opposite side of the coin. No-one knows which side of the coin they will be on until they are actually faced with such a situation. I recommend this autobiography both for the story and the small window of history of WWII in the Philippines.
August 7, 2020
Claire Phillips was an American woman trapped in the Philippines with her toddler daughter after World War II began. Marrying an American soldier in a whirlwind romance, she soon found herself a widow (he died in a Japanese prison camp) and living in a resistance camp. Instead of turning herself in to the Japanese for interment or continuing as a refugee, she conceived an audacious plan of becoming a spy by pretending to be an Italian-Filipina singer and working in a nightclub in Manila. Eventually, she ended up owning her own nightclub!
She used her club to pump Japanese for info and observe shipping (it was on a hill over Manila Bay). She also smuggled food into POW camps saving hundreds, perhaps thousand of allied prisoner. Like Edith Cavell, the amateur British spy from World War One, she continued to work after she found out that Japanese were on to her. Captured, she was sentence to death but found her sentence commuted to life. Of course, she was released after the Americans retook the islands.
The use of derogatory terms for Japanese, understandable for her time and experiences, are somewhat off putting but still recommended.
She used her club to pump Japanese for info and observe shipping (it was on a hill over Manila Bay). She also smuggled food into POW camps saving hundreds, perhaps thousand of allied prisoner. Like Edith Cavell, the amateur British spy from World War One, she continued to work after she found out that Japanese were on to her. Captured, she was sentence to death but found her sentence commuted to life. Of course, she was released after the Americans retook the islands.
The use of derogatory terms for Japanese, understandable for her time and experiences, are somewhat off putting but still recommended.
April 19, 2018
Absolutely just the best
Being a fan of World War II history, movies, and books, I have run across this valiant woman many times. I was so familiar with her fictional character that I immediately recognized her when I read the outline of this book. I knew instantly that I had to read this book about this very real woman. What a great tale!
Being a fan of World War II history, movies, and books, I have run across this valiant woman many times. I was so familiar with her fictional character that I immediately recognized her when I read the outline of this book. I knew instantly that I had to read this book about this very real woman. What a great tale!
December 26, 2018
This is the war memoir of one of the forgotten heroes of WWII. Phillips is somewhat of a mysterious character. She was a lounge singer who returned to Manila with her toddler daughter in 1941 and rekindled her ties with various Filipino and expatriate socialites. She fell in love with an American soldier, got married on Bataan at the outbreak of the war. The last she saw of him, he was sending her to the hills to hide with natives. From this vantage point, she watched the Bataan Death March and eventually returned to Manila where she took on the identity of an Italian-Filipina, opened her own club, and used her entertainment to gather intelligence from Japanese patrons. She worked with other expatriates like Margaret Utinsky to smuggle food and funds into American POW camps and pass intelligence along to guerrillas in the hills. Japanese intelligence eventually got wise and rolled her and others up. She was tortured, imprisoned, and was later liberated in an emaciated state by American troops when they retook Manila in February 1945. Her efforts and sacrifice earned her a Medal of Freedom and Hollywood portrayed her life in a 1951 film. A room in the U.S. Embassy Manila's historic chancery building is named in her honor.
Some of the events in this book, however, are probably fabricated. For example, I do not believe she singlehandedly destroyed a Japanese munitions depot while on Bataan. I think it's scientifically proven that putting cigarette ash in someone's drink doesn't magically make them more inebriated. The reader will be left to guess what is completely true in the book and what is myth. (She possibly fabricated some of her stories to help her case in getting reimbursement from the U.S. government after the war.) In any case, there is no doubt that she contributed to the guerilla effort, saved countless lives, and suffered on behalf of her country. She was a remarkable woman. I give this book 3.5 stars.
Some of the events in this book, however, are probably fabricated. For example, I do not believe she singlehandedly destroyed a Japanese munitions depot while on Bataan. I think it's scientifically proven that putting cigarette ash in someone's drink doesn't magically make them more inebriated. The reader will be left to guess what is completely true in the book and what is myth. (She possibly fabricated some of her stories to help her case in getting reimbursement from the U.S. government after the war.) In any case, there is no doubt that she contributed to the guerilla effort, saved countless lives, and suffered on behalf of her country. She was a remarkable woman. I give this book 3.5 stars.
April 13, 2020
First, I really love the incredible story! The reason for the 3 stars is the quality of the editing (or lack thereof). Immediately I began seeing typos and misspellings that really slowed down the reading process. (I'm including a few examples below.) After several of these, I realized what probably caused them. I don't know the history of this book and never saw one of the original editions, so this is just my hunch. It appears that one of the original manuscripts was scanned at some point to create an electronic version (I read mine on Kindle). Having completed a decades-long career in technical communications, I saw, proofed, and edited many such conversions over the years. Today, the software for this is very good and rarely produces errors. But in the early days of OCR (optical character recognition) software, this was not the case and a human had to intervene to proof and edit the resulting electronic text. My hunch is that this happened with Ms. Phillips's manuscript, sans the human control point. I urge the publisher to invest a few bucks and have a good proofreading job done to this otherwise great work! Examples from the book:
“Take Dian and Lolita with you. They can stay m the cab while you attend to things."
"The bombings were once mere coming constantly closer."
"I made him comfortable in my room, and promised to awakened him punctually."
"Papa S. told me over and ever again 'Take it easy.'"
"The Negritos tock our baggage, and we started a long, weary climb uphill."
"Chan appeared before me with a bread smile."
"Totoy urged me to come and see the captives as they marched bade and forth each day from the prison to work details."
"He had been picked up by a Japanese fishing craft, and transferred to a Red Gross ship en route to Manila."
And my favorite:
"No anti-tetanus, serum was available, but one determined medico went to the Bureau of Animal Husbandry and had some nude."
“Take Dian and Lolita with you. They can stay m the cab while you attend to things."
"The bombings were once mere coming constantly closer."
"I made him comfortable in my room, and promised to awakened him punctually."
"Papa S. told me over and ever again 'Take it easy.'"
"The Negritos tock our baggage, and we started a long, weary climb uphill."
"Chan appeared before me with a bread smile."
"Totoy urged me to come and see the captives as they marched bade and forth each day from the prison to work details."
"He had been picked up by a Japanese fishing craft, and transferred to a Red Gross ship en route to Manila."
And my favorite:
"No anti-tetanus, serum was available, but one determined medico went to the Bureau of Animal Husbandry and had some nude."
January 20, 2020
I liked the story associated with the author and the main character in the book. There was little proofreading and many spelling and punctuation mistakes but it didn't really impede the validity of the story. It was disheartening to read that some of the book's dialogue was discredited by Americans after the war. From other accounts, that I have read of the period of the war and the occupation by the Japanese in the Philippines, it was pretty accurate. Also the validity of the rebel movement in the hills surrounding Manila. I think that books such as this written by people who survived the war, tell a better story of the atrocities and needless suffering that conflicts bring. It's the human factor and the torture that average Americans didn't see. I think this could happen again and by realizing this, we could prevent wars. I also think it is unduly sad that wars make money at the expense of human life. The result has been the same for millennia. When will people learn?
November 4, 2017
Being a huge fan of warrior women I was excited to read this autobiography of Claire Phillips, or otherwise known as ‘High Pockets’. She was a woman Hell bent on revenge after the Japanese in the Philippines killed her soldier husband. This story drew me in deeper as this American spy infiltrated the Manila nightclub scene as a singer with skills ranging from spiking drinks of the Japanese to luring them with the seductive ways to gain access to valuable information. I love how the author paints a vivid picture to take you back to that time era. ‘High Pockets’ was caught and had to endure a rough time in prison. I did know she was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1951 for all she did form the American prisoners of war.
If you are into power women, then I highly suggest this read.
If you are into power women, then I highly suggest this read.
December 20, 2018
a few misspellings...
attributable perhaps to conversion to kindle format.
an incredible read and adventure that is not only exciting, but will help you remember some of the great suffering undergone by ordinary people in order to simply do the right thing.
there is no doubt that our adversaries in the east were at least as cruel as the nazis and those under stalin, but perhaps bore even less comprehension than the germans who, so clearly losing the war, and with the threat of the onslaught of the red hordes, cut deals for leniency with some of their american charges.
we should not forget, too, the bravery, loyalty and kindness of many of our philippine allies, despite the honesty in this tome, of some of the opportunists in their midst.
attributable perhaps to conversion to kindle format.
an incredible read and adventure that is not only exciting, but will help you remember some of the great suffering undergone by ordinary people in order to simply do the right thing.
there is no doubt that our adversaries in the east were at least as cruel as the nazis and those under stalin, but perhaps bore even less comprehension than the germans who, so clearly losing the war, and with the threat of the onslaught of the red hordes, cut deals for leniency with some of their american charges.
we should not forget, too, the bravery, loyalty and kindness of many of our philippine allies, despite the honesty in this tome, of some of the opportunists in their midst.
November 4, 2017
The true-life story of a female American entertainer living in Manila in 1941. She joined the underground there when the invading Japanese kill her husband. What's better than a woman set on revenge? This woman, owner of the Tsubuki Nightclub, spikes the drinks of Japanese invaders and seduces them to gather military intelligence. She even smuggles contraband in her underwear, bribes Japanese guards to aid or rescue imprisoned American POWs. Eventually discovered and captured, she lives a prisoner's life . . . But, you get the idea. More exciting than most fiction, and filled with the news of the day.
November 19, 2017
Words cannot describe how courageous this woman was. On a daily basis she put aside her own personal safety to do everything and anything to fight the Japanese invaders in the Philippines. The level of intelligence she demonstrated in her various activities was impressive. The foundation for her actions was her love for her Army husband and his compatriots. Tragically he was killed early in the invasion. I was born in 1945 so this was particularly interesting to me in describing what was going in a segment of the world and what my parents were experiencing while waiting for me to be born. As you can tell I really liked this book. Read it.
June 18, 2019
Five stars
What a heart wrenching book! This is the story of a courageous American woman who was living in the Philippines during the years of Japanese occupation. Her husband was killed in a Japanese internment camp and after finding out about his death she became an American spy. This woman suffered torture after being caught by the Japanese and would have died in prison if not for the American service men taking over the island... She lived to write the amazing story.
What a heart wrenching book! This is the story of a courageous American woman who was living in the Philippines during the years of Japanese occupation. Her husband was killed in a Japanese internment camp and after finding out about his death she became an American spy. This woman suffered torture after being caught by the Japanese and would have died in prison if not for the American service men taking over the island... She lived to write the amazing story.
July 14, 2018
Life under Japanese occupation of the Philippines
Clair Phillips married a US soldier at the start of WW 2 near Manila. After he was captued she opened a club and used the Japanese money to fund help to US POWs and guerillas. Fascinating look at what went on behind the front after the conquest. One hears a lot about the resistance in Europe, never anywhere else. Yet it did exist! Here is an excellent example.
Clair Phillips married a US soldier at the start of WW 2 near Manila. After he was captued she opened a club and used the Japanese money to fund help to US POWs and guerillas. Fascinating look at what went on behind the front after the conquest. One hears a lot about the resistance in Europe, never anywhere else. Yet it did exist! Here is an excellent example.
July 6, 2019
A very interesting read, I have not read a lot of the WWII campaign in the Pacific so this gave me a different perspective. Agent High Pockets story was inspiring. The e-book had many misspellings and other transcription issues that made me pause for a moment to figure out what was being said, but other than that it is a good read. It would have been nice if there had been one more chapter telling what happened to her in her post war years.
July 6, 2019
Diary style
Autobiographical account of Claire's life in the Philippines during WWII. This is not like earth-shattering literature, but a first hand accounting of her work as a spy and for the resistance. I found it very interesting and would hope I could be half as brave and ingenious if I should ever find myself in such circumstances. Seems lately I have read a great deal about Simpsonville on the European front but this was a new Pacific front experience.
Autobiographical account of Claire's life in the Philippines during WWII. This is not like earth-shattering literature, but a first hand accounting of her work as a spy and for the resistance. I found it very interesting and would hope I could be half as brave and ingenious if I should ever find myself in such circumstances. Seems lately I have read a great deal about Simpsonville on the European front but this was a new Pacific front experience.
March 12, 2018
Interesting story, but hard to read at times because of the casual racism. Although it's not surprising for a book written in 1947, it gets annoying that the enemy are constantly referred to as Japs or Nips, with frequent jokes about their stature. The Chinese are called celestials, and all Asians are slants. It feels like a 1970s comic book, and not in a good way.
April 1, 2018
A very well written tail of life under Japanese occupation.
A very well told, and simply told, story of one woman’s life under Japanese occupation in the Philippines. Definitely recommended for those who seem to forget, or, perhaps never knew what happened in the Philippines in WW II.
A very well told, and simply told, story of one woman’s life under Japanese occupation in the Philippines. Definitely recommended for those who seem to forget, or, perhaps never knew what happened in the Philippines in WW II.
October 16, 2018
Well written and easy to read. This first hand account of an American womans resistance to the Japanese occupation of Manila, is inspiring. In today's cynical atmosphere about "Americas goodness", its refreshing to read about Americans and Filipinos who risked all, and sometimes lost, to preserve the democracy we so casually take for granted.
June 10, 2019
Was this book edited? So many errors that it was difficult to read. The story was interesting and well told. Such terrible suffering and loss.
Was this book edited? There were so many errors that it was difficult to read. The story was interesting. Such terrible suffering and loss. Such bravery and empathy.
Was this book edited? There were so many errors that it was difficult to read. The story was interesting. Such terrible suffering and loss. Such bravery and empathy.
June 12, 2019
Really enjoyed this intimate picture of the war, the fight against the Japanese, and response of/by the United States. It was amazing what a single individual could not only accomplish but also withstand. The detail was frightening considering what we are potentially facing today. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in seeing how creative and strong the human spirit can be!
June 25, 2019
Lots of errors
Overall I really enjoyed this book. However, there were so many spelling errors, grammatical issues, and words that made sense where they were. I was reading a kindle book, so that may have been one part of the problem. That’s my reason for only 3 stars. It would’ve been 5, but so many errors made it slow reading and hard to get into.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. However, there were so many spelling errors, grammatical issues, and words that made sense where they were. I was reading a kindle book, so that may have been one part of the problem. That’s my reason for only 3 stars. It would’ve been 5, but so many errors made it slow reading and hard to get into.
August 21, 2019
Extraordinary
Extraordinary story. How can one live through such horrendous experiences? What a blessed society we are to have never known such in our home country. And how amazing that the Philippines could ever recover from such drubbing. Love one another. What a simple message, and why oh why do humans have so much trouble following it?
Extraordinary story. How can one live through such horrendous experiences? What a blessed society we are to have never known such in our home country. And how amazing that the Philippines could ever recover from such drubbing. Love one another. What a simple message, and why oh why do humans have so much trouble following it?
April 1, 2020
Excellent Book
I am an avid fan of World War II history and this is among the best. I initially wavered between 4 and 5 stars because of the typo errors but i think that this was due to the publication process and not proofreading errors. This woman and her compadres are exceptional.
I am an avid fan of World War II history and this is among the best. I initially wavered between 4 and 5 stars because of the typo errors but i think that this was due to the publication process and not proofreading errors. This woman and her compadres are exceptional.
April 3, 2020
Entertaining
The book was very informative about the resistance movement from the city of Manila perspective. I’ve read many books from the guerrillas in the hills perspective. This book let the reader see how the brave people operated under the Japanese’s noses. I would have liked a little more detail of these operations though.
The book was very informative about the resistance movement from the city of Manila perspective. I’ve read many books from the guerrillas in the hills perspective. This book let the reader see how the brave people operated under the Japanese’s noses. I would have liked a little more detail of these operations though.
November 11, 2017
An inspiring story of a woman who faced the war instead of hiding from it, and paid the price. Claire Phillips' biography is an incredible tale of courage and enterprise, and eventually survival. A highly recommended read!
April 20, 2018
What a truly courageous woman!
Claire, or rather HighPockets is an astounding person! She could have taken the easy way out on many occasions, she is a true hero. She helped many people, without a. Thought for her own comfort. I was glad she survived after so much suffering.
Claire, or rather HighPockets is an astounding person! She could have taken the easy way out on many occasions, she is a true hero. She helped many people, without a. Thought for her own comfort. I was glad she survived after so much suffering.
May 20, 2018
Unfortunate Truth
This book is exciting but also painfully truthful. With heroines and hero's it is too easy to forget the brutality of the Japanese and they that they are now or friends.
This book is exciting but also painfully truthful. With heroines and hero's it is too easy to forget the brutality of the Japanese and they that they are now or friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews