The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause

by Damon Gause

One of the most extraordinary tales of American military history
-- the true, firsthand account of a World War II soldier's escape from the
Bataan Death March in the Philippines, across the enemy-held Pacific in a
leaky boat, to freedom in Australia.

Immediately following his return to
safety, Major Gause wrote his gripping memoir using his notes from the
battered ship's log and the handmade diary he kept throughout the journey.
His account begins with the siege of Manila, where the young Army Air Corps
pilot was stationed, and the eventual fall of the Philippines into Japanese
hands. Along with 70,000 other American and Filipino soldiers, Gause was
captured by the Japanese and destined to walk what would later go down in
history as the Bataan Death march.

In the first of many amazing feats, he
managed to escape, then swam three miles through shark-infested waters to
the rock island fortress of Corregidor. When Corregidor fell, Gause and two
Filipinos escaped during the night and continued on a ten-mile trek across
the water to reach Luzon Island. Island-hopping for two months, Gause was
sheltered and moved about by several Filipino families, always staying one
step ahead of enemy patrols. On the island of Mindoro, he met a fellow
American escapee, Captain Osborne, who was also determined to make it to
safety. Osborne and Gause embarked on a 3,200 mile journey to Australia, and
to freedom, in a twenty-foot wooden fishing boat. Along the way, they faced
strafings from Japanese fighter planes, tropical storms, jagged coral reefs,
and near starvation. Once there, Gause met General MacArthur, commander of
the American armed forces in the Philippines, who had been ordered to
regroup in Australia months before."Sir," he said simply, "Lt. Gause reports
for duty from Corregidor!"

Vividly written with astonishing attention to
detail and a surprising sense of humor, "The War Journal of Major Damon
'Rocky' Gause is impossible to put down. Accompanied by photographs taken
during the voyage and an introduction and epilogue by Rocky's son, Damon L.
Gause, this amazing document reveals a true American hero and pays tribute
to the bravery of those who fought and died beside him.

Damon L. Gause, the son of Rocky Gause, was invited by the
Philippine Ambassador to the United States to speak at the dedication of the
American-Philippine War memorial. A frequent speaker before veterans'
groups, he is a general contractor living in Georgia.

Mr. Gause cordially
invites all readers to correspond with him at damongause@aol.com.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Biography, War, Memoir, Military History

Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story of Rocky Gause's escape from Bataan and Corregidor to Australia. It is an awe inspiring story of a man's will to be free and safe and all he is willing to risk to achieve that. It is a real good read and what makes it better is that it was written during the war before his death in a flying accident. I always like books written "real time" and to see how people thought during the times they went through and what their mindset was. Great read and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great adventure story. Only thing the book lacks is what happened to all the people that helped him during his journey.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit this review is somewhat biased as Major Gause was my great uncle. That aside, however, this was an amazing book which told an amazing story. Though I was never fortunate enough to meet my great uncle Gause, I could not be more proud of his bravery, his heroism, and his character.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It never ceases to amaze me when one person goes through so many things. Any quarter of this book could be a movie unto itself, and this man goes and does it all.

As always, I wish there were some follow up on some of the secondary characters, but I know that's not always, or even often, possible with war journals.

Also (spoiler), it is just wrong to get through that kind of an escape and die testing airplanes.

[Richard Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent war story from Major Damon Gause, who grew up not far from where we live. The journal was written in WWII era wording and phrase, in a narrative similar to war stories told by my dad who served in the US Army Air Force during WWII. In other words, don't come if easily offended by our concept of politically correct 2020 language. This is a most amazing story of grit, determination, danger, and bravery you will read this year. It's a tribute to our faithful men and women who served our country in the Armed Forces.

[Rachel Steiger]

An incredible story of grit and survival. I'm pretty sure I'm more of a "roll over and die" person, and am always amazed at what individuals in these adventure/survival stories endure in their determination to not give up.

[Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing escape. Recommended.

[Mike Harbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I read this book a couple of years ago, it is the type of story that really sticks with you. This memoir is largely based on Gause's wartime diaries and letters. His adventure is incredible and flows like a Hollywood blockbuster.

Upon the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the destruction of almost all American aircraft on Luzon, Gause finds himself and his fellow airmen serving as ad hoc infantrymen in the Bataan Peninsula. As the Japanese forces advance and American resistance falters, Gause strikes out to avoid capture. His incedible adventure leads to Corrigedor and later to another harrowing escape - for that matter, a series of narrow escapes that takes him from the Philippines across the South Pacific and eventually back to a cockpit in England preparing to supportthe Normandy invasion.

Gause's incredible story needs to be read with a skeptical eye -as do all memoirs and diaries. He probably never intended for his diaries to be published in their original state, but sadly he did not survive the war. However, there is no doubt a great deal of truth to Gause's story - and the lack of his opportunity to revise and edit in the post war years should not detract from his story.

Overall, a great read and highly recommended.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a two day reading - could have read in a day. Anyway, this true story is a wild account of a couple guys that somehow escaped the Japanese soldiers for 159 days and most of it was in the Pacific in a beat up old wooden boat that seemed like it was on its last leg.
It's a war journal of Major Damon Gause that survived through all the years after the war. His son reads his journal and brings to light the " The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Major Gause should have died about 3 dozen times during his epic escape from the Japan-occupied Philippines. His story is more unbelievable and awe-inspiring than the most outlandish Hollywood movie. What an amazing man and incredible story. A true page-turner.

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to read a book about a Real Man? This is it!

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable story of fearless American!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating. Could not put down.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I selected this book from Mt TBR since it fit the genre land prompt of Journal or Diary. The story is compelling and tells in a matter-of-fact tone the basics of the Major's escape from Bataan in the Philippines and his journey across the ocean to Australia. While the anti-Japanese sentiment is completely understandable for a record of experiences in WWII, the constant use of slurs takes a bit of getting used to. There is also casual racism against many native peoples and a casual approach to personal brutality which are appropriate to the time (and a testament to the fact that no attempt was made to polish the Journal by later generations) bit still do not reflect well on the time.

One takeaway for me is the loyalty of the Philippine people to their American occupiers. In my work at the VA I have encountered many claims for benefits from those who claim to have been part of official US military efforts against the Japanese. Nearly all of them are not legally valid. But the experiences of this one man suggest a level of moral justification to the claims that I had never given much thought to. I cannot endorse the US colonialism that motivated the rule of the Philippines but I can acknowledge that it must have had some positive impact on the lives of the people, at least for a time.

[Dennis Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished The War Journal of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause: The Firsthand Account of One of the Greatest Escapes of World War II by Damon Gause, published in 1999 by his son, who he met only once, the day he was born. Major Gause, an Army Air Corps pliot had the misfortune to be in the Phillipines at the outbreak of WW2. This book is taken directly from his war diary that begins with having a drink in a Manila Hotel as the Japanese are about to overrun the Philippines and ends reporting to General Douglas MacArthur in Australia, having survived a 52 day journey across 3200 miles of open Pacific in a small motorized sailboat with an Army infantry officer dodging bad weather, sharks and the Japanese. He was captured in Bataan, escaped to Corregidor and escaped again to go to Australia.
He could have sat out the rest of the war doing bond drives in the US but pressed the Army Brass to send him to England to participate in D-Day. He died on March 9, 1944 testing a P47 design that would be used in the invasion.
It is remarkable he escaped the Bataan Death march, very few did. The exact number of deaths during the Bataan Death March is unknown, but estimates range from 5,500 to 18,650

[Mkbantnergmail.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unbelievable story—at times almost too unbelievable to be true. Yet this account is grounded in reality, drawn from Gause's own onboard log and journal. In the introduction, his son honestly explains that he had to fill in some gaps and adjust the language for clarity, which adds transparency and credibility to the narrative.

The courage and determination shown by Gause and Osborne are nothing short of extraordinary. Once again, I'm left in awe of the heroism of that generation—whether it was our soldiers enduring unimaginable hardships in the Pacific and European theaters, or the people back home who kept the country going throughout the war.

A shoutout to Ruth (Gause) Carter for urging her son to bring this story to light. This is yet another compelling and well-documented account of survival and grit from the greatest generation. Highly recommended for anyone interested in World War II history or stories of resilience against all odds.

[Mark Baines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personal diary of an escape form the fall of Manila and subsequent evasion of the Japanese during WW2 in making his way across miles of ocean before eventually reaching Australia as he intended.
An interesting and well documented true life tale of a heroic journey.
Enjoyable and matter of fact without being gripping; it is based on the diary he maintained during the trip - which must have been an effort in itself!
Published years after his death by his son - a suitable memorial.

[Matt McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Literally read it, finished in one day and reread it the next day. It’s Robinson Crusoe meets Unbroken. It’s in many ways tragic - but the memoir is relentless hopeful, optimistic and doesn’t contain a ounce of self pity.

It would make a brilliant film if Hollywood ever stumbles upon it.

[Dorry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent memoir/journal of an amazing journey and escape yet also terrifying and intense.
I met Rocky's son years ago and got to listen to him tell the stories of the people he interviewed to write the introduction and epilogue.
I enjoyed this ride very much and reread it every so often. This was my fourth or fifth read. And still just as gripping.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocky was a true testament to the perseverance of the “greatest generation” fighting in WWII.

The journal can be tough to read at times, as it isn’t 100% grammatically correct, but is definitely worth your time!

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible account of an American hero.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting war journal of a guy who escaped the Bataan death march and managed to sail from the Philippines to Australia, "by the grace of God and the Filipinos."

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Damon Gause was a hero, the kind we rarely see anymore. And I think it was EXTREMELY well written.

[Greg Koontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocky had to be one hell of a man.
This should be in the classroom for everyone to read!!

[Bill Stiefel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly amazing story!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awe inspiring war journal showing the human willingness and spirit to overcome adversity to return to home.

[Anna Gooch · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was not for me. I was not into the story it seemed boring.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW. What an amazing story. It’s insane what was endured on this adventure and the fact that it’s a true story is wild.

[Maxmilion Sperlich]

Great story. Surprised they haven't made a movie on this.

[Tiffanie Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! East read and inspirational!

[Tplauche · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredible story of daring and survival. The story is remarkable but the book is not well written. It was easy to see past the literary shortcomings of the book because of the experience it told. I read the book in two days, was caught up in the adventure and had a hard time putting the book down. I appreciate the power of understatement in the book. I think if I had experienced a fraction of the things he went through I would want to poor descriptions and thoughts of the experience into the story. But here the story is told in short form it and allowed my imagination to add more than words would have.