Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II

by Bob Wilbanks

On December 14, 1944, Japanese soldiers massacred 139 of 150 American POWs. This biography tells the story of Glenn ("Mac") McDole, one of eleven young men who escaped and the last man out of Palawan Prison Camp 10A. Beginning on December 8, 1941, at the U.S. Navy Yard barracks at Cavite, the story of this young Iowa Marine continues through the fighting on Corregidor, the capture and imprisonment by the Japanese Imperial Army in May 1942, Mac's entry into the Palawan prison camp in the Philippines on August 12, 1942, the terrible conditions he and his comrades endured in the camps, and the terrible day when 139 young soldiers were slaughtered. The work details the escapes of the few survivors as they dug into refuse piles, hid in coral caves, and slogged through swamp and jungle to get to supportive Filipinos. It also contains an account and verdicts of the war crimes trials of the Japanese guards, follow-ups on the various places and people referred to in the text, with descriptions of their present situations, and a roster of the names and hometowns of the victims of the Palawan massacre.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[Avery Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Glenn McDole and his experiences during WWII is an intriguing one. The book takes you through what this young man from Urbandale, Iowa vividly remembers during his time being a prisoner of war. His gruesome encounters with the Japanese paint a picture of how hard it was for him and his military buddies. Some of my favorite moments come from Glenn's little victories, just trying to make it through the camp. I also liked the journey Glenn and the rest took trying to escape because it kept me on my toes and was very interesting. The entire story keeps you interested with the wild stories from Palawan. I would recommend this book to others because of its ability to grab the reader and pull them in. Somebody who enjoys war stories would really enjoy this book and even if you just like a book that keeps you on your toes, this book is a good one. It makes for a very interesting read that I think the majority of others would like.

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tale

This is the story of a pre-war Marine who survives the defeat in the Philippines and endures captivity in Palawan. Conditions deteriorated over time and with the changing of each Japanese command, brutality increases in the drive to build an air strip. As the US invasion approaches, most of the prisoners are massacred by the guards.

The book does well in describing the conditions of the camp as well as daily life. There are interesting sections describing the subsequent lives of the few survivors as well as the outcomes of the war crimes trials. In many cases, justice was perverted by political expediency.

The author would be well served by a better editor. Repeated phrases become annoying. Certain sections flow nicely, others could provide more details and a few sections seem to drag. All told, it is a worthy read.

[Damon Barnhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

After visiting the site I decided to read the story. War books are hard for me to read because of the hardships. However, it helps to continue to appreciate those that have fought to protect my freedoms. The will to live and persevere is incredibly described in this book. Marines are amazing. Doc was amazing.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!!

I have been studying and reading a lot of survivors stories. I love how this book is written. Most of the others don't go into as much detail. This writer has a way of telling a great story!!!

[Lavina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual account of the horrors of pow camps in the Philippines.

[david j. blakeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never forget.

A well told story of a forgotten corner of the World War II. Couldn’t put it down as I pulled through the narrative. Not overly flowery.

[Clayton Brannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll Never Forget This Book
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Last Man Out by Bob Wilbanks. I went into it knowing almost nothing about the Palawan POW massacre, and by the time I finished, I was in absolute awe—and heartbreak—that so few people even know this happened.
Wilbanks tells the story with such honesty and compassion that it feels personal. You can feel the terror, the courage, and the sheer will to survive on every page. These men endured the unimaginable, and their bravery moved me deeply. I found myself having to stop at times just to take it all in.
The writing is beautiful—clear, respectful, and powerful. It honors the men without ever losing sight of their humanity. This isn’t just a war story; it’s a story about the strength of the human spirit.
I truly hope someone takes this further one day—a larger scholarly work that delves even deeper into who these men were and even into the lives of their captors. They all deserve to be remembered, understood, and never forgotten.
This book broke my heart and inspired me at the same time. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always amazed how men who endured such atrocities can go on to mainstream, productive lives. Also amazed at how often many of those who perpetrated the atrocities get off with little or no punishment.
Wish more authors would inform readers on the later lives of their book’s subjects as Bob Wilbanks has done in this book.

[Jackie Marchetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not realized how much the whole world was caught up in such horrible treatment of other human beings during WWII. The Japanese were almost as horrible as Hitler. Read this book to see the resilience of our American young men during this awful time in history.

[Gaige Bunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Prisoners of War will be remembered one was my Great grandpa Evan Bunn Thank you

[larry g best · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a horrible story told unimaginable pain and suffering for there life in a fight for our freedom.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I feel saddened for those who didn't make it back. I liked how the book was written.