Shadows In The Jungle: The Alamo Scouts Behind Japanese Lines In World War II

by Larry Alexander

Drawing on personal interviews with and recollections by veterans, the author of Biggest Brother chronicles the exploits of the Alamo Scouts, members of an elite Army reconnaissance unit during World War II, a group that spent weeks behind enemy lines to gather much needed intelligence for Allied forces in the Pacific.

Genres: History, World War II, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military History, War, Japan

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 2009

About the author

Larry Alexander is a journalist and military historian who has written a number of books about World War II, most notably about Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Easy Company was made famous principally by Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers, and the television miniseries of that name.

For over a decade, Alexander has been a columnist for the "Intelligencer Journal", a newspaper in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His books include Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers: A Return to Easy Company's Battlefields with Sgt. Forrest Guth, and Shadows In The Jungle: The Alamo Scouts Behind Japanese Lines In World War II. Alexander participates in American Civil War re-enactments as "a living historian" with Company E of the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves Civil War re-enactment unit.

He has also participated in the making of the motion pictures, Gettysburg and God and Generals. Alexander was nominated for a Pulitizer Prize in 2005 and had won state-level journalism awards. He lives in Ephrata, Pa. with his wife, Barbara.

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Todavía quedan cosas a tratar sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial que estén poco o nada sobadas.-

Género. Novela.

Lo que nos cuenta. Aproximación novelada (pero sin un ápice de ficción, al parecer) a los Alamo Scouts, unidad bastante pequeña de las fuerzas armadas estadounidenses que mezclaba actividades cercanas al reconocimiento profundo, la inteligencia especialmente y algo de operaciones especiales tras las líneas japonesas, cuya actividad en el Pacífico durante los dos últimos años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial ha sido información clasificada hasta no hace mucho.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alamo Scouts were Shadow's in the Jungle. This elite group performed like no other. The more I read about them the more it was hard to believe what they went thru. Some of their raids to release POW's were beyond belief. The Scouts had nerves of STEEL.
Larry Alexander, the author, did an excellent job in putting this story together.
He did such a good job that I plan to google books about the Alamo Scouts.

[J.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories from the Alamo Scouts, an intelligence-gathering unit which served in the Pacific in covert operations during WWII. The beginning of the book starts off with a big WOW!, recounting the story of an elderly man with a cane being attacked by a mugger - and then promptly taking down the mugger using his cane. Immediately following that is another exciting story of an actual jungle operation. Compared to that incredible beginning, it gets a little dull while it explains the history behind the founding, recruitment, and early training of the Scouts. But it doesn't last long before getting back to exciting stories of dangerous missions.

For most of their history, the Alamo Scouts were considered secret and they and their heroic stories remained largely unknown. So it's unfortunate that by the time this book was written most of the men had already passed away. But Larry Alexander makes the most of the information he was able to get from the surviving members. There's a lot of dialog in the book, which seems a bit dubious given the 60 years that have elapsed since the events, and much of it sounds very Hollywoodish, but it's still an exciting read. Readers who enjoyed Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides might enjoy this one, too.

[Cav · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Between December 27, 1943, and September 2, 1945, 325 officers and men would graduate from the Alamo Scout Training Camp, but only 138 would be assigned to one of the twelve Alamo Scout teams. Yet the Scouts, as a unit, never numbered more than 78 men—65 men and 13 officers—on active duty at any one time.
By the war’s end, the Alamo Scouts had conducted 108 missions, all of them fraught with danger. Working miles behind enemy lines, they are credited with killing more than five hundred Japanese soldiers and taking about sixty prisoners, and while they suffered a dozen or more men wounded, no Scout was killed in combat..."

Shadows In The Jungle was an interesting look at the formation and missions of the men of The Alamo Scouts, under the personal command of Lieutenant General Walter Krueger. The Alamo Scouts (U.S. 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit) was a reconnaissance unit of the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

McGowen Team after the 1st Alamo Scout mission, the reconnaissance of Los Negros Island, New Guinea, 27-28 Feb 1944:



Author Larry Alexander is a journalist and military historian who has written a number of books about World War II, most notably about Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

Larry Alexander:


Alexander tells the story of the men of the scout teams well here. He writes with an easy and engaging style that doesn't struggle to hold the reader's attention.
The book begins with the creation of the Scout unit by Krueger, and then follows a few of the teams on some of their most memorable missions; mostly in New Guinea, and then the Philippines. The unit would become best known for its role in liberating American prisoners of war (POWs) from the Japanese Cabanatuan POW camp near Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines in January 1945.

Lieutenant General Walter Krueger:

"Today, the surviving Alamo Scouts stay in close contact and gather once a year for a reunion. And while their numbers, sadly, are constantly diminishing, the spirit of camaraderie that I saw in 2007 does not fade.
In wartime, these men depended on each other with their lives. Their souls were forged together in ties stronger than family. This will continue so long as one Alamo Scout remains. For just as surely as Dick Winters and the men of Easy Company were forever bound together, the Alamo Scouts, too, are a Band of Brothers..."

I enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to anyone interested.
4 stars.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly researched historical overview of the Alamo Scouts and their role in intelligence gathering and rescue missions in the Pacific during World War II. This book was very good, but not quite as engaging as Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides.

[Terry Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had known a great deal about the Pacific war, until I came across this book. I admit reading about MacArthur and his egomania and believing only what he wants to hear sickens me. However when General Kruger set up the Alamo scouts, because it came from on high MacArthur believed what they told him. This story is one of the hidden gems that has come out from classified files. It really is the true beginning of the Special Forces. The fact that they never lost a man on a mission is beyond remarkable. Each of their missions was behind enemy lines sometimes alone others working with guerilla troops. The information and assistance they gave to the regular troops was beyond measure. Well worth reading and having a copy for your library.

[Am · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about my father and his Special Forces unit in WW2. It's a fictionalized account of the Scouts' exploits during the war in the South Pacific. It's very close to my heart, and should be read by any WW2 junkie or curiosity seeker.

[R.E. E. Derouin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows in the Jungle by Larry Alexander 6/8/2022 Paper

This is a highly detailed account of a sub unit of the military, the Alamo Scouts, who worked behind enemy lines during World War Two. Their efforts were extremely dangerous and little publicized, mostly because of intelligence reasons. The book is designed for a reader with a strong interest in this specific history. It is not written for the casual reader. Instead the book highlights several different specific events with multiple participants.

For those related to the brave soldiers who were involved in this highly important effort, I’m sure the individual detail is rewarding. However, for a casual reader, the endless variety of names and personal background unfortunately becomes tedious.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the local and the descriptions of the intense hardships endure by combatants in the back areas of the later stages of this war. I admit to skimming part of less personal interest. Shadows in the Jungle isn’t for anyone, but is well written and researched.

[Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book about a largely unknown aspect of the Pacific War. Given how much of what the Scouts did was classified after the war because the tactics and techniques would be used by the Rangers and Special Forces, only recently has their story been able to come out.

What's really amazing about the Scouts is that they never lost a man in combat. These were guys who went behind Japanese lines, gathered intelligence, raided supply depots, rescued prisoners, and even went after Japanese generals in the Philippines. The Japanese never knew what hit them.

While Larry Alexander does a fairly good job of trying to include as many of the Scouts in his history as possible, he does so with a downside ... you kind of lose track of who is who. I'm not sure how he could have done it better, but I think something is lost in his approach.

Despite that, this is an exciting and interesting aspect of the war that is worth reading about.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book about the Alamo Scouts, a US special forces unit used in the Pacific Theater. These men were given intense training. You were automatically disqualified if you snore in your sleep. The Alamo Scouts were also sent behind enemy lines to do reconnaissance missions. Larry Alexander covers the various missions that these men did that helped lead to the Allies winning in the Pacific. The most famous mission that the Alamo Scouts were a part of was the Raid on Cabanatuan where 500 prisoners of war were in Japanese captivity.

I enjoyed this book because I found it original. It was nice to read something different about World War II and not the same stories. I also like that the story of the Alamo Scouts was finally told. They performed an important albeit dangerous service for their country. Alexander's book does their story justice and honors these brave men.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about a little known and researched unit of the United States Army that fought throughout the Pacific theater of operations in World War 2. The Alamo Scouts are basically an early Special Forces or Commando unit that specialized in LRRPS type missions. They would typically infiltrate behind Japanese lines, insert onto islands, etc. in a small team, operate for days or weeks at a time behind the enemy lines and then exfil just as silently with all sorts of information. Sometimes, their missions turned more commando in nature involving the freeing of POWs, etc.

Worth reading for fans of obscure military history, but not a great place to start for a casual reader looking for a more general book on WW2.

[Scott Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written book from a little known Army unit that was formed in the Pacific theater during World War II at the request of General MacAuthor. I consider the work these men did a precursor to the Army Special Forces. The operators conducted long range reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines obtaining intel on the Japanese Army, conducted POW and civilian rescues, and worked with Filipino guerrilla forces. I liked how the author used interviews from the Alamo Scout operators to develop a non-fiction story of the battles in the Pacific theater up until the end of WWII in 1945. I also appreciate the effort the author took to tell us what happened to some of the main characters at the end of the book. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading extensively on WWII in the Philippines this year, starting with some memoirs and moving on to some of the units involved in the fighting there. All of the books have been well written riveting accounts and this one certainly ranks right up there with the best. It describes the formation of the unit and early operations in New Guinea before the unit moved on with the rest of the 6th Army to the Philippines. The reader follows the actions various scout teams and their members throughout the history of the unit.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII in the Philippines, or special forces units. It is a great read and will not disappoint.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little different than many WWII books I've read in that you read individual stories of a somewhat large group of men. It was really interesting learning about some of their heroics in the Pacific Theater. It feels almost disrespectful writing this, but by the ends some of the stories started feeling redundant. I think I learned most from this book about the indigenous people on the islands where the battles took place. It is really sad that these men didn't get recognition for being special forces until the 80's.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone really needs to do an extended mini series on the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations - coast watchers, romance, aviators, romance, great doctors/medics/nurses, romance, critical tide turning battles, romance, larger than life personalities, submarines, pt boats high speed in the middle of the night, romance, missionaries in captivity . . . . this is a great place to start if you haven't done any reading in this area. Did I mention New Zealand corvettes ramming Japanese submarines and capturing all the Japanese Naval Codes?

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so much potential but the book falls flat, there is no depth or character development. After the first 2 chapters, you could read the book in any order and it would make just as much sense. Outside of the chronological dates, there is nothing that distinguishes the chapters. You see similar names but there is no character development. You don't know who these men are and you cant establish a connection to them.

Chapter 13 is about the Cabanatuan rescue if you want to know more I would suggest Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides.

[Thomas S. Wozniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II's Special Forces

I have read many books about World War II and the many men and women that contributed to the victory over the Axis powers. The men of the Alamo Scouts performed their duty with little reward and under harsh conditions without losing a man. Their contribution saved many lives and hastened the conquest of many of the island nations under Japanese control.

[Abby Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on the shelf of our Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg in December 2024 and really wanted to read it, but ran out of time. I made a note of it and ordered it later. What a great book about the Scouts. I had no idea they existed. Their missions are great adventures. This was an easy and fascinating read. These men had spines of steel. I love the stories especially about them rescuing POWs.

[Stevejs298 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alamo Scouts were until quite recently an unknown group of special forces soldiers in WWII. They operated in the pacific theater. Interesting to read about their training and missions since they had very little to look upon for guidance. Remarkable to me how courageous and tough some people are.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read on a forgotten aspect of the war in the Pacific.

The author shows a great deal of knowledge about the individuals involved plus the local geography.

I highly recommend this book.

[Cameron Song Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

During peacetime, bureaucrats design an Army they want; in wartime, Soldiers create an Army they need... thus, is born the Alamo Scouts... great story about an operational requirement needed in the Southwest Asia Campaign by Generals who were not afraid to create it.

[William DuFour · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on a little known outfit who helped win the war in the Pacific and were the pioneers of Special Forces.

[Donna Herrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alamo Scouts were a group of special recon teams created by the 6th Army to gather intelligence for the invasion forces in the Pacific Theater during WWII

[Bobmanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story from WWII

[Bill Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a true story that has not had the publicity of some of the well-known battles of ww2.
very interesting. makes me wonder how many untold, or virtually unknown stories are out there?

[John Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at a rarely mentioned unit in the Pacific.

[Gabriel Thomas Malanchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Never heard of the scouts before.

[Justin Tischendorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Shadows In The Jungle it tells the story of an elite intelligence unit named the Alamo Scouts, made up of the most elite soldiers in all military branches that preform the most dangerous of task such as recon on Japanese-held islands and assess enemy locations, conditions, morale, troop strength, and rescue missions and while they do all this stuff they have to try and stay completely undetected to keep the element of surprise on their side. I think this story is so amazing because it tells the story of an elite group of soldiers and how they got recruited, what training they went through to get accepted into the Scouts, and every mission from the Philippines to every mission in the Japanese island chain. The main story focused on General Douglas MacArthur and his role in Alamo scouts and the fight for the Philippines so he could win back the islands that he lost. The story of the book is really amazing because it tells you the story of behind enemy line missions by elite soldiers that helped the US win crucial islands so we could make it all the way to Japan and win the battle in the Pacific.

I like this book because of the story behind it, it's such a compelling story in it's own way because it also tells the story of individual soldiers and how they got chosen for the Alamo Scouts. One thing I didn't like about this book was how at one point they told the history of the Scouts then told about who started the Scouts and how they got started. The reason I din't like that part of the book is because I'm one of those people that don't like to find something out until it happens. All around the book is very amazing, tells a great story of WWII action experience, and even though there are many WWII books out there talking about major battles, this book focuses on one major military group and many different missions that this group went on and survived to talk about it.

[Doug Dams · Rating 2 out of 5]

General Douglas McArthur distrusted the OSS and the joint chiefs of staff and wanted his own reconnaissance unit. He asked Maj. Gen. Walter Krueger to form an all volunteer unit to work behind enemy lines. Maj. Gen. Krueger's command was code named Alamo Force in honor of the Spanish Mission in his adopted hometown. Krueger formed the 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit which became known as the Alamo Scouts.
The Alamo Scouts in camouflage uniforms were sent behind enemy lines by submarine or PT boat and collected data on possible invasion beaches, tides and currents, troop numbers and locations, enemy morale, defensive positions, the availability of roads and fresh water.
They also took part in rescuing POWs and civilians from Japanese prisons. After the war the scouts were sworn to secrecy and their missions classified. In 1988 the Alamo scouts missions were declassified and their unit was made public. This book tries to provide a history of the Alamo scouts by recounting several missions where information was made available. The missions and the bravery of the Alamo scouts is evident in the mission stories. But the author sort of failed in linking these men and their stories to McArthur's campaign to retake the Phillipines. I've read several other books about WWII and I found this the least well told history. I did learn a lot about the Alamo scouts but I also wanted to know more about the training and skills they acquired.
The book is worth reading to hear the stories of courage and duty. So, I'd recommend it on that level. But I can't the history was told in a readable straight forward way.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just could not get enough of resistance movements after reading the Jedburghs so I picked Shadows in the Jungle up. I don't regret picking it up but I wish that I had not read it right after Irwin's book. This book seemed to lack the detail and personal aspect of the resistance that The Jedburghs portrayed. Telling the tales of one of the most efficient special forces units of all times, Larry Alexander kept my interest up enough to keep me reading. Some of the accomplishments of the Alamo Scouts no doubt helped sway the outcome of the war in the Pacific however, it seems as if Alexander was trying to reach a word limit for an editor when he included some of the sleepers he did. Some stories were just not worth telling in comparison to some of the other gems he included. Overall the the bits of humor were quite refreshing but do not choose this book over The Jedburghs if you are looking for a book about underground resistance movements of the late 1930's and 40's. And who is not looking for a book about underground resistance movements of WWII?