They Were Expendable: An American Torpedo Boat Squadron in the U.S. Retreat from the Philippines

by William Lindsay White

A national bestseller when it was originally published in 1942 and the subject of a 1945 John Ford film featuring John Wayne, this book offers a thrilling account of the role of the U.S. Navy's Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three during the disastrous Philippine campaign early in World War II. The author uses an unusual, but thorough, spellbinding format to tell the an interview with four heroic young participants. Ranked "with the great tales of war" by the Saturday Review of Literature, it is a deeply moving book that describes the four officers' extraordinary exploits from the first appearance of Japanese planes over Manila Bay to the squadron's calamitous end-including getting Gen. Douglas MacArthur safely to Australia.
Filled with action, drama, and history, this unique portrayal of "America's little Dunkirk" was described by the New York Times as being "almost unbearably painful at times, yet so engrossing that few who begin it will be able to put it down until they have finished its adventure-packed pages."

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction, War, Nautical, Naval History, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[W]

Movie review :

It is amazing how many of my favourite war movies are turning out to be based on books.

The movie in this case is They were Expendable,directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne.

It is about a PT boat squadron,during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.Great action,a love story thrown in for good measure and a memorable ending.One of John Ford's best films.

5 stars

[Ceejay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 1942 edition (fourth printing).

In my opinion, this is the best non-fiction book to come out of World War Two. It is one of the finest books ever written about war. This is the third time I have read this book, and each time I have looked at it in a different way.When I was a teenager, it helped me understand my parent's view of WW II and the world after that momentous time period. In my twenties, during my seven years in the military, I saw a group of young fighters getting Gen. MacArthur off the Phillipine Islands against overwhelming odds.And now, in my sixties, I see it in so many ways as a testimony against war. This is a brilliant piece of writing.

When you read this book you will be introduced to the nurse, Peggy. Taped to the inside cover of the edition I read (from the library) was a newspaper clipping explaining that Peggy had returned home after being held captive by the Japanese.

[Eric Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

The movie was better.

The writing style is a very linear extrapolation of the "events" that MTB Squadron 3 experienced during the early part of the US involvement in the Second World War. As it is portrayed as a factual account of the experiences of this action the tone of the book propagandizes these events. In the context of the time frame in which the book was written this is understandable but to a reader in current times that does not understand this context the book would appear wooden and 2 dimensional.

It is, however, an interesting book if one did some research and gained a broader context in which this book was written.

http://books.google.ca/books?id=UEEEA...

Recommend looking up John D. Bulkeley as his life is very interesting.

Recommend At Close Quarters by John D. Bulkeley.

[Jerry Kolwinska · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book decades ago as a high school student. My copy has languished on the shelf for many years. While the personal courage of these intrepid sailors is amazing, the total disregard of the higher echelons for what was unfolding in the Philippines is unconscionable. The book’s title sums up how these brave men and women of the US military felt in the days and weeks following the attacks on the Philippines - expendable. They were used to slow the Japanese advance but were never given the support necessary to effectively do that job.

The MTB squadrons performed to the best of their ability with limited support. These men are heroes whose contributions to the war are often forgotten.

I have never gotten over Douglas McArthur’s “escape” from Bataan. While I understand that militarily he could not fall into the hands of the Japanese, his arrogance and pursuit of the limelight have always tainted his image in my mind.

While not a particularly exciting read, I think it is instructive.

[Martin Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in 1942 just a matter of a few months after the incidents that are described in the book took place. This isn't a novel, but rather a transcript of interviews with the last 4 remaining men of Motor Torpedo Boast squadron 3 (MTB 3). MTB's were small very fast speedboats made of plywood, and with three Packard engines in each. Each was armed with four torpedo tubes and four 50 caliber machine guns. These boats would latter be know by the shortened acronym of "PT boats", but in the early Spring of 1942, right after Pearl Harbor was attacked, they were a new untested Navy weapon. This is a fascinating account of the action that this squadron saw as the Philippine's were being overrun by the Japanese. The last hold out for the Americans was on the fortified island of Corregidor, which it's self was eventually captured. But the MTB squadron fought to the last boat and almost to the last man, destroying at least one Japanese cruiser and two destroyers, but possibly their. most important accomplishment was the evacuation of General MacArthur , his family and most of the top military leaders from Manila, in a daring escape. These interviews were conducted while the memories were still fresh in the minds of these four young officers, and the accounts are clear and straight forward. The title of the book, "They were Expendable" is not said with bitterness but a simple totally accepted fact that the people left behind in the Philippine's were like ammunition or any other piece of military equipment, not that they were not very valuable, but the war needed them to be expended for the sake of the ultimate victory. And the men telling this story fully excepted that fact, and wanted to use their abilities to exact the greatest possible cost on the enemy before their possible loss. This should be required reading for any student of the Second World War.

[K.H. Vaughan · Rating 2 out of 5]

In retrospect, a pure propaganda piece. Transparently manipulative. The real events would have had more than enough drama.

[Gil Burket · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written during the War when the war was going badly for the United States, but a classic to this day.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting because it was written while the war was still going on. It surprises me that it was published, if it were today, Trump would have blocked it.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at least 50 year ago and it has remained one of my favorite all these years.

[Faye Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.

The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.

For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...

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[Michael Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensation when it was published in 1942, this saga of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and the American torpedo boats that stood against it, has been greatly overshadowed by the film of the same name. The book, which *I think* was originally serialized in Life Magazine, is actually listed as fiction on some websites. This despite the fact it uses the principals' real names and describes real events, whereas the film changes the names and, I'm sure, much else. Part of this confusion may come from the highly stylized (and one-sided) way the story is told. It begins as a bunkhouse interview between author W.L. White and four Naval officers, and the tale unfolds completely in dialogue (or more correctly, a series of intertwined monologues), with only an occasional "this-or-that officer said" to differentiate the voices. The narrative is not divided into chapters, and there are no more than a handful of page breaks in its 200+ pages. The alert reader will quickly note that the four narrators are almost indistinguishable in their speech patterns (one does curse more). They also speak in well organized paragraphs and use the word "expendable," "expended," etc., as if they are corporate shills hawking a name brand. As invisible as the author attempts to be, I felt his heavy hand throughout. The narrative style takes a little getting used to, but what about the story? Once I got into it, I could hardly put it down. Pearl Harbor gets all the press, but the disaster in the Philippines was much worse, because it was not a hit-and-run, but more like a siege. Under-equipped, undefended by air, and with untrained reinforcements, the small band of experienced Navy, Army, and Filippino fighters--not to mention the hospital nurses--showed astounding heroism and perseverance against overwhelming Japanese naval and air power. Often, the little plywood torpedo boats were reduced to dodging and hiding to survive. The narrative is essentially a string of anecdotes, told as if it is a continuous story. There are battles, struggles with disease, romances with nurses, and the almost comical escapade that was the evacuation of Douglas MacArthur and top brass. If you have seen or read From Here to Eternity, it has some of that same feel, of a paradise turned into hell. As noted above, coming from only four officers, the book is very one-sided, and its accuracy has been questioned. Modern readers will no doubt be put off by some of the narrators' attitudes and dated language, but the story holds up well. The officers are quite comfortable in their hatred (and racism) toward "the Japs," but they are just as adamant in their admiration of the Filippino people. They praise the soldiers, and the civilians, at every turn. Of course, their measure is how well they compare to the American standard, but of the villagers one officer notes, "the more Americanized they become, the lousier they get." A revealing statement. I picked up this book as a lark at a library book sale, but I would recommend it to anyone with the least interest in the subject. It is as eye-opening for today's reader as it must have been for the homefront in 1942. The ending is a gut-punch.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by William Lindsay White that I have read recently. He was the son of famed newspaper editor William Allen White. In this 1942 book, White interviews four officers who were what was left of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3. They experienced the U.S. retreat from the Philippines in the early days of World War II. Although the language of the men is of the brash nature familiar to viewers of World War II movies, there is something different. This is a book written when the outcome of the war was uncertain, and U.S. victories were almost nonexistent. In fact, the Naval officers make fun of the optimistic reports in U.S. media, knowing they aren't true. They note the inadequacy of U.S. armaments, and it seems to me there is even mild criticism of Gen. MacArthur and other leaders. It's a bit amazing in a book featuring the words of military men in wartime. The volume I read was an original 1942 hardcover edition. On the back, White makes an appeal to people to buy War Bonds and Stamps. He says we should remember "we can lose this war." (This book became a movie with John Wayne. I have not seen it.)

[Zach Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled on this book completely by chance, and I'm so glad I did. It's the story of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 and their harrowing escape from Bataan, Philippines at the beginning of World War II. Author W. L. White relays the stories of the five original U.S. Navy officers who were there in 1941-1942: The famous Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley, Lieutenant Robert B. Kelly, Ensign Anthony Akers, Ensign George E. Cox Jr., and Lieutenant Henry J. Brantingham. Amongst all the horrors of war, Lieutenant Robert B. Kelly's love story with "Peggy" added such an unforgettable element to the story. This is a must-read for anyone interested in WWII stories.

They don't explain it in the book, but as an FYI to readers, the Army nurse Peggy—whose full name is Beulah “Peggy” Greenwalt Walcher, survived the war. After her plane went down during her attempted evacuation, she was held as a prisoner of war by Japanese forces on Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines. Later nicknamed an "Angel of Bataan," Peggy passed away in 1993.

[Tom Anstett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Because we little guys-the ones who are expended-never get to see the broad picture of the war, never find out the reasons back of the moves or failures to move. We only see our part-look up through the palm trees at the seamy side of it." This account, some of the Philippine theater of World War II, is a book without a chapter, similar to what war holds for its participants. An endless series of episodes that occur without warning, with time at its heels. Even the word "expendable" carries the connotation of loss and sympathy toward all the soldiers who did the majority of dirty war to help win the war, most without any recognition except for the honor and chance of returning home to America alive. This book carries dignity and humility for both those involved and for the reader.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1942, the tale of the PT Boats in the Philippines fighting the Japanese was a David versus Goliath story. During the dark days of WWII, there wasn't very much good news. The PT boats daring in attacking Japanese cruisers, destroyers and barges with success was a source of encouragement. The evacuation of General MacArthur, his family and key staff gave the American people a glimpse of the man who could salvage victory in the Pacific. The story of bravely defending Bataan and Corregidor is told here as well. A best seller when published, They Were Expendable, was a morale builder and widely regarded. For the person who wants a better understanding of the dark days of the Pacific war this book is a just read.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

The source for another John Wayne movie, the defeat and retreat of US forces from the Philippines in World War 2. The author sat with four military men and basically retold their stories centered on a PT boat squadron. Taut, straight-forward. Another important war book very similar to the movie that came later. In that movie, John Wayne tries to get off the last plane heading out of the Philippines for another guy with a family but the officer in charge forces him to stay because of his knowledge of PT boats. That always seemed like a phony part of the movie but it was true. Imagine being the guy left behind, the next to the last guy who got to avoid all the misery that followed.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure exactly what to think about this book -- on the surface it's a straight-forward "as told to" account of the PT boat action portrayed so well and so famously by the movie of the same name. At times I wondered if perhaps the book had been fictionalized -- not sure. Whatever, it's a good tale and, taken as a factual account of very difficult times, worth the reading. Some elements of "propaganda" pop up, but this WAS published in 1942, making it one of the first "eyewitness" accounts of the war.

[Patrick Meehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly engaging and personal narrative about a seldom learned about episode in the USA's WWII history. I enjoyed the device of entirely first person narrative from some major heavyweights in the fight.

The point of view, however, was not always clear and this made for some confused reading by me as I tried to discern who was speaking where and when and with whom about what.

I recommend this for an AP US History supplemental reading and also for the general history reading hobbyist.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, especially as this was written shortly after the war started.

The move has always been a favorite of mine. Although every time I see it, I always feel so sorry for those sailors left behind, knowing that they represented all those sailors, solders, nurses who were either killed or walked the death march.

Would love to know what happened to the main characters. Did they survive the war?

[Valli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually when we read about WWII, we learn about the Allied triumphs in Europe later in the war. This book was actually published in 1942, while the war was still going on. W.L White interviews survivors from the Navy early in the war, in the Pacific Theater. It was fascinating to read about the tribulations these officers faced while miraculously surviving.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a historical retelling, but the contents of an interview with the survivors. Can sometimes be hard to track who is saying what, and you aren't getting all the details; you can get a sense, a taste, of the retreat from the Philippines from their perspective.

[Sonny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is so-so. Movie is GREAT!

[Jack Hwang · Rating 3 out of 5]

War stories of MTB Squadron 3 in Philippine in the first months of WW2

[Morgan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting interview of several members of the boat crews that served in the Phillipines at the beginning of WWII. These were the guys that ultimately got MacArthur out.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, if you like WW2 first person accounts, this is one you should read.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really interesting story that is underserved by its telling.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. As good as the movie

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book was riveting. The first "first person" account of World War II, I have ever read, I found this book surprising in many ways. First, the book is in the format of an uninterrupted interview with four members of a motor torpedo boat squadron in the South Pacific. There is no interjection from the narrator, and no explanatory narrative, so the book is, in its entirety, a first hand account of the events described therein. This is fascinating because at all times, the reader has only as much information as the soldiers narrating the story. They know only what happened to them, moment by moment. There is no bigger picture - no editorializing about long term strategy - as is the case with many WWII histories, and as a result, the reader experiences the war in the same way a soldier would have experienced it - as series of fear inducing events that seem to happen randomly and with little to no explanation. Second, the book takes place in the Philippines during the early years of the war, shortly after Peal Harbor. At this time, the United States was poorly equipped and severely disadvantaged in the war. The U.S actually lost the Philippines to Japan and the book recounts what it is like to be on the losing end of a conflict. Most WWII accounts focus on Allied victories and America's dominance, but it was interesting to be reminded of how precarious America's position was when it entered the war, and that success was not a given. Finally, this book really drove home the fleeting nature of life and how much of our ability to survive depends on luck. It's not surprising that a book about war would conjure this theme, but it is sobering to be reminded of it. If you are interested in WWII history, military history, or American history in general, this book is a must read. My grandfather was an officer on PT boats (albeit not part of this squadron), so beyond all of the above reasons to read, the book was a fascinating peek into what his life was like for four years.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that I judged "They Were Expendable" by its cover, regardless of the sage admonition against doing so....but such an intriguing cover it is! The back cover displays a call to buy US WAR BONDS and mentions the all too possible risk of losing the war. Published in 1942 shortly after the devastating blow at Pearl Harbor, we were just barely on a war footing and the Axis was still expanding word wide. I'm lucky to have spotted this classic at a small antique book dealer in the tiny town of Hobart, NY.

[Jwt Jan50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd seen the Robert Montgomery/John Wayne movie, read Profiles in Courage, Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on the Kennedys, read multiple accounts of MacArthur's escape from the PI, and was searching for first hand accounts of the PT boat patrols north coast of New Guinea 1943 - which led me back to this book. Love the format. Hard to put down. I've added Queens Die Hard and White's unabridged autobiography to my reading list.