Lt. William Frederick “Bill” Harris was an officer with the China Marine, the elite 4th Marine Regiment stationed in Shanghai, China, prior to World War II to protect American citizens. In the summer of 1941, with war clouds gathering, Harris and the 4th Marine were withdrawn from China to the presumably safer Philippines.

“Valor: The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit,” by Dan Hampton, shows how illusory that presumption was. Japan invaded the Philippines in December 1941. The 4th Marine ended up defending the American Philippines, first in Bataan and later as part of the garrison at Corregidor, the island fortress guarding passage into Manila Bay.

Harris led a platoon during the siege, commanding a company after Japan landed on Corregidor in May 1942. The overwhelmed and outnumbered Americans were forced to surrender. Although Harris was taken prisoner, he refused to quit. With two fellow officer friends he escaped, swimming eight hours in the shark-infested channel between Corregidor and Bataan to reach freedom.

Hampton traces Harris’s activities through the rest of the war. He shows how Harris eluded capture in Bataan, joined forces with Filipino guerrillas, and fought the Japanese in the Southern Philippines. The whole time he was part of the guerrilla army, Harris had another objective: to escape to Australia and rejoin the war in a regular Marine unit. Hampton describes that voyage, ending with Harris’s capture by the Japanese at Morotai Island. He spent the rest of the war in a prisoner-of-war camp in Japan. When finally liberated, he represented the Marine Corps POWs at the Tokyo Bay surrender ceremony.

“Valor” follows Bill Harris through his ordeals. It also follows his family at home. His father was a decorated Marine general, himself fighting in the Pacific. Neither he nor Harris’s mother learned what happened to their son until the war ended, despite his father’s best efforts. He was simply “missing.”

Harris would go on to command a Marine battalion during the Korean War. Fighting the Chinese at Chosin Reservoir, he went on to acts of further valor.

Hampton tells an incredible story. He used military records and an unpublished memoir Bill Harris wrote after World War II to provide an intimate picture of an American officer who, although captured, never surrendered. The resulting story is an inspiring tale of triumph over adversity. The book often reads like an adventure novel. Yet it is a true story of endurance and courage by an American hero.

“Valor: The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit,” by Dan Hampton, St. Martin’s Press, 2022, 341 pages, $29.99 (Hardcover), $20.00 (Paperback), $14.99 (Ebook)
This review was written by Mark Lardas who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com. It appeared in a different form in American Essence magazine and Epoch Times.

I found this story thoroughly fascinating. There was so much here to absorb. For one we have the story of Bill Harris, a young man whose fierce attitude served him well as he fought against the Japanese across the Philippines and was ultimately captured and sent to a POW camp in Japan. A dreary place, where he survived beatings and starvation that slimmed him down to a delicate 120 pounds. There is also fascinating background information weaved in about the war in the Philippines, a war I will be honest I didn’t really know much about. There is so much coverage on the war in Europe, I can’t really recall anyone really bringing up the fierce battles in the the Philippines as a Japan set on domination made several attempts, with many fatal errors , to cut off trade routes to Australia. If you are a guru of WW11 information like me this is a must read, if you are not this is still a fascinating historical account, about a remarkable man living at an extraordinary time. Review posted to Goodreads, Litsy, Amazon, Facebook, LibraryThing.

This is the story of Bill Harris. He was stationed in the Philippines when they fell at the beginning of WWII. He decided that he was not going to be a prisoner of war. The reader joins him on a journey that is 39 months of fighting, evading and captivity, and equals 7404 miles. The author included facts about the country during that time. Those facts are given without criticism, which I appreciated. It reads like a novel. If you enjoy WWII or history, you will enjoy this title. It is good to be reminded of the cost of our freedom.

Valor is the story of a true hero, Bill Harris. This historical account of the military career and life of Bill Harris reads like a novel, full of details and accounts that tell us what the history books don't. What a great read.

This is the inspirational story of World War II U.S. Marine Lieutenant, William Frederick “Bill” Harris. Sent to the Philippines. Harris was captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Corregidor. He escaped but was recaptured as he tried to make his way through enemy territory with the end goal of reaching Australia. His leadership and bravery was evident throughout the brutal trials he endured both as a prisoner and while making his way through the jungles and waters of the Pacific. Harris’ story is not only inspirational, but he was also a true patriot and an outstanding example of the Greatest Generation..
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was an amazing read, one of best books i have read this year! would buy.

Dan Hampton's new book, "Valor," is the true story of Marine Lieutenant William Harris and his exploits in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Having been deployed to the Philippines from China just weeks before Pearl Harbor, Harris fights valiantly at Corregidor before being taken prisoner when the US surrenders. Determined to escape, Harris and another prisoner embark on a daring 8 mile night swim through shark infested waters to reach the Philippine mainland, from where they hope to escape by sea to either China or Australia. But that swim is only the beginning of a years-long odyssey that will take Harris through blisteringly hot jungle treks, sudden and ferocious typhoons and eventually renewed captivity. "Valor" reminded me very much of Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken," the story of US airman Louis Zamperini and his similar account of evading capture and ultimately ending up in Japanese custody. (Zamperini, in fact, makes an important appearance in "Valor," providing medical aid to Harris after he is beaten to unconsciousness by a Japanese guard.) I personally preferred Hillenbrand's writing to the more "gung ho" style Hampton employs, but readers who were captivated by Zamperini's story will be enthralled by Harris's equally riveting experiences. (I was particularly interested in his first hand account of the Japanese surrender on board the battleship USS Missouri, which included details I hadn't read anywhere before.) Hampton also does a great job of weaving Harris's story into the larger narrative of the Pacific campaign, which I appreciated.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

This is the true account of William Frederick Harris and his harrowing experiences as a soldier during WWII. Beginning with his courageous escape from the Japanese in the Philippines, to his long and arduous journey attempting to reach allied troops in Australia in order to rejoin the war effort, to his eventual captivity, his experiences were chilling and often jaw dropping. This book read like a thriller, keeping me glued to the pages for hours at a time.
Not being especially interested in the history of war, I sometimes skimmed over the highly detailed and well researched explanations of concurrent events in the war. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book, and I’m sure history buffs or those with a special interest in the history of WWII would love these parts. I was able to glean enough, however, to get a new appreciation of many aspects of the war as it unfolded. It was surprising and enlightening to get a new perspective on WWII in the pacific theater. I highly recommend this gripping story.

This was a good read. It's an exciting story about Lieutenant Bill Harris. It touches on many different topics of his life. His career in the U.S Navy his capture, escape and recapture from the Japanese prison camp and much more. was nice to learn somethings that I didn't know about. The bravery of the characters not just Bill but the others as well was inspiring! Definitely an interesting and entertaining story!

World War II is a vast subject, and many fiction and non-fiction books have been about the wars in Europe and the Pacific. This book is different because it involves just one truly heroic person who endured trials that would have destroyed a man with a lesser will to live. He was a Marine in the Philippines on December 7, 1941, and he lived through the fall of Corregidor, escaped from there, and spent many months trying to get to Australia or anywhere he could join the fight against the Japanese. The details of his detention in a Japanese prison camp are harrowing, but he lived to represent the US Marine Corps prisoners on the USS Missouri as he watched the Japanese officials sign the peace treaty. His story is unforgettable. It rivals Louis Zamperini's "Unbroken" for emotional impact. The first chapters are a bit dry but as Bill Harris fights to return to the battle, the action intensifies, and his reaction to the final end of the war is heart-warming.

It's a history that reads like a novel. Well researched. It depicts war in all its gory detail, yet holds the interest of the reader, who wonders what comes next.

Lieutenant William Frederick “Bill” Harris was in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. The book is primarily about his escape and the experiences he had trying to get away from the Japanese. Telling much more would be a spoiler, but I'll say that it was one of the best historical books I've read.

This is a very well researched and well written book about Marine Lt. William "Bill" Harris who was 25 years old when he was captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Corregidor during WWII. This is the story of courage, bravery and survival as Lt. Harris struggles to survive brutal captivity. It took me a while to get through this book as I had to put it down for periods of time, but it is an excellent account of this time in history.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very interesting account of a True American Hero.

Valor is not only the story of human resilience but also disturbing events that seem unimaginable.

I read a lot of fiction based on WWII and recently started reading real events based on the same. Valor is a well written book on twenty five year old Lieutenant Bill Haris during WWII when he was in Philippines. He was captured by Japanese, escaped but then recaptured. It shows the bravery and courage as well as negative sides of the war crimes. I was reminded of Unbroken while reading this book.

I thank netgalley and St. Martin's press for providing an e copy of this book.

Bill Harris, an Annapolis graduate, and military officer is twenty-five years old when he is taken prisoner of war by the Japanese at the surrender of Corregidor in World War II. Everything about that surrender seems wrong to him and captivity and torture at the hands of the Japanese are not where he belongs. Bill escapes and for months attempts to return to the Allies, eager to settle the score with Japan. "Valor" by Don Hampton thru the eyes of Harris, tells this story in detail of the battles, tragedies, and triumphs in the Pacific Theater of war during World War II. He tells of the anguish of a mother and father who are unaware of a son's fate and a young woman whose image carried Harris thru his darkest times.
I am an avid reader of World War II history and this book is one of the best. It is rich in detail and filled with the history of a country trying to come to terms with its role in one of its greatest challenges. It tells the story of young men who sacrificed everything and their uncommon courage. It also tells of battles of the emotional soul, the effects of trauma and stress, and a time in our country's history that we need to remember. It is a well-told story of "The Greatest Generation". This book will inspire and sadden you, but mostly it will enrich you with history, patriotism, and truth. Thanks, to the author for documenting this hero's story. thanks to #NetGalley#Valor for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book.

Valor is the story of William Frederick “Bill” Harris, during WWII. He was in the Philippines for only a week before the Japanese attacked. He was taken prisoner and escaped and then recaptured by the Japanese. It is an inspirational story of courage and bravery. It really hits on how awful things were and the brutality they faced. It is a tad slow at times, but all in all, it is an interesting read.

Marine Lieutenant Bill Harris was stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941. He and his men fought valiantly until forced to surrender, at which point he was put in a prisoner of war camp on Corregidor. He vowed to get away from the Japanese so he could continue fighting the war. He swam over three miles to Bataan—only days after he was beaten almost to death—eluding the Japanese as they searched for Americans who had not yet been captured. Harris wanted to travel to either China or Australia so he could rejoin the U.S. military, eluding capture by the Japanese for over a year. While I won’t spoil the story by telling what Harris goes through during this year and what occurs after his capture, suffice it to say, Harris acts in exactly the way one might expect a U.S. Marine to act.

I appreciated reading and learning about Harris’s experiences. His story was an impressive one, and one that I daresay most of us could never emulate. That being said, I did have a few quibbles with the book itself—and this is focused on the writing rather the experiences of Harris. My main issue was that there was way too much background on the Pacific War, especially early in the book. There was an entire (very long) chapter discussing what happened from December 7 through the Battle of the Coral Sea, most of which was entirely unnecessary for this story. I’m not saying that the author didn’t need to add in some background for context; in fact, I would argue that it’s essential. I don’t think it was necessary to go into as much detail as the author did, however. When Hampton described the Battle of Midway and some of the later war actions, these were done in a much more concise way. I wish he would have done that for the beginning of the war, too, because my attention wavered during that long chapter and I found myself wondering if there was so much detail because Harris’s story was too short for a whole book (which, it turned out, was not the case).

That being said, I’m glad I read this book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the war in the Pacific, veterans’ experiences, or American POWs. Bill Harris was an incredible person, and I’m only sorry that he didn’t live longer to continue his valiant career as a U.S. Marine.

The definition of valor is great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. Lieutenant William Frederick “Bill” Harris was a young twenty-five years of age when World War 2 broke out. He was stationed in the Pacific when Japan wantonly attacked Pearl Harbor in their hopes of destroying America. With men like Bill Harris, their plan would ultimately fail. Captured on Corregidor in 1942, Bill and some of his companions escaped and then decided to swim for eight hours in waters that were shark infested to get back into fighting the war. His efforts for a time were rewarded with his wish as he was cared for by Filipino and gallantly fought with the guerillas.

Not content with that Bill and his friends set off into vicious enemy waters only to get buffeted by storms and after twenty-nine days on the water got as far as the southern Philippines. Once again fighting bravely, he was betrayed by some who lived on the island and was captured once again by the Japanese. Sent to Japan and housed in the Ofuna prisoner-of-war camp, known for his brutality and harshness, Bill was beaten, starved, and tortured mercilessly. It was a wonder how he ever survived the heinous treatment he and others received. Bill was smart, stalwart and refused to ever give in or give up. He stood up to his captors and even quietly learned Japanese. In camp, Bill even met the Louis Zamperini, made famous by the book Unbroken. Bill's strength of heart and character, and devotion to his country made him an outstanding man, a man who loved his country and wasn't afraid to die for it.

When the end of the war finally came, after the dropping of the atomic bombs, Bill was recused, cared for, and even witnessed the signing of the peace document. He returned home to the loving arms of his father, A Marine general who also fought, his mother and his sister. Meeting and falling in love with Jeanne Lejeune Glennon, they married quickly and had two daughters. However, Bill was not done with his service to our country. He was sent to Korea, and leading a group of Marines into heavy battle in Chosin he set out with two rifles never to be seen alive again. Listed as missing in action, his family remembering Bill's resiliency hoped and prayed for the best. However, at the young age of thirty-two, he was declared dead, and was awarded the Navy Cross. His remains were thought to be found, but his family never thought they were Bill's still hoping for a miracle. The remains were buried in Versailles, Kentucky.

What a story of bravery this was! It was inspiring and left me awe of the strength and heroism of not only Bill but others he came in contact with. They all shared a deep abiding love of country, of family, and especially of the word freedom. Thank God, for men and women like Bill for they are the ones that truly hold the principles of honor, integrity and the willingness to die so that others could be free. I often wonder in today's world if there are men and women like Bill Harris and hope and pray there are.
Thanks are extended to Dan Hampton, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this valor infused book.

Dan Hampton is no stranger to authoring military books and Valor is just another example of how good he is at it. Valor follows the life of Lt. Bill Harris through his various sagas in the Pacific during World War II. Harris's story is nothing short of extraordinary and if someone wrote this in a fiction book they would be laughed out of the room for writing something so farfetched. Harris would go from fighting marine, to POW, to escapee all within a short time. He would travel all over the Pacific trying to get back into the fight while running into numerous characters along the way.

Hampton is a master at writing these types of stories. He keeps the reader aware of the greater war going on outside the main narrative but doesn't get bogged down in the details. He also gives the reader a sense of who Bill Harris is without going into full hero worship (although one could be forgiven if he did). This is a great book for anyone who wants a personal story of perseverance in World War II.

(I was provided this book as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. The full review is posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com.)

This is an awesome story, but I do recommend you take your time and possibly keep some sort of timeline. There is a LOT of information in here. So many facts to keep track of.
William “Bill” Harris is a remarkable Marine. A Marine’s devotion to his fellow Marine makes me all the more proud of my son, a Marine. I have read several books on the horrendous conditions of Japan’s prisoner’s camps in WWII and it always makes me so upset that nothing could have been done. Despicable behavior, even in war.
I highly recommend this read, it is not a light easy read, but it is filled with hope, bravery, courage, pain, suffering, tenacity, and most of all, faith.
I personally thank the publisher for the privilege to be offered this ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

This book covers a very interesting story of war in the Pacific during WWII and a daring escape through occupied Philippines. I think I will be able to use excerpts from this book in my class, but reader beware, this is an accurate and honest portrayal of war, so there are plenty of curse words and graphic depictions of Japanese atrocities. I appreciate that the author did not put MacArthur on a pedestal and was honest about his poor leadership in the Philippines at the outbreak of war. The story of Bill Harris has all the makings of an interesting survival story and the insight of a Marine on the run. The only thing I did not love was the strange blend between almost first person POV and 3rd person omniscient. There were times that I could not tell if the author was quoting Harris' words or guessing his thoughts. This might have been the editing of the advance copy or it might have been a choice by the author. I'm not sure, but I did find it distracting at times.