A TRUE STORY OF PATROL WING 10, PT SQUADRON 3, AND A NAVY CORPSMAN WHO REFUSED TO SURRENDER WHEN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FELL TO JAPAN
By John Lewis Floyd
Arlington National Cemetery
The loss of the Philippine Islands to Japan in 1942 was the greatest Military defeat in the history of the United States. The Expendable is the gripping, true story of one sailor’s struggle to survive this opening battle of WWII in the Pacific.
____________________________
Gold Medal, Military Writers Society of America Book Award
_____________________
Finalist, Eric Hoffer Book Award
_____________________
Nonfiction Winner
Arizona Authors’ Association 2020 Literary Contest
___________________
Amazon #1 Bestselle
First Prize, Nonfiction
New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards
2021
____________________
Amazon #1 Bestseller
_____________________________
Reviews
“Highly readable narrative of personal courage from PBYs to PT boats. We are losing our World War II veterans by the thousands daily and along with them we all too often lose their stories. John Floyd has done an admirable job of preserving the stories of his father-in-law in a fast-paced and highly readable narrative. Floyd knows his military history as well as his family’s. Five Stars.” – Walter Borneman, Author of The Admirals, MacArthur at War, and Brothers Down.
“Dr. Floyd’s homage to his father-in-law – a member of the greatest generation who passed on in 2009 and lies in rest at Arlington Cemetery – is a wonderful read and not only honors Charles Conrad Beckner, but pays tribute to the thousands of other Americans who were not so fortunate to escape from a situation that befell them due to strategic miscalculations in Washington.” – Dave Winkler, Ph.D., Staff Historian Navy Historical Foundation, CDR USN (Ret.)
“What an amazing saga. I was immediately fully immersed in this creative nonfiction account of Navy Corpsman Charles Beckner.
John Lewis Floyd uses [narrative nonfiction] to create, as he says, “a factually accurate narrative around established facts and events.” When I am reading historic accounts I almost always keep an internet browser open to get detail on people, places, and things, in this case ships, aircraft, and the Philippines. However, Floyd provides ample maps and photos that are embedded within the text to reinforce the story. That was a huge plus.
Perhaps some readers might be put off by the long development of Beckner’s background as a farm boy in Indiana, then entering the Depression-era Navy. Like a Michener novel, that was essential to better understand his character as we follow Beckner through an incredible journey. If the reader served in the military in any capacity — cadet, enlisted, officer — the elements of joining a military service never change in terms culture shock and then team-building. You will enjoy Beckner’s experience.
Floyd not only tells a narrative account of Beckner’s history through one of the worst events of WW II, he uniquely puts us in Beckner’s personal inner thoughts as you move through the book. You are living the events of the Philippines being invaded by the Japanese and the initial ordeal that followed.
One benefit that made this story powerful was Floyd’s ability to succinctly summarize the international geopolitical events that led to war in Europe, then the Pacific. Rarely do you find it so clear and relevant to the narrative of a story.
Floyd provides an excellent epilogue with detail on the main characters’ lives after the events of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. It was a great summary, however, it seemed abrupt, you are left hungry to know more detail than a few summary paragraphs of Beckner’s experiences after this episode of his life. Perhaps Floyd will research and write a follow-up account.
If you enjoy this genre of historic accounts, you might have read William Manchester’s “American Caesar” biography of General Douglas MacArthur. It portrays a vivid account of MacArthur’s “breakout” (AKA escape) to Australia. However, there is not as much detail of that from Manchester as written in this text. Also, Floyd provides better context to MacArthur’s relationship with then-Philippine President Quezon.
You might sense a similarity to the recent movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portraying the wartime valor of another Navy Corpsman Desmond Doss. Both he and Charles Beckner accomplished amazing things when history and events led them into the most grim circumstances. Both were proud Navy Corpsmen.
The term “Greatest Generation” continued to drift through my mind with nearly each new page of this story. Indeed Charles Beckner was of that breed. Yet, it’s important to note he was one of countless others who were called upon by history and circumstance to do the impossible with little or no experience nor resourcing. Beckner’s story is not just about uncommon valor and exceptional commitment, but a salute to all the magnificent men and women who served with him through the war. What an amazing breed they were. J Link – Amazon Reviewer
“This well- researched history vividly portrays a terrible defeat for the United States as WWII opens in the Pacific. Dr. Floyd’s depiction of an independent duty Navy Corpsman was spot on. It is a highly readable action story and reminded me of many solid corpsmen I had the privilege of working alongside; ordinary yet extraordinary, the best of what is American. Frankly, I was sorry to see the story end. Well done, sir.” –Anthony de la Torre, U.S. Navy Corpsman 1968-78.
“Captures the feel of the times and events. Even though I knew what the outcome was going to be I was still enjoying it and in some suspense until the end. This was one of the best creative nonfiction books I have read . . would make a great movie!” – Robert Thomas, Archival Research Volunteer, National Naval Air Museum, Pensacola, Florida.
“What a book! Saying I enjoyed it would be an understatement. I indeed feel privileged and fortunate to read it. My tour in Nam as an FMF corpsman was nothing compared to what [Charles] went through.” – Bill N. Crowell, U.S. Navy Corpsman, Viet Nam Veteran, and Physician’s Assistant
Extraordinary page turner of a Navy corpsman in WWII. I have read numerous individual accounts of WWII. This is easily comparable to Eugene Sledge’s, With the Old Breed! Amazing adventures . . filling in eyewitness accounts of heroics in the Philippines. Many events, more interesting than any movie. Heart-rending at times, but full of real sailors going above and beyond. Just read this! You will be reintroduced to why this was the Greatest Generation! – Amazon Reviewer
“Great Naval Story. I read the book in one setting. Could not put it down. I was a Navy Combat Corpsman for 7.6 years. I did 2 tours with The Marines in Viet Nam as a grunt Doc. My last 2 years I was stationed at NAS Cubi Point PI. at Subic Bay. I got a chance to go to Corregidor, Cavite, and several other sights mentioned in the book. So I can verify the facts and places were accurate. I was stationed in San Diego for Hospital Corps school and not a lot has changed there in his description of the base during that period of time.” Steven – Amazon Reviewer
“Never surrender.”
As smoke billows skyward from Pearl Harbor, Japan throws its full military might against the outnumbered and under-equipped Filipino forces. Admiral Hart sends his U.S. Asiatic Fleet south to the safety of Allied waters. When the remnants of PBY Patrol Wing 10 depart with the fleet, Charles Beckner, corpsman for PBY Squadron 102, is left behind with no apparent avenue for escape.
Under relentless pressure from Japanese General Homma’s troops and air forces, American-Filipino troops retreat to the tip of the Bataan Peninsula. Sick with malaria and dysentery and nearly out of food and ammunition, surrender is imminent for those who survive.
From his position with the Navy Beach Defense Unit on Corregidor, Charles joins Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 as machine gunner and corpsman on PT-34, engaging enemy forces along the Bataan coast. MTB-3 is tasked with a critical, covert mission that once more leaves Charles stranded, this time on the southern Philippine island of Cebu.
As the Japanese noose tightens, Charles joins other sailors and soldiers preparing for guerrilla resistance from the interior mountains of Mindanao Island. Before the final surrender, he is assigned to one last mission, unexpectedly reuniting him with crewmen of his old seaplane squadron. With advancing Japanese troops only minutes away, there remains one possibility for escape. It is risky, and failure will be fatal.
Maps and Photos – expendable.us
Passing the Memory – a short story by John Floyd
___________________________
John Lewis Floyd MD
John Floyd is the son-in-law of Charles Conrad Beckner CWO4, USN. The Expendable is based on Dr. Floyd’s close 38-year relationship with ‘Mr. Beckner,’ and on meticulous primary research on the opening months of the Pacific War. John and his wife Barbara (Beckner) Floyd are both United States Air Force veterans residing in Colorado and Arizona when not exploring far-flung corners of the world.
______
The Expendable is available and in all formats online at:
- ISBN 978-1-7345421-0-3 (Paperbound)
- ISBN 978-1-7345421-2-7 (Hardbound)
- ISBN 978-1-7345421-1-0 (eBook)
- ISBN 978-1-7345421-3-4 (Audiobook)