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

by Larry Alexander

Book Overview

From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of A Higher Call , an up-close-and-personal account of the Alamo Scouts in World War II. Determined to retake the Philippines ever since his ignominious... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451229134
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Dutton Caliber
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.9" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Disappointed..

Very few noteworthy action tales but mostly snippets and preparations and background. Put the book down halfway through which is something you do when you begin skipping papes.

Great Book!

Excellent account of the Alamo Scouts from their humble beginnings to their importance to the war effort in the Pacific. The book depicts many of their missions behind the enemy lines and the perils they faced. These were the first of many were to be called "Special Forces". Many of their tactics are still in use today.

Alamo Scouts - Pacific Theatre, WW II

One of the best books on WW II I have ever read and I have read extensively on this subject. It is great to know someone is still uncovering stories that for so many years were "Top Secret" and are only of late becoming available to writers...late because most of these men are now dead of natural causes. A must read for WW-II readers on another special group of men who led the way by working behind the lines of the enemy to get vital information for both minor and major campaigns (landings) in the Pacific Theatre. Mr Alexander has outdone himself once again!

shadows in the jungle

this could make an excellent movie ...i had never heard of the alamo scouts but the cover leaf caught my interest & has been well worth the purchase..the book condition was brand new & received seeminly overnite...so seller does a 'bangup' job & comes highly recommended from my viewpoint...i would definitely recommend the reading to anyone interested in wwll history....

Fascinating

Just halfway through this fascinating account of the Alamo Scouts, I am greatly impressed by the work that this Special Forces Unit did to help prepare the way for the US combat troops during WWII. Praise goes to the author who carefully unearthed the unheralded and little-known work of the Alamo Scouts. These average men were transformed into brave heroes during the war years, and then returned to their everyday lives as upstanding American citizens and family men.

MacArthur's Eyes, Ears and Nose In the Jungle

There is an exhilarating scene in John Dahl's 2005 wartime film, The Great Raid (Full Screen Edition) when soldiers swarm the Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp. Dressed as local farmers, the Alamo Scouts pretended to work in the cultivated fields next to the camp all the while reconnoitering its defenses. With this information, the main attack by Rangers and Filipino guerrillas set free 561 suffering men, many who had survived the Bataan Death March. Larry Alexander has chosen to build his rousing war narrative "Shadows In the Jungle" around those Alamo Scouts. Mr. Alexander's book tells us pacific war adventure stories straight from the 108 missions carried out by Gen. Kruegar's Alamo Scouts (named for the shrine in Kruegar's hometown of San Antonio, Texas). "They collected data on possible invasion beaches, tides and currents, troop numbers and locations, enemy morale, defensive positions, the availability of roads and fresh water, and other much-needed information. While their main mission was to collect intelligence and not fight the enemy, they were sometimes called upon to perform raider duties, such as destroying enemy supply depots, and rescuing civilian hostages and prisoners of war from the Japanese", states the author. Mr. Alexander is the talented author of Biggest Brother : The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led the Band of Brothers. There is great attention to historic detail and graphic story telling of these deadly men paddling ashore, lurking in the shadows, then leaping up to attack unwary Japanese soldiers. "Shadows In the Jungle" contains a gallery of twenty-six photographs of the Alamo Scouts, three area maps, and an appendix of the Alamo Scouts team roster.