Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II Paperback – October 25, 2004

Great story about the Japanese and how they treated prisoners in WWII

My father is Glenn McDole. I just read all the reviews people had written about this book and I am so thankful for them. There are a few things I wanted to add to his story. When the book was being written, Smitty (Rufus Smith), Clarence Clough and Evan Bunn came to Des Moines to help Mr. Wilbanks with the book. When all of us were sitting around talking about Palawan, Smitty said to dad, "Dole, does she know everything" and dad said "NO, NO, NO" moving his hands as to cut Smitty off. I was kind of surprised because I thought I knew everything. I didn't want to know, as everything I had heard was bad enough! These men carried the horror with them every day of their lives.

I have just added the Kindle edition of this amazing book so I can keep it with me. It was my great privilege to know the men in this book. Glen McDole, Rufus "Willie" Smith, Roy Henderson, my uncle Evan Bunn and my father Clarence Clough were my heroes and role models throughout my formative years. When I was a child, every family trip we took was routed to visit one or more of these men and their families. I hope enough of their integrity, loyalty and perseverance rubbed of on me to make them proud. I was certainly proud of them. I miss them all.Since Dad and Uncle Evan were not on Palawan at the time of the massacre, Mr. Wilbanks does not mention what happened to them after the war.Dad and Evan Bunn continued as POWs working in the mines in Japan until the end of the war. Evan had heard so much about dad's sisters that he proclaimed he would marry one of them. When the two returned to the U.S., they stopped to see Evan's family then went on to Dad's home. Evan married Dad's sister Anita November 10 1945.Clarence Clough died September 6, 1985Evan Bunn died May 12, 1989

This is the story of a pre-war Marine who survives the defeat in the Philippines and endures captivity in Palawan. Conditions deteriorated over time and with the changing of each Japanese command, brutality increases in the drive to build an air strip. As the US invasion approaches, most of the prisoners are massacred by the guards.The book does well in describing the conditions of the camp as well as daily life. There are interesting sections describing the subsequent lives of the few survivors as well as the outcomes of the war crimes trials. In many cases, justice was perverted by political expediency.The author would be well served by a better editor. Repeated phrases become annoying. Certain sections flow nicely, others could provide more details and a few sections seem to drag. All told, it is a worthy read.

My 83 yrs old father loved reading this book and all the books that are similar to this one that I've purchased. Since I don't live close to him having Amazon Prime avaliable to me makes it so much easier to choose and send my father not only reading materials but most any kind of gift. Plus who doesn't love receiving a box with a "SMILE" on it!

Lt. McDole was one of the pallbearers at my Dad's funeral and they were good friends and co-workers serving in the Iowa State Patrol. He was truly one of a kind and a true patriot. This is an incredible book and is being made into a movie Palawan: Last Man Out by Inspire Studios. This is a book that should be passed down from generation to generation as a reminder of the brave men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.

As a teacher, I was appalled at the atrocities committed by the Japanese during WW2. There is not much mention of it in the history textbooks; most WW2 mentions consist of: the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor; Hitler & the Holocaust; Bataan Death March (maybe); America ushers in the Atomic Age when Hiroshima & Nagasaki were bombed.Mr. McDole's story was riveting, stomach-turning and blood-pressure-raising all at the same time. I had never heard of Palawan before reading "Unbroken", the story of Louis Zamperini and his odessey as a POW in Japan. Mr. McDole writes about maggot-ridden rice balls - that was their food, prison guards who would brutally beat prisoners for fun, and setting prisoners on fire - then shooting them when they ran.This is a story of not only historical happenings, but also a story of the Marine spirit. I have never met a Marine personally (my family was Army), but the Marine attitude of never leaving anyone behind and overcoming, just to rub their captors' nose in it, is inspiring.I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in military stories. I cried, I cheered, I became angry at times. Any book that can rouse so many emotions in me, deserves 5 stars.

This is a terrific book; read and share. I was fortunate enough to meet Glenn McDole when he was working at the Polk County Sheriff's Office in the mid 80s. He was an impressive man, even in his later years. As a videographer for a Des Moines TV station -- my reporter and I interviewed Glenn and put together a feature story on his years as a POW and the tragic Palawan Massacre. What made the story so special and touching is that it was all in Glenn's own words. That feature story won a state broadcasting award. Though heartbreaking, I have twice read "Last Man Out" and probably will again. Those POWs went through hell and so few made it out. I'm glad Glenn did, and that he was able to tell the story of the horrible war crimes against Americans. Bless his soul!

Well researched book that offers more detail and personal comment on this horrific event of December 1944 - a must read