Book Description

Struggle to Survive is the extraordinary true story of John Mims, a Native American soldier in the United States Army who survives nearly four years as a Japanese POW during World War II. Born in 1922, John grows up on an Indian reservation, learning valuable hunting and fishing skills. Driven to succeed, he joins the Army in 1941 and is sent to the Philippines, where he excels in his training and falls in love. But when the Japanese attack in 1941, John and his fellow soldiers are thrust into war. John utilizes his childhood abilities to engage in guerilla warfare until, in 1942, the American fighters are forced to surrender. In the ruthless hands of the Japanese, John is beaten, brutalized, and nearly killed. He endures the infamous Bataan Death March, has his legs crushed, and is sent to Japan to work as a slave in a coal mine. But through it all, his faith in God never wavers. He somehow perseveres-and his remarkable experiences ultimately provide invaluable insight for the birth of the US Army's Special Forces division. For fans of W. E. B. Griffin, this book is a compelling tale of survival, suffering, and human triumph.