The Expendable: The true story of Patrol Wing 10, PT Squadron 3, and a Navy Corpsman who refused to surrender when the Philippine Islands fell to Japan
Paperback – Illustrated, July 17, 2020
Description
"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. Originally assigned as a Navy corpsman to a PBY patrol wing, Charles Beckner was not only on Corregidor with MacArthur, but also in the chaos of the start of the war in the Pacific he ended up in the PT-boat squadron that evacuated the general from the Philippines. Highly recommended as the story of one family's sacrifices well told in the context of the broader war. Floyd knows his military history as well as his family's." -Walter Borneman, Author of The Admirals and MacArthur At War. "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. "John Floyd's prose grabs you and pulls you in to the true story of Navy Corpsman Charles Beckner. In 1942, Beckner was left on Bataan. His story, as told here, is the page turning action adventure of his time on four Philippine islands. This book is a biography, but it reads like the best plotted fiction. I cannot recommend this book enough. If it were possible I would give it more than five stars." - Lynn Bopp John Lewis Floyd is a retired physician and the son-in-law of Charles Conrad Beckner CWO4 (Dec). John has published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific journal papers, but this is his first book. The Expendable is based on John's close, four-decade relationship with 'Mr. Beckner' and on meticulous primary research on the opening months of the Pacific War. John and his wife Barbara, both USAF Veterans, reside in Colorado and Arizona when not exploring far-flung corners of the world.
Features & Highlights
- Finalist, Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Nonfiction winner, Arizona Authors’ Association 2020 Literary Contest and #1 Amazon Best Seller in multiple categories"A riveting page turner. As a retired Navy combat Hospital Corpsman I can appreciate this story from leaving the farm, to Great lakes to corpsman basic to combat. A fantastic story." - Don Colling - Amazon ReviewerThe Expendable is a captivating, true story from the opening months of WWII in the Pacific. As smoke billows skyward from Pearl Harbor, Japan throws its full military might against the outnumbered and under-equipped Filipino forces. 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 Squadron 102, is left behind with no apparent avenue for escape. Under relentless pressure from General Homma's troops and air forces, the 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. Charles wrangles a transfer to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 as machine gunner and corpsman on PT-34. After two months of engaging enemy forces along the Bataan coast, Squadron 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. His plans are interrupted by another assignment, one that will unexpectedly reunite him with crewmen of his old seaplane squadron. With advancing Japanese troops only minutes away, there is one possibility for escape. It is risky, and failure will be fatal."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; he knows his military history as well as his family’s." -Walter Borneman, Author of The Admirals and MacArthur At War.
