Surrender on Cebu

Surviving Hell is a harrowing account of Lieutenant Colonel William Miner, taken prisoner for 39 months after his unit surrendered to the Japanese on the island of Cebu, Philippines, during World War II. Despite losing every friend in his unit and suffering from torture and deprivation that would ôwarp men's souls,ö Bill Minor professed, ôI am lucky. People fell beside me and people were blown apart beside me. Anywhere I went as a prisoner, I tried to be aware of the situation and use it the best I could to survive.ö This fascinating and arresting true story features excerpts from Bill Minor's personal prison diary, which he kept despite the accompanying risk of torture or even death, along with photos and post-war recollections. Book jacket.

William D. Miner was assigned to the 31st Infantry in the Philippines in 1941, where he served as commander of a Philippine Army camp and force communication officer on the staff of Gen. B. G. Chynoweth. After serving more than three years as a POW, Miner was rescued in 1945 and returned home to became a lieutenant colonel active in USAR units in Indiana and commanding officer of an Illinois USAR unit. Miner received a B.A. and ROTC, 2nd lieutenant commission from Knox College and a Ph.D. in history at Indiana University. He was professor of history, assistant dean of students, and director of Veterans Services at Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, Illinois.