Blessed Are the Merciful by Joyce Shaughnessy
- Paperback: 220 pages
- Publisher: Xlibris (April 5, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1456898183
- ISBN-13: 978-1456898182
Tragedy strikes…
Nine hours after the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Japanese attacks the Philippines, starting a war against the United States that was to last four years.
Despite the horrors of war, Elton and Susan fall in love.
The American soldiers fight desperately for six months on the Bataan Peninsula, with the Army nurses at their side, rendering aid when possible.
Finally, dying of starvation and disease, the Army discovers that the United States cannot send any supplies or men to fight the Japanese because they are committed to the European campaign first.
They realize there is no escape from the Japanese. The Army ultimately must surrender.
Elton is forced to walk the Death March and to witness horrifying atrocities during the rest of the war at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan, and on the Hell Ships, where Americans are murdered by Japanese cruelty and neglect.
Susan is interred at Santo Tomas and secretly aids the Filipino Guerilla movement. Following his escape from a Hell Ship, Elton becomes involved with the Sixth Army Rangers when they free Cabanatuan Prison Camp behind Japanese lines.
But their love still survives…
Nine hours after the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Japanese attacks the Philippines, starting a war against the United States that was to last four years.
Despite the horrors of war, Elton and Susan fall in love.
The American soldiers fight desperately for six months on the Bataan Peninsula, with the Army nurses at their side, rendering aid when possible.
Finally, dying of starvation and disease, the Army discovers that the United States cannot send any supplies or men to fight the Japanese because they are committed to the European campaign first.
They realize there is no escape from the Japanese. The Army ultimately must surrender.
Elton is forced to walk the Death March and to witness horrifying atrocities during the rest of the war at Camp O’Donnell, Cabanatuan, and on the Hell Ships, where Americans are murdered by Japanese cruelty and neglect.
Susan is interred at Santo Tomas and secretly aids the Filipino Guerilla movement. Following his escape from a Hell Ship, Elton becomes involved with the Sixth Army Rangers when they free Cabanatuan Prison Camp behind Japanese lines.
But their love still survives…
I’ve never been proud of my country..lol…and the people, both Americans and Filipinos who fought for freedom and peace at that time.
Ms. Shaughnessy depicts what it looks like at that time, how war really is.. Through her words, I am transported to a world of bloodshed.. I cried at some of the episodes..I felt the fear everytime they heard gunshots.. I also felt how hopeless one can get.. I’m so into this book, since I always heard what happened at World War II from my history classes, but it’s never been as descriptive as this… Like disconnected parts of the bodies everywhere, and the doctor yelling for the nurses to find the missing parts in case they could connect it again…how gross ,,yet so true…
It was a wonderful merging of fiction and history, the letters, poetry and military documents added up flavor to the book. This book is thoroughly thought of.. The author spent a lot of her time, for research and the dates are so accurate. So the resulting masterpiece, really counts as a really wonderful one..
This is truly better than my history book.. I get to relate with the characters, see and feel things in their own eyes. I could almost believe that the book is an autobiography of the war veteran.. Full of action, romance, hope and belief in God.
It made me see how war didn’t bring any victory but loss and casualties at both sides.
Blessed are the Merciful is a powerful historical romantic novel. “Love amidst war”…
A heart-touching story of bravery, romance and hope…. A great read!...
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