Secret POW Diary of Walter J. Hinkle: Life in Japanese Captivity during WWII

The diary of Lieutenant Walter J. Hinkle, one of the longest-serving American POWs in the Pacific, provides a rare and personal account of his life as a prisoner of the Japanese. He concealed his diary within a false compartment built into his wooden leg to prevent it from being confiscated.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd

This is the war diary of one of the longest-serving American POWs in the Pacific. Preserved within this book is the diary of Lieutenant Walter J. Hinkle. The diary begins in the spring of 1941 as he prepared for a new assignment in the Philippines. After Japan attacked the Philippines in early December, Hinkle was wounded and taken to a hospital for surgery. When the Philippines fell in May 1942, he became a prisoner of war at the Davao Penal Colony, where his wound refused to heal and his right leg was amputated below the knee. As a bed-ridden invalid, Hinkle wrote about his life as a prisoner of the Japanese. To prevent the growing diary from being confiscated by camp guards, Hinkle concealed it within a false compartment built into his wooden leg. His 136,000-word diary offers a rare and very personal account of one of the longest periods of Japanese military captivity experienced by any American during the Second World War. Hinkle's writings are supplemented by excerpts from several other diaries for context. These additional writers include a Japanese soldier, Filipino local, Bataan Death March survivor, and Davao Penal Colony escapee.

Introduction:
The war diary of Lieutenant Walter J. Hinkle is a remarkable and harrowing account of one of the longest periods of Japanese military captivity experienced by any American during the Second World War. Preserved within this book, the diary begins in the spring of 1941 as Hinkle prepared for a new assignment in the Philippines. However, his journey would take a drastic turn when Japan attacked the Philippines in early December, leaving Hinkle wounded and taken to a hospital for surgery.

As the Philippines fell in May 1942, Hinkle became a prisoner of war at the Davao Penal Colony, where he faced unimaginable hardships and suffering. Despite his amputation of his right leg below the knee, Hinkle refused to give up hope and continued to write about his experiences as a prisoner of the Japanese. To protect his diary from confiscation by camp guards, Hinkle ingeniously concealed it within a false compartment built into his wooden leg.

Hinkle's 136,000-word diary offers a rare and personal insight into the life of a prisoner of war during the Second World War. It provides a detailed account of the daily struggles, the harsh conditions, and the indescribable pain and suffering that Hinkle and his fellow prisoners endured. The diary is supplemented by excerpts from several other diaries, including those of a Japanese soldier, a Filipino local, a Bataan Death March survivor, and a Davao Penal Colony escapee. These additional writings provide a broader context and shed light on the experiences of other prisoners during the same period.

Hinkle's diary is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless individuals during the Second World War and the importance of never forgetting their experiences. The diary provides a valuable historical record and a powerful testament to the human capacity for survival and resistance.

In conclusion, the war diary of Lieutenant Walter J. Hinkle is a remarkable and unforgettable account of one of the longest periods of Japanese military captivity experienced by any American during the Second World War. Hinkle's bravery, resilience, and determination in the face of unimaginable suffering are a testament to the human spirit's enduring power. The diary offers a valuable historical record and a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by countless individuals during the war. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the Second World War and the human cost of conflict.

Weight: 1102g
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780764363504