Wake Island Escapers - US Heroes in Japanese Occupied China

What happened to the US Navy and Marines who survived the Battle of Wake Island in 1941 - this is the story of how some made repeated and daring escapes from Japanese POW camps in China.
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Credit: Gurdon H. Wattles

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I remember hearing old vets talk about the Japanese with absolute hatred. Now I know why.

[@tommoseley9262]

My great uncle was in Singapore and ended up on the Burma Railway. Whenever I visited him at home it took me ages to realise he had nothing Japanese made or made by a Japanese company. To the day he died he despised them. They say its good to forgive but I totally understood and agreed with why he never forgave them.

[@brianmarshall1762]

@@tommoseley9262 as a young boy inNew Zealand I came across a few WWII veterans who also never had anything Japanese. I never understood why they held the grudge against them but not the Germans. As I got older and understood what the prisoners of war went through, I realised their anger.

[@RGC-gn2nm]

My grandfather fought in the 8th US Army during the war. Not a happy man the only he got along with were fellow survivors at the VFW. He would get drunk go on rants and vandalized any Japanese made car out of principle. We grandchildren had no idea he served until his funeral and the honor guard gave mom his flag. VA tombstone, silver star

[@FeldwebelWolfenstool]

...high school buddy, his GF's father was captured in Hong Kong...hated the Japanese with a passion. But he married a japanese woman.

[@robertwguthrie3935]

@@FeldwebelWolfenstool !!!!!!!!!!!

[@anticommie1776]

Surviving any sort of Japanese captivity is a feat in itself.

[@CatsEyethePsycho]

I love your username and profile picture. 👍

[@Groovy_Bruce]

@George Washington George Washington would have hated the shit out of both men, and would have despised the partisan party politics of today. Should change your handle, you have nil understanding of the man.

[@georgemartin4963]

@@Groovy_Bruce Both your comment and his is irrelevent.

[@jinpark8879]

Surviving ANY camp from the Axis powers and USSR is a feat.

[@Groovy_Bruce]

@@georgemartin4963 *Are And it is certainly not irrelevant. You are just too dense to understand broader context and historical implications. Modern partisans using Washington to pander for this or that party are abusing his memory. Go read Washington's farewell address, then reply.

[@rickybobby1055]

I remember being a Marine recruit hearing how the Marines of Wake Island defended their island against the onslaught of Japanese raiders. They sunk a warship with a mortar, held off invasion after invastii. With only 1 30mm machine gun. Man what brave men they were. That is the reason i became a Marine. That and my Dad and my Grand Father and his Father were all Marines.

[@kennysherrill6542]

You need to read the book, Battle for Wake Inland. It will get you more insight as to what went down.👍👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸

[@codyhilton1750]

One Japanese ship was sunk by the 5" shore battery. The second ship was sunk by the USMC Wildcats. They had more weapons than a single 30cal MG. Semper Fi!

[@davidb2206]

@@kennysherrill6542 No, read Major Devereux's book. He was THERE, an eyewitness, and in command.

[@kennysherrill6542]

@@davidb2206 I've read his book more than once, as a matter of interest I was reading his book the night I got a call that my wife was at the hospital in labour, that book is now with my daughter and her baby book, he had a somewhat different story, slightly shadowed by Hollywood. All the defenders at Wake are national Hero's hands down.👍👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸

[@kennysherrill6542]

@@codyhilton1750 You are right, as a diver I've hoped to go to Wake and try and find the missing aircraft and pilots and bring then home but time simply seems to be sliding by. SEMPER FI to all.👍❤🇺🇸

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Fun fact: VMFA 211 “Wake Island Avengers” fly still today in the F35B. Recently deployed aboard the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth. Marines do not forget

[@JMGlider]

And are sailing through the South China Sea to Japan ;)

[@davidmorgan5525]

No one should have ever forgotten

[@ToofaniZindagi]

My grandfather was a wake island defender. Very excited to hear Mark's retelling of their story.

[@joshdickinson2125]

Mine as well.

[@panimala]

Not mine.

[@NightDocs]

@George Washington wtf lol

[@deejaye2647]

My Dad fought on Wake Island. I still have lots of pictures.

[@thomashogan7385]

Hi Steve. My Father Wm. Hogan was a Wake Island Defender fought till he was Captured after 3 bloody weeks. Then taken to Japan to dig coal as a Slave. They shot 70 he was there until 1945. Your a good man don't let America forget Son. Thomas.

[@jmrrrdann3369]

No wonder my grandfather who was a marine island hopper equipped with a flamethrower hated the Japanese until he died in the early 2000s. He wouldn’t dare eat Asian food are do anything remotely close to Asian culture. He would eat spam every day too.

[@vonfragesq7145]

My dad was a marine also, Cape Gloucester and Peleliu were his major landings with some smaller ones in between. He hated the Japanese for a long time. I think as he got older he started to forgive. Also, he loved spam.

[@iducatifan1]

I don't blame him.

[@tarikwildman]

My Godfather who was in the USN in the Pacific, never bought anything Japanese until the day he died in 1997

[@vigilantobserver8389]

OMG, Spam... A salt block for horses wrapped with mystery pork, yum🤮. I remember the "type" of older gentlemen, in the '70s that disliked the Japanese and their goods. I completely understand why now. The Japanese got off too easily for the atrocities they committed.

[@TheBruceGday]

Same for my grandfather-in-law. He was with the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was in every major battle the 7th fought, Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa. He went to China for a bit following V-J Day. He had the same feeling about the Japanese and Asian food, especially rice, until he died in 2007. My father-in-law, who was a Marine in Vietnam, also does not like Asia either. Both of them say they hated rice because they had to eat way too much of it during their war experiences. It has been a little tough for my father-in-law when we adopted some kids from China. Getting to build relationships with them has helped him though.

[@masonmaynard1339]

MK CONSTRUCTION in Boise, Idaho was the main contractor on Wake and I got to know a man named Frank and we talked many times and he told me stories about Wake. He said he ended up in Japan working in mines until the war ended. He said they beat him all the time and a person should never know what real hunger is. I have thought of Frank many times and have the utmost respect for this Man. It was sad to hear of his passing but this memory lives on with me.

[@josephderrico6254]

Admiral Cunningham also received the Navy Cross for his actions in defense of Wake Island

[@jamesphilip6737]

Incredible that Cunningham lived to 86 years old even after all his wartime hardships.

[@cowgoesmoo3850]

It seems like all of the older war vets survive longer than anyone else, despite what they went through.

[@CharlesWinegardnerim2nd]

I think their will to survive and the hardships of the preceding Depression may well have been factors. I know a former USN Frogman who served in China. He wasn’t captured, and is still doing fairly well now at 95/96. One tough group of people.

[@murphymmc]

Thank you Mark, the story of real American and British heroes, who never gave up and never turned into songbirds.

[@doverbeachcomber]

I suspect that if British soldiers in Malaya and Americans at Wake had known what Japanese captivity would be like, surrender would’ve seemed a far less practical option. But of course they couldn’t know; Japan concealed and denied their cruelty. For example, the first news of the Bataan Death March only got back to the Allies through the testimony of a group of American escapees (including the heroic Ed Dyess) who *sailed* a native boat from Mindanao to Australia in late 1942.

[@benwilson6145]

The Japanese conduct in China was well known.

[@cstlbrvo5615]

After reading first-hand of what they did to POWs. I've always thought the American commanders might of cut their men loose to fight as guerrillas in the Philippine jungle, instead of captivity.

[@andysnyder4506]

@@cstlbrvo5615 I have the same thought. Up until recently, the Filipino people, for the most part, deposed and hated the Japanese for how they were treated during WW2. Remember, the Japanese slaughter about 100,000 residents of Manila in early 1945 which is similar what they did in Banking in the late 1930's.

[@doverbeachcomber]

@@benwilson6145 Good point. It would be interesting to explore why the Western powers didn’t take into account the news from China, or if they did, why they didn’t use it to motivate their soldiers. And maybe they did in some cases; I just don’t know.

[@doverbeachcomber]

@@cstlbrvo5615 In some cases in the Philippines, they did. In others, local commanders ignored orders and went over into guerrilla war anyway. But the Japanese were in no mood to fight for every island in the archipelago. When Wainwright tried to surrender only his own command at Corregidor in May 1942, the Japanese demanded he include all US forces in the region, even though he didn’t have formal authority over them. If he refused, they said, they would simply keep fighting. Since he had (prematurely) ordered the Corregidor garrison to destroy most of their weapons in preparation for giving up, the result would’ve been a massacre. Faced with this, Wainwright reassumed command of all American troops and surrendered the islands. Enough of his field commanders obeyed him to satisfy the Japanese. But as we all know, enough of them didn’t obey him to make the occupation a difficult one for the conquerors.

[@wkdravenna]

The western world is built upon and held up by some sincerely strong men. Thanks for telling their story Dr. Felton. 🇺🇲🇬🇧

[@StevenKeery]

The treatment the captives received was nothing short of barbaric. I sincerely hope that at least some of those Japanese soldiers involved received their just recompense.

[@dp-sr1fd]

I hope so too, but I very much doubt it

[@shawnr771]

War Crimes trials were held.

[@dougalbadger4918]

@@shawnr771 and not many were convicted from what I’ve heard

[@shawnr771]

@@dougalbadger4918 with a quick google search I found this. However, other nations, especially China, contributed to the proceedings, and Australian judge William Flood Webb presided. In addition to the central Tokyo trial, various tribunals sitting outside Japan judged some 5,000 Japanese guilty of war crimes, of whom more than 900 were executed.

[@mlandis8835]

Yea those fish heads and swamp rats were savages

[@mlb5525]

This brought back memories of reading “Unbroken” the story of Louis Zamperini and the brutal torture he endured at the hands of the Japanese.

[@davidb2206]

His torturer "The Bird" was never caught or tried and lived on long after the war. If you want to read about lots of the P.O.W. survivor's memoirs, get the book "Pacific War P.O.W.: A Few Remaining Skeletons," which has really interesting stories about lots of them.

[@thomashogan7385]

Yes you got it great movie had me in tears. Our men are tough. God bless America.

[@davidb2206]

@@thomashogan7385 Zamperini's own book is even better than the movie. A lot more detail. Highly recommended. Not the other one by a biographer, but Z's own book: "Devil At My Heels."

[@thomashogan7385]

@@davidb2206 Thanks

[@hibbarddiane2]

His torturer was forgiven because of the coming problems with Indochina.

[@historywithhilbert146]

Very interesting once again Dr Felton thank you!

[@Artur_M.]

Hi there! Very interesting indeed.

[@IFarmBugs]

Beyond hilarity seeing someone who associates themselves with having a deep understanding of our past also advocating for worthless virtue signaling face diapers 😂

[@MasonBryant]

@@IFarmBugs He's not doing that at all, it's just a light-hearted mask image to put on his KZbin logo

[@robertpaulson5122]

Stop cyber stalking me!

[@matpk]

@@Artur_M. Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist China IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO!!

[@peterwhitehead2453]

Extraordinary story. Imagine the feeling of arriving home to your family in Annapolis after that ordeal. Incredible resilience and tenacity.

[@jimc.goodfellas226]

If you're not watching War Stories as well as MFP you're just not getting the full Felton Experience

[@jamesgreenldn]

What's MFP?

[@transporter8884]

@@jamesgreenldn Mark Felton Productions

[@jakobwithak3805]

Yes Man!

[@johnmcmanus6909]

@George Washington U.S. politics has the same problem as most western countries; only 2 types of shit to choose from.

[@sarjim4381]

Thanks, Dr Felton. This is one of those great war stories that's usually only told up to the capture of the island. The activities of of the surviving POW's are equally exciting and worthy of praise. The decorations received by the POW's postwar were both well deserved and inadequate for all the risks taken to escape from Japanese custody.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

Wow, and I thought I had a bad week. These men fought and died so I could have a easy free life. Thank you to each and everyone of them.

[@snappyllamas]

Dude who called Emperor Hirohito a "son of a bitch" to a Japanese interpreter is definitely in the top 10 for biggest balls of the pacific theatre.

[@davidpearsall190]

My father was a marine on Wake Island. I've been out there twice in 1985/88 taking the survivors on reunion trips. I have a book coming out later this year titled "Son of Wake Island" . Watch for it.

[@trespasserswill7052]

I'll add it to my collection. I have most I think. Let us know when.

[@knutdergroe9757]

Yes, please keep me in the loop. My Father was 1st Mar. Div. From cape Gloucester to Palau.

[@GermanShepherd1983]

Admiral Pye was a disgrace for ordering the task force to abandon Wake. The US Navy never again gave him a command during the war because of this action.

[@louisavondart9178]

Signals were received that two fast Japanese battleships were in the task force approaching Wake. They were, in fact, only cruisers. The best the Americans had were two cruisers. The decision was based on the misidentification by Navy pilots, not any form of cowardice.

[@GermanShepherd1983]

@@louisavondart9178 Well the navy never gave Pye a command again during the entire war, so apparently the brass believed he should have kept going to Wake.

[@veritas_13]

@@louisavondart9178 Cowardice was not discussed but may be the wrong way of decisionmaking, even when not having proper / relying information. Judging afterwards is pretty unfair, so we better stick to informations available.

[@Paladin1873]

The F4F-3 Wildcat was not outdated in 1941. Like the P-40, the pilot had to use the strengths of its design against the weaknesses of its opponents. Its top speed matched that of the early Zero Model 21 and it was far more rugged and survivable thanks in part to its self-sealing fuel tanks and armor protection. It could easily out-dive the Zero and out-roll it in high speed dogfights. Its four Browning 50 caliber machine guns were much more effective than the 7.7 Japanese machine guns. It mainly had to fear the two 20mm cannon of the Zero, but these early Japanese fighters had a very limited ammunition supply of only sixty rounds per cannon. The F4F-3 had a much higher service ceiling than the Zero, allowing it to pounce on its prey from above when there was sufficient warning time to climb to altitude. Where the F4F-3 suffered most was in its limited range (not a big issue in the Wake defense) and the layout of its guns which made them prone to jamming. In addition, its climb rate was only 2/3 that of the Zero and in a slow-speed (200 MPH) dogfight it could not turn inside the Zero, making it vulnerable to rear-end attacks.

[@trespasserswill7052]

One shot down the Kate & crew that wrecked the USS Arizona. The payback began at Wake Island.

[@scotttyson8661]

Well said

[@wilshirewarrior2783]

No US fighters could turn with zeros so tactics changed for us who became faster and higher climbing to use slashing attacks..rinse repeat

[@nancyquinn]

@@wilshirewarrior2783 Turn rate depended on airspeed. At faster speeds the Wildcat could outmaneuver the Zero. The Zero did have a faster climb rate but also a lower service ceiling. Always play to your strengths and the enemy's weaknesses.

[@yzdatabase4175]

why do you need to ruin this fairy tale with facts?

[@jakobwithak3805]

History Channel: "Best I can do is some reality TV." Mark Felton: "Best I can do is some non-biased, widely unknown, WW2 era-historically accurate content." 😉

[@petter5721]

Have a great summer! Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@stevemolina8801]

Thank you for this bit of history, Makes me prouder to have served in the US Navy!

[@MB5rider81]

Honor Courage Commitment

[@michaelhart7569]

It's good that Mark takes the trouble to read out the names of some of those who suffered and died so horribly, where he reasonably can.

[@rowdy7480]

Could you do a video on the North China Marines during WWII? The Marines who were Embassy guards in China & surrendered to the Japanese. My Great Uncle Jerold Story was one of the Embassy guards. Thank you, Sir. I appreciate all of your videos and enjoy the education you give me. Be blessed. You spoke of my Great Uncle Jerold Story in this video. Oh my! I'm weeping. Thank you, Sir.

[@buckhutton7697]

I'm sure Dr. Felton would do a good job on it.

[@rowdy7480]

@@buckhutton7697 My uncle is mentioned in this video... The Marine Corps Museum has the clothes the Chinese nationals made for him after his final escape

[@mikloridden8276]

Yes! I would love to hear more about the China Marines. The only widely available source is a memoir by Eugene Sledge himself although it was mostly about after the War

[@rickybobby1055]

Your great uncle was part of the reason i became a Marine. Just know his memory lives on in EVERY Marine today. We are taught all about Marine history from the beginning 1775, to present day and they dont leave anything out.

[@rickybobby1055]

@@mikloridden8276 check out the book “Helmet For My Pillow”. A great book from a Marine names Robert Leckie, that was around Sledge in some places. Check it out. Great read

[@masonshroyer6007]

The man the myth the legend is back.

[@cjclark2002]

Man you people blowing him so hard is annoying as hell, just enjoy the content not stroke his ego.

[@henriknilsson7851]

Well done to Cmdr Cunningham, and well done to Mark Felton for telling this story in a great way. Thanks!

[@demonprinces17]

The japanese experienced what marines can do at Wake yet still underestimate them later at Guadalcanal

[@davidb2206]

We nearly lost Guadalcanal. Damned close.

[@JackG79]

Mark... keeping these heros stories alive and in our minds is gods work!! You truely are an asset to humanity!! The world is a much better place with your reporting, and writing in it!! I can't thank you enough!!!! The families of these lost heros must be so grateful!! As am I!!!!

[@EdgarStyles1234]

My great uncle was captured at Hong Kong with the Canadian highlanders, died in Japanese custody. Rip uncle Edward Riddoch.

[@stuartphillips2686]

Eitan R, sorry for your loss, RIP. However, there was no 'Canadian Highlanders' unit at Hong Kong. There were two infantry units that were at the battle: The Royal Rifles of Canada from Quebec City, and The Winnipeg Grenadiers. I went on the CWGC website and found six members with the last name Riddoch that died in the Second World War. Two were Canadian but died serving in the RCAF. The remainder are one South African, one Australian, one English, and one Scottish. Since you stated the member died in captivity, the closest would be the Scottish soldier as he was captured at Singapore with the 2nd Bn, Gordon Highlanders, and is buried at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand. The unfortunate member was probably working on the notorious Burma-Siam railway along with many many others. Lest We Forget.

[@EdgarStyles1234]

@@stuartphillips2686 hold up you telling my knowledge of family apocrypha isn't dead on, i need to call my uncle immediately to ascertain the facts and will be back to you

[@daniellemurphy9755]

I am so sorry for your loss 😔😞

[@kennysherrill6542]

I've read this man's courageous story from many sources. The battle of Wake is a legendary story among Marines, never surrender is what I lived by because of stories like this and what happened in the Philippines. I was once ordered to surrender and I refused, my fellow Marines did not know what was going on, just myself and radio operator knew what was happening in the moment. I hope to tell all soon. SEMPER FI to all.👍❤🇺🇸

[@semperfine4442]

Were you by any chance a series commander in 1973 at Parris Island? Plt. 140, A co., 1st Battalion.

[@kennysherrill6542]

@@semperfine4442 No sir, I started boot in June 75, I was in an action believe it or not Afghanistan, we were told we were on a secret rescue mission but nothing else, this was late January 79. The whole thing was a lie, the whole story is to long to properly tell it here. If you want to see some wreckage of one helo we left behind check out, Taliban claims to shoot down Helicopter CNN Oct.22 2003. The landing gear was off our bird. SEMPER FI 👍

[@knutdergroe9757]

SEMPER FI !!!

[@jon9021]

The Japanese got off very lightly after the war, compared to the Germans (who deserved EVERYTHING they got). When I was a little boy, I used to be allowed to go to the pub with my dad. He had friends who had been Japanese prisoners of war. I still remember the stories they told (only when they had had a few drinks, NEVER sober), to this day I have a dislike for the Japanese. Probably unfair I know, but their you go.

[@brndonlu9635]

Fair point. I mean I wasn't there but I would had feel the same

[@truthseekers864]

Unfortunately most German war criminals and Slavic accomplices got off scot free.

[@thomasmccann3679]

I don’t think the Germans deserved what they got. You should read about the soviet occupation of Germany and Berlin.

[@TRHARTAmericanArtist]

Thanks so much for presenting this. I always wondered what happened to the escapees.

[@onepair-down5424]

When you have seen Mark has posted so you k ow it's going to be a good evening

[@historywithhilbert146]

Amen

[@johnmn3500]

Or morning

[@archstanton6102]

@George Washington There is no god

[@archstanton6102]

@George Washington If you can give any peer reviewed evidence for the existence of your space fairy, I might care.

[@StevenKeery]

@@archstanton6102 : A blind man cannot see the colour red, yet the colour red exists. How would you explain the colour red to a blind man? I have never been to Moscow, Singapore or Alaska. Yet I believe they all exist. There is more to Life than is found within the bounds of your imagination. As you grow older you may realise this but then again, maybe not.

[@brndnwilks]

I never fail to learn something on days that a Mark Felton video drops. Well done, sir.

[@steffannystad]

What 18 trolls did not appreciate this historical piece? Why? Outstanding.

[@vonfragesq7145]

Former Japanese prison guards or SNLF troops that went ashore at Wake.

[@wendesmith6240]

One of my favourite films is Wake Island (1942) with Brian Donlevy. Most of the story was necessarily fictionalized as no one knew for certain in August 1942 all that had occurred. My uncle was in Changi and on the Railway and find this film very patriotic and inspiring even for a non-American.

[@navyreviewer]

"Wake Island" Post war after watching the film survivors said such things as. - we didnt have a dog. And - I didnt know we fought to the death?

[@ABQRT]

Filmed at the Salton Sea CA, and only had a couple pounds of dynamite for the special effects.

[@tomcox6429]

I am now in the habit of clicking like before the video even starts as I am always impressed and always learn something new. Great job as always Dr. Felton.

[@stephencalder8357]

Yes, Dr. Mark couldn't make a bad video even if he wanted to.

[@charlesmanering7746]

We were taught to remember the atrocities of the Japanese and the Germans we will never forget the brave men of our countries

[@Jacmac1]

The endurance of these men through the insane conditions levied upon them always tugs at my heart.

[@jimmyjimbojacko5736]

It surely does. Thinking of her big brother ""Jack", My mother would cry often til before she died when 88 yrs old. That he died alone so far away from home, no one to give him a drink of water, wipe the sweat from his brow, hold his hand, no comforting at all. Knowing how much his kind soul had suffered. The memories and pain as fresh as yesterday. She said, " love is ageless it dont fade grow old or die". He was Louis "Jack" Lansford, 200th cac. Escaped Bataan being one of 200 or so survivors of those two or more thousand swimmers attempting to reach Corregidor and continue the fight. He was starved and beaten to death at Niigata 5b pow camp in japan. I spent most my life determined to find out everything about Jack for her. I had to lie to her about all i had learned, not wanting to break a broken heart.

[@katemaloney4296]

There is war. There is Hell. And then there is something so atrocious and inhuman that the Devil removes himself from it. The Pacific war is it. May God rest all the brave souls who fought so galantly against the odds.

[@routeoz02]

So was the 1968 My Lai "incident", which was not a solitary incident.

[@brndonlu9635]

So was the Eastern Front

[@mizzouranger134]

It’s not the war that is that way it’s the Japanese blatant disregard of the Geneva convention and outright murder and torture. That’s what was hell.

[@selfexplanatory6459]

Karma was measured in metric tons concerning the Japanese desire to enact senseless violence.

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

For all the sins of the IJA, it was paid back one hundred fold, twice.

[@phased-arraych.9150]

And in a sea of fire, judgement was delivered.

[@cinnamonape3045]

Kilotons, actually

[@45auto82]

Self Explanatory: Here Here! Damn rite! In KiloTons! We should have dropped at least a dozen more.

[@evilfingers4302]

Fun Fact: the WW2 movie "Wake Island" was being produced as the battle continued until communications with the island went silent, hence why the ending of the movie was depicted differently, everyone assumed all on the island were killed in combat.

[@1977Yakko]

The things this man survived, surely the USN named a ship after him?

[@luckent47]

ceasr chavez lol

[@christopherroa9781]

@@luckent47 both are American heroes

[@chuenyeelau]

The world seem to have very short and selective memories!

[@archlich4489]

Every generation must learn of this. From now on.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Sir, you definitely need your own show on the History Channel. Thank you for educating me more every day.

[@marshaldillon4387]

Sir Mark You are the very best. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your story’s Such detail etc. Bravo ! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@efs83dws]

Dr. Felton, thank you for reminding us of the price paid by strong, brave, and noble men to defend us from evil men around the world.

[@jochenheiden]

A truly impressive presentation. Thank you for sharing this Dr. Felton.

[@larrybomber83]

I wasn't sure if I wanted to listen to this story for that long, but I am glad I did. There was a ton of information. and all of it was relevant. Thanks so much Mark for taking the time to explain what really happened to the fine defenders of Wake Island. The books just covered the battle but there was nothing about the aftermath.

[@deepbludude4697]

I worked at Wake several times, its very hallowed grounds, seeing the 98 rock and all the left over relics. in addition, my thoughts are with all the US/Brit /Afghans and others that have been left behind in Afghanistan. Also a region I spent over a decade in. Im extremely pissed and embarrassed the way our supposed leaders and military advisors have handled this debacle. They could all take lessons from Commander Cunningham the Marines and the contractors that took a stand.

[@wbriggs111]

My uncle was in the war and married a Japanese girl after the war when while training Taiwan communication troops. His father in law hated him and his own mother didn't want anything to do with his family. The war was was over for him but others keeped the hate in their heart.

[@i_____am_____realitybroski6421]

Love these audio mini documentaries so perfect for work! Thank you mark

[@bryantblake1877]

Damn! One of the Greatest Generation! Without a doubt!🇺🇸 Well done Mark!

[@biscuitsbrown3330]

I have just bought The sea Devils book on audible and i have got to say thank you sir

[@cherryrunner7205]

This I never knew, hands down good job again Mark Felton.

[@couchfighter]

Humbled as always with information that makes me reflect on "no man left behind". Thanks man!

[@tylerwilson9255]

Dr. Felton with a ton of uploads this week! I live for this

[@_knotgood_1371]

TY for all your hard work and content contributions…just appreciating

[@slavabtomat]

I had the chance to meet, and work with, William Taylor for a short time in the late '80's. To be honest, I didn't know much about Wake until I met him. He didn't speak much about his time on Wake or in the POW camps afterwards, but what little he did say about it was incredible. He's passed on now, but his name is etched in the history books forever.

[@martinhogg5337]

A great true story! My thanks to Dr. Felton once again.

[@alanmoffat4454]

YET ANOTHER GREAT STORY FROM Dr FELTON WHITH A HAPPY ENDING , THANK FOR THE HISTORY.

[@alm4655]

Excellent video, Mark. The return home to his family moved me quite unexpectedly

[@rickrussell8382]

I had a comic book in the 1960s that was about the defense of Wake Island. I always wondered about what happened to the prisoners. The Japanize are a odd bunch. If you surrender they they hate you. If you fight hard they hate you.

[@wannabe4668]

They hated anyone that was not Japanese. Better than thou mentality

[@zachhoward9099]

It’s part of the Japanese Xenophobia as wannabe said, if you weren’t Japanese they hated you, willing to bet that’s still very prevalent in Japan despite their polite veneer

[@GarC170]

It would be extremely interesting if you ever made videos in the Flying Tigers or even the Spanish Maquis

[@oldmike7239]

Excellent presentation. However,I believe you left out one very important part of the battle of Wake Island: although Commander Cunningham was senior officer, because he lacked ground combat experience, he turned command of the Wake Island defense over to major James Derveraux, USMC. It was Deveraux’s leadership that allowed the marines to put up a fierce defense, which almost put the issue in doubt for the Japanese. It’s difficult to talk about the battle for Wake without discussing the very important role of major Deveraux.

[@veritas_13]

Well, it speaks for Cmdr Cunningham to leave all ground defense to a more experienced or at least better trained infantry man, major Deveraux.

[@THIS---GUY]

Thank you Mr Felton! Another collection of amazing historical stories. I use these stories as a source of motivation.

[@johnmn3500]

Really enjoyed this and the length of video, good work Mark!

[@douglasanderson2894]

I find it absolutely mind boggling how anyone could give this a thumbs down.

[@archstanton6102]

7 of them mow

[@cjclark2002]

Must be Japanese lol

[@fToo]

Half the time was taken up rereading text he used in another video / audio - maybe that could have been some of the down voters

[@jamestoy4835]

Incredible courage shown by all branches of men of freedom. Bravo Commander.

[@buckhutton7697]

Time to settle in. This gentleman is fantastic.

[@panzerdragoonss4021]

Brilliant, as always!

[@craigryan5290]

Absolutely an amazing story of courage. Thank you for your extraordinary research. My father and 3 Uncles fought in the Pacific. The Solomon and Marshall Islands. Marines and Navy. It seems like yesterday.

[@lukewind13]

Always a good day when the DR. Perscribes some History. Keep it comin'!

[@andreholmlund1981]

Awsome story, thank you sir, you have one of the best youtube videos and history channels period.

[@gravemindpenis]

Before video: Oh awesome a new mark video! After video: oh...

[@brucewilliams6292]

heart in my mouth listening to this. Thank you.

[@christianvik3400]

The Japanese soldiers in WW2 fought with no honour at all. What's new?

[@mbazzy123]

Dr. Felton history always intriged me, you sir bring it to life !

[@superjonboy873]

Wow excited to finish listening, WWII Escape stories are some of my favorite, the truth is so much more interesting than fiction!

[@ubroberts5541]

A remarkable story well told by the Doctor. Thank you.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Let us never forget....What freedom means...l have done my part...l often wonder if l could have done more...Thank Dr Mark Felton...!

[@denis5305]

Doctor Felton, you are bringing back to the memory stories which should not br forgotten, remmembering heroism and sacrifice of many decent men. Sir in modern world which seems to be strangely twisted in many ways, your work is important more than ever.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Typical excellence from Dr. Felton. 💛🙏🏼

[@markrowland1366]

Amazing story but I was close to missing it as it would be the tenth time hearing about Wake Island. You shocked me with your research. This is thirty times what I had learner and it put right a great deal. Thankyou.

[@mark109s]

Another great story Mark, Thank you!

[@wolfman0o424]

Great video thanks mark

[@RedcoatsReturn]

An incredible and horrific story though also of bravery and endurance in the face of brutality, torture and inhuman cruelty over years 😞 Cap off to Commander Cunningham and all the brave soldiers of Wake Island 🇺🇸 I only wished the task force had reached them in time…rather than being ordered to return back to Pearl 😔

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

Mark Felton always does an outstanding job on WWII documentaries.

[@mgclark46]

Thanks so much, Mark.

[@midsue]

Thanks for the history lesson Dr. Mark Felton.

[@libertycosworth8675]

Another excellent video by Mark!

[@exn641US]

If I was Cunningham, I would have dedicated the rest of my life to hunting down Vice Admiral William S. Pye and subjected him to a level of pain and suffering that would have been legendary.

[@davidb2206]

In the confusion of night combat on Wake, Commander Cunningham did not have adequate communications to know that one Marine platoon had actually turned back the Japanese from their section of the atoll at the time that he surrendered. That beheading scene on the ship was a real horror, recounted in several of the memoirs of the survivors who saw it. The book "Pacific War P.O.W.: A Few Remaining Skeletons" is a good source that summarizes lots of the memoirs of the survivors of the Japanese camps all over the Pacific, including those of the Bataan Death March and the Death Railway in Thailand-Burma.

[@motorolaandroid5688]

I get the rage and anger of seeing your compatriots killed and wanting to take it out on POWs... But that satisfaction lasts only for a moment, accomplishes nothing, and the shame and disgrace will stay with the imperial japanese army soldiers and officers for the rest of history. Worse yet, time changes things and they'll have one big bad enemy just waiting for the opportunity to pay back in kind. I can't lay any blame whatsoever, because in the words of Viktor Frankl "No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same." it's very likely I would do the same, if not worse, after dehumanizing the enemy. Clear example of how important is to have good superiors that impart discipline, otherwise it's a lollapalooza of effects that convergence to make things worse and escalate to more and more abuses.

[@mizzouranger134]

The soldiers hadn’t dehumanizes the enemy this is the first battle with the Japanese and most soldiers today don’t even feel this with the taliban. Trust me! So you are way off and if you seriously think you would torture and kill people because your soldiers died in a battle you chose then you are incredibly screwed up.

[@urwrstntmre]

@@mizzouranger134 Their whole culture and way of thinking was a whole different paradigm though, so maybe any one of us would do horrible things if we had been brainwashed in a similar way

[@AgentGB1]

Great to hear these stories being told,