Uncovering History: An OSS Operative's Experiences in Japanese-Occupied Burma

R. E. Statham: I had no idea that the United States was so active in Burma during World War II. I had forgotten about the Burma Road, and I had not realized the active role that the OSS played. This is an excellent account of what occurred, and an excellent series of insights as to how things can go well, and right when people are properly led.

United States on Sep 09, 2023

Professional Ed Resource: Intense historical presentation of a regional & asymmetrical conflict.

United States on May 15, 2023

Michael F: My Dad had been with the British Army in Burma in WW2 and would never talk about it except to say that horrible things were done and that he had witnessed the aftermath of some of them.
I wanted to find out a bit more about that theatre of war.
This is a wonderful description of the clandestine part of that war and indeed terrible things were done.
Without excusing them, one can see that the Japanese mindset was that if they terrorized the locals they would roll over and submit. This was the same mindset as caused them to attack Pearl Harbor.
Except they didn't in either case.
The Kachin in Burma fought back with undying ferocity in league with the American special forces and some of their exploits makes one blanche in these days, with the vengeance that they enacted on the Japanese. It almost makes one sorry for them but they had to reap what they had sown.
Excitingly written, it almost reads like an adventure fiction, but it is real with real people in a war without mercy.
Be prepared for some horrific descriptions, but also understand that the Japanese didn't have to start their war of conquest but did have to take the consequences.
Well worth reading.

United States on Sep 17, 2018

Sherry Martone: Nonfiction that reads like an adventure story...Beginning of CIA, so fascinating.

Canada on Aug 05, 2017

Merlucius: Moderately interesting, mainly for the enthusiast on that theatre of the war

United Kingdom on Jul 07, 2017

James Kreinhop: I only gave it three stars because I felt the author went a little overboard with some of his stories about the early days of Det. 101..The parts of the book where the author is describing what he saw and he participated in I thought were excellent. But some of the stories about Eifler I found a little bit hard to swallow. As in the story where Eifler and another man shot cigarets off each others heads with a Model 1911 .45 pistol. If the real story was that they fired well over each others heads for the fun of it, I could believe that. But to seriously try to shoot a cigarette off another man's head is silly. Someone would have died, notwithstanding that the Lord protects drunks and fools. It sort of makes Eifler out to look a fool and I believe he deserves better. The accomplishments of the unit were truly outstanding and much of it was new to me. Anyone interested in WW II history, and particularly the CBI should find this book well worth reading.

United States on May 08, 2017

Toe Tag: This is a particularly interesting book covering the start of the Office of Strategic Services and the war in China, Burma and India. It is not a first person account of an individual’s actions but a first person account of the collected actions of the OSS.

There were a lot of interesting aspect to this conflict. Among the most interesting items the OSS had to deal with was unknown land, geologic features that were mindboggling, local headhunters, various indigenous tribes and even tigers. It turns into a rather fascinating read.

In particular, two Catholic priests who defended their flocks and eventually became commissioned men in arms fascinated me. This was something out of the Middle Ages when bishops were often military men as well as priests. Clearly, these men of conviction were no men to confront. Either were their soldiers.

There is also one very interesting moment in the book where an OSS man is delivered to the front by way of helicopters. This is something most readers may not know, but this theater was the first to use helicopters.

In many ways, the book foretells the future of the imbedded Special Forces man who raises his own army of...

United States on Jan 27, 2017

Mrs J. Howarth: A fascinating read, although I knew that the U.S. Forces were active in that area I never knew of the extent of their actions. Well worth reading

United Kingdom on Jun 20, 2016

JimAsh: still unsure about this book it's definitely an insight into one american's viewpoint onto how american seen themselves and others in the 1940's

United Kingdom on Jun 20, 2016

Ron: This is one of the best books i have ever read. it tells an amazing story that I had never known before, beginning with the training of the group that became the OSS, and going on to the story of their incredible exploits behind Japanese lines in Burma as spies and guerrillas, working with the American, Chinese, and British armies.

These were intelligent and brave and colourful men, who accomplished what seemed to be impossible.

It could not have happened without a great deal of help from the Kachins, a native people in that part of Burma who had endured the burning
of their villages and horrible torture by the Japanese, which gave them strong motivation to help the Allies. Their knowledge of the jungle was very valuable and helped accomplish many things and saved many lives.

Canada on May 16, 2016