The Sea Was My Last Chance: Memoir of an American Captured on Bataan in 1942 Who Escaped in 1944 and Led the Liberation of Weste

D.H. (Herb) Wills fought the Japanese on Bataan, was captured and imprisoned for a year at the infamous Cabanatuan camp, then another year at Davao prison, on Mindanao. Embarking for dreaded imprisonment in Japan in 1944, he dove overboard and swam four miles back to Mindanao where he joined the ragtag guerrillas, electing to stay and fight until the island’s liberation rather than leave by submarine. Successful campaigns by the Filipino guerrillas, led by Lt. Wills, at Misamis, Malaband, and Dipolog were instrumental in the liberation of Mindanao.

The late Donald H. Wills (May 23, 1918-December 1, 1997) received the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal for his efforts at Mindanao. He lived in Richardson, Texas. Reyburn W. Myers, formerly of the American Red Cross, wrote for Stars and Stripes during World War II.