"Like the event it covers, Escape from Davao is unique. You are holding in your hands the story of the only successful American group escape from a Japanese camp."
—James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, Flyboys, and The Imperial Cruise
“Escape From Davao is a remarkable story that explores the heights of human courage and compassion even as it reveals the depths of brutality that one set of human beings is capable of inflicting on another. Exhaustively researched and superbly written, the book incorporates many elements of a well-crafted suspense novel. Indeed, readers may wish at times that it were fiction, rather than cruel, distressing fact.”
—Bill Sloan, author of Brotherhood of Heroes, The Ultimate Battle and The Darkest Summer
“John Lukacs has justifiably brought attention to one of the Pacific War’s most overlooked stories in his riveting book about the escape from Davao. Lukacs so breathes life into the tale that readers feel the drama and suspense as if they were present.”
—John Wukovits, author of Admiral “Bull” Halsey: The Life and Wars of the Navy’s Most Controversial Commander
“Escape from Davao is an extraordinary book for at least two reasons. One is the quality of the author’s storytelling; the other is the richness of his research. His reconstruction of this almost entirely unknown episode of World War II is formed into a superb and inspiring narrative. And more than commendable is the evidence of his truly exhaustive research – rare in the historiography of that war.”
—John Lukacs, author of The Legacy of the Second World War and The Duel: The Eighty-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler
"I loved your book. I was riveted to it amidst a very busy life. Your accomplishment – the research, the detail, the insights, the fairness, the writing – is dazzling."
—Dick Meyer, Executive Editor, NPR
"...Fascinating story extremely well told...Terrific coverage of characters and wartime situations. Well done...(Escape From Davao) now enjoys a coveted spot in my overflowing library."
—Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret.), combat veteran, Hollywood technical advisor, actor, director, author.
"(Lukacs's) careful and detailed research plus his personalization of those directly involved provided creditability that captures the attention."
—Admiral Ronald J. Hays, USN (Ret.), Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Chairman, Pacific Aviation Museum, Honolulu, HI.
"A fast-moving, real-life escape story, and an unexpected chronicle of a fight against censorship."
—Kirkus Reviews
“...diligent, impassioned history...”
—Gilbert Taylor, Booklist
“In this...exceptional account...of individual triumph and collective failure, Lukacs's supple style must be noted. He writes vibrant prose and creates powerful action scenes. ...Lukacs's skill as a storyteller makes this book very rewarding.”
—Thomas Mullen, America in World War II Magazine
“Escape from Davao...is a story unequaled among all the detailed books written about the war in the Pacific...a tale filled with insurmountable courage and the ultimate victory of the human soul.”
—Regis Schilken, Blogcritics.org/SeattlePI.com
"...Lukacs is a gifted stylist and storyteller. ...And he knows how to build suspense...At bottom, Escape From Davao is a morality tale, not unlike the war movies of the 1940s and '50s, about pluck, luck, courage, comradeship, Yankee humor, ingenuity, and religious faith, featuring easy-to-identify heroes (the Americans) and villains (the Japanese).”
—Glenn C. Altschuler, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“…A most impressive authorial debut…Lukacs manages to recreate the drama of the escape…with a richness not often found in historical works. …Lukacs does full justice to this complex, inspiring, but also heartbreaking story.”
—Richard R. Muller, World War II Magazine
"Escape From Davao is an outstanding adventure story, framed by superb cultural and historical analysis, recommended for an audience beyond World War II buffs."
—Raymond Leach, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
"(Escape From Davao) is a gripping, gruesome, yet heroic story of inhumanity, survival and sheer courage...I read the book in two days but had to put it down every so often and catch my breath, the descriptions were so powerful."
—Glenn Dromgoole, San Angelo (TX) Standard-Times
"This story of airman Ed Dyess' escape from a Japanese labor camp in the Philippines is as epic as Unbroken. Lukacs is a top-notch nonfiction writer who can put together the facts of warfare, distance, hunger, and fear and still make a compelling and engaging full-length book. Escape From Davao goes to the top shelf of my book case."
—Duff McKagan, bassist, Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver and writer, Seattle Weekly