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About the author


Myra Goode Jones, a freelance writer who has been writing inspirational stories and articles since the 1980's, has been published in numerous magazines, with worldwide circulation. She was winner of a theme writing contest in the Good Housekeeping Magazine. This book is the result of curiosity about stories that her uncle, Drolan Chandler, a WWII POW, captivated family members with at reunion gatherings. They were amazing stories, sometimes shocking, hilarious or heartbreaking memories at the hands of Japanese captors. She knew the details must be preserved for future generations. Myra spent hundreds of hours interviewing, recording, researching, and traveling with her uncle to visit former comrades and a POW reunion. 'Never Give Up' became the compilation of his painful and intriguing stories. His story will serve as an inspiration to those who journey with him. Myra attended Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, and UAB, Alabama. She currently lives in Clanton, Alabama, with her husband, Glenn. Both are retired and enjoy keeping up with seven grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson. God is good! Life is great!

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Never Give Up
As told by Drolan Chandler to Myra McDonald Goode Jones

Overview


This is Drolan Chandler's personal story of his experiences during World War II. The book encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training and assignment to Operation: PLUM in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. Drolan's positive attitude, bulldog determination, and sense of humor often got him into trouble, but surely contributed to his survival, which will inspire and entertain readers.
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Description


'Never Give Up' is Drolan Chandler's personal story, as told to his niece, Myra Jones, of his combat and prisoner of war experiences during World War II. The story encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training at Savannah Air Base in Georgia where he was assigned to duty in the USAF Headquarters Squadron 27th Bomb Group, Transportation Group, which was sent to Operation: PLUM, at Fort McKinley in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines during December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. His sheer will to survive through positive attitude, humor, and bulldog determination - which often got him into trouble with his captors and caused some humorous, as well as dangerous, situations - is sure to inspire and entertain readers.
Read more

Overview


This is Drolan Chandler's personal story of his experiences during World War II. The book encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training and assignment to Operation: PLUM in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. Drolan's positive attitude, bulldog determination, and sense of humor often got him into trouble, but surely contributed to his survival, which will inspire and entertain readers.

Read more

Description


'Never Give Up' is Drolan Chandler's personal story, as told to his niece, Myra Jones, of his combat and prisoner of war experiences during World War II. The story encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training at Savannah Air Base in Georgia where he was assigned to duty in the USAF Headquarters Squadron 27th Bomb Group, Transportation Group, which was sent to Operation: PLUM, at Fort McKinley in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines during December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. His sheer will to survive through positive attitude, humor, and bulldog determination - which often got him into trouble with his captors and caused some humorous, as well as dangerous, situations - is sure to inspire and entertain readers.

Read more

Book details

Genre:BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Subgenre:Military

Language:English

Pages:390

eBook ISBN:9781098315528

Paperback ISBN:9781098315511


Overview


This is Drolan Chandler's personal story of his experiences during World War II. The book encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training and assignment to Operation: PLUM in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. Drolan's positive attitude, bulldog determination, and sense of humor often got him into trouble, but surely contributed to his survival, which will inspire and entertain readers.

Read more

Description


'Never Give Up' is Drolan Chandler's personal story, as told to his niece, Myra Jones, of his combat and prisoner of war experiences during World War II. The story encompasses his childhood background, enlistment, basic training at Savannah Air Base in Georgia where he was assigned to duty in the USAF Headquarters Squadron 27th Bomb Group, Transportation Group, which was sent to Operation: PLUM, at Fort McKinley in the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines during December, 1941, he fought in frontline jungle combat until April 9, 1942, when the American generals surrendered. He endured horrific treatment, including the infamous Bataan Death March, Bilibid Prison, Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps, hell ship Clyde Maru transfer to Omuta, Japan, Camp 17, and slave labor in unsafe coal mines. His sheer will to survive through positive attitude, humor, and bulldog determination - which often got him into trouble with his captors and caused some humorous, as well as dangerous, situations - is sure to inspire and entertain readers.

Read more

About the author


Myra Goode Jones, a freelance writer who has been writing inspirational stories and articles since the 1980's, has been published in numerous magazines, with worldwide circulation. She was winner of a theme writing contest in the Good Housekeeping Magazine. This book is the result of curiosity about stories that her uncle, Drolan Chandler, a WWII POW, captivated family members with at reunion gatherings. They were amazing stories, sometimes shocking, hilarious or heartbreaking memories at the hands of Japanese captors. She knew the details must be preserved for future generations. Myra spent hundreds of hours interviewing, recording, researching, and traveling with her uncle to visit former comrades and a POW reunion. 'Never Give Up' became the compilation of his painful and intriguing stories. His story will serve as an inspiration to those who journey with him. Myra attended Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, and UAB, Alabama. She currently lives in Clanton, Alabama, with her husband, Glenn. Both are retired and enjoy keeping up with seven grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one great-grandson. God is good! Life is great!

Read more

Book Reviews

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Linda
Compelling, Horrific, but True This book is Drolan Chandler's personal story of those experiences, his suffering and survival during WWII. We get to know Drolan personally as he takes us through his childhood background, enlistment, basic training and assignment to the Philippines. The neglected area of history, the attack by the Japanese and the fight on Bataan, is brought to the reader in first person experiences, as the author, Drolan’s niece, writes Drolan’s own words, bringing to life the entire horrifying event our soldiers endured. Drolan includes the infamous Bataan Death March and the horrendous and appalling treatment they received in the prison camps of Bilibid, Camp O'Donnell, and Cabanatuan. Then on to his forced transfer on the hell ship Clyde Maru, where Drolan was taken for slave labor at Omuta, Japan, Fukuoka Camp 17, to be forced to work in the unsafe coal mines. Drolan's positive attitude, sense of humor, and inner strength (though often getting him into trouble his captors) most certainly contributed to his survival. These attitudes also make the “tough parts” of reading his experiences "lighten the load" for the reader, who, at times, may need a breath of air from the tragedy of this tale– fresh air which we find through Drolan’s own humor. As a WWII POW researcher and the Project Manager for the Fukuoka Camp 17 website (where Drolan was forced into labor), I've spent years talking personally to the survivors of POWs camps; the majority from Omuta Fukuoka Camp 17. I’ve also read dozens of books and hundreds of articles, affidavits, documents, and NARA records on the subject of POWs held by the Japanese - many of them written by the men themselves. I can assure you, Drolan’s account is true! The men captured by the Japanese endured such horrific treatment, torture, starvation, and physical abuse that it is amazing as many came home as did. Thousands of others did not. Fortunately for us, Drolan was one who did. Read more
Wayne
Outstanding! Having been a small boy in a community where there were many WWII veterans I developed a keen interest and respect for the people who served. Never Give Up is without a doubt the best descriptions I have ever read about the trials and suffering the men serving in the Philippines endured. Mrs. Jones did a more than outstanding job of writing her uncle's life story. There are two ways to describe a great book, 1. "I couldn't put it down. 2. " It made me feel as though I was there." Never Give Up did both! Read more