About this item
The dramatic untold story of the first US Army unit to cross the Pacific and strike back at the Japanese after Pearl HarborIn early 1942, while most of the American military was still in disarray from the devastating attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, a single squadron advanced to the far side of the world to face America's new enemy.Based in Australia with poor supplies and no ground support, the pilots and crew faced tropical diseases while confronting numerically superior Japanese forces. Yet the outfit, dubbed the Kangaroo Squadron, proved remarkably resilient and successful, conducting long-range bombing raids, armed reconnaissance missions, and rescuing General MacArthur and his staff from the Philippines.Before now, the story of their courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds has largely been untold.
About the Author
A disabled veteran and cancer survivor, Bruce Gamble has used an ultra-light wheelchair for much of his adult life, but it hasn't slowed him down. He's also an award-winning author and historian who travels widely, whether conducting research and interviews for his nonfiction books, giving public presentations, or sitting in front of the camera for a documentary.
Raised in Pennsylvania, Bruce served as a Naval Flight Officer from 1980 to 1988, deploying aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans during the closing years of the Cold War. Diagnosed with a malignant spinal cord tumor, Bruce underwent a complicated surgery and was medically retired in 1989. Soon thereafter he began volunteering at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, and later worked part-time for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. After several years as the staff historian, Bruce made the leap to freelance writing and published his first book, The Black Sheep (Presidio Press) , in 1998.
With six titles now in print, Bruce is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most respected authorities on World War II in the Pacific. His narrative style and depth of research have earned critical acclaim in numerous publications. Bruce also does a substantial amount of public speaking and is listed among the distinguished historians in the American History Forum. In addition, he is featured in documentaries produced by the History Channel, Fox News Channel, PBS, and the Pritzker Military Library.
The winner of two literary awards in 2010 and a Florida Book Award in 2013, Bruce is a member of the Authors Guild and holds life memberships in the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Cancer-free for more than 25 years, he lives near Madison, Georgia
