Robinson Crusoe, USN: The Adventures of George R. Tweed RM1C on Jap-Held Guam (Annotated)

The media could not be loaded.  The front of this book is beautiful. I remember the jungle, waterfalls, land,mountains and beaches . This reminds me of home . I can now finally read about my history and embrace my roots . I want to know what Guam went through .

I am a Guamanian so I most definitely enjoy reading stories about Guam and the Mariana Islands which Guam is a part of. My parents lived through the Japanese occupation. My mom used to tell us stories of their experiences during that period of Guam's history. On one occasion they had to walk down San Ramon hill to get some provisions; They had in tow three of our siblings (the rest of us were to come later). At the foot of the hill they were accosted by a Japanese soldier who decided upon seeing my dad that he was George Tweed. (My dad was one of the children of a former U.S. Marine Corps who served on Guam shortly after the U.S. took possession of the island after the Spanish-American War. Grandpa was at this time serving time as a civilian POW in Japan.) The Japanese soldier arrested my dad and was urging him on to headquarters at bayonet point with Mom and kids trailing behind all in tears for they did not know what was going on. Somewhere along the way, my dad saw a friend from another island (Saipan) at the window of a house and called out to him for help. His friend, knowing Japanese, spoke to the soldier, discovered the reason of my dad's predicament, and was able to convince him that Dad was not Tweed: he is a native-born Guamanian and that that's his wife and kids with him. That was a close call: the soldier abandoned his project.Why only four stars? Based on information I'd picked up from people who'd lived through this period, George Tweed did not present a very accurate picture.

Very interesting first person story of a man who evaded capture on Guam for over two years.George was a 1st class Navy Radioman stationed on Guam at the start of WW II. He was one of about 400 sailors and 140 marines, and 200 natives. When the Japanese arrived and, most of the garrison surrendered after a token defense.George was one of six who went into the bush and did not surrender. George was fed and hid by the native Chomorros of Guam. They were very faithful to him and did not want to have him captured. Unfortunately, the other five were eventually betrayed and captured by the Japanese and executed. George spent the last 22 months on the island in an obscure hiding location under some rocks and by the cliff down to the sea. The Chamorro natives were wonderfully friendly and loyal to him. Early on he moved around a number of times to different places, and supported by different people as they were able.When the US Navy came to first bombard and later invade, he managed to contact a passing destroyer, and was rescued by a small boat. He was interrogated for intelligence, promoted to chief by Adm Clark. He returned to Guam and looked up all of his friends who had helped him during is time on the island. He spent the remainder of WW II touring in support of the war. A wonderful human interest story.

This book is an amazing example of survival. I read this book first when I was in Jr. High and my dad gave me his hard copy of it. I read it again in High School and wrote a report on it. Now, as an adult, I read it again and gained a thorough appreciation for the hardships endured by Mr. Tweed but more appreciation for the sacrifices made by the people of Guam to help him. I doubt that any of us would have the fortitude exhibited by Tweed or the citizens of Guam to resist the Japanese invasion the way they did. The hard copy of the book does not contain the final chapter that tells about Tweed following the war so it was interesting to read about what he had done after leaving the Navy and his trips back to Guam.

This was a fun book to read, I have been to Guam a few times and found myself looking at a map as I read it. I wonder about his story of the US Submarine that waited in a harbor in Japan for and Aircraft Carrier to be launched which they promptly torpeoed and sank. Maybe it was just a rumor he had heard and believed enough to put it in the book.

Was very pleased to get my own copy of this. I still well remember the Disney Movie that came out with the same title. Personally I think that George Tweed was a hero and he was right not to surrender himself to the Japanese who would have instantly beheaded him despite their promises not to do as they had done to each and every other American they had captured hiding out in the jungles of Guam. If certain people on Guam were upset about him not surrendering then so be it.

Tweed's personal account of his time on Guam during WWII is excellent. Sadly, there is a lot of controversy here on Guam even today because of the fact he survived. Locals use him as example of their patriotism - they protected him because they are Americans. BUT many locals died hiding him, so he should have turned himself in to the Japanese? Conflicted.

I remember a little about George Tweed after seeing a movie about him when I was a kid. The book is fascinating in the depth and scope of it.A real page turner that had my attention from page one until the end. Nothing was spared, the good, the bad and the ugly are all in this story. It is a true story of military escape and evasion that very little can match.I recommend this book to all students, fans and whatnot of World War II intrigue.