John Lewis Floyd is a retired physician and the son-in-law of Charles Conrad Beckner CWO4 (Dec). John has published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific journal papers, but this is his first book. The Expendable is based on John's close, four-decade relationship with 'Mr. Beckner' and on meticulous primary research on the opening months of the Pacific War. John and his wife Barbara, both USAF Veterans, reside in Colorado and Arizona when not exploring far-flung corners of the world.
"We are losing our World War II veterans by the thousands daily and
along with them we all too often lose their stories. John Floyd has
done an admirable job of preserving the stories of his
father-in-law in a fast-paced and highly readable narrative.
Originally assigned as a Navy corpsman to a PBY patrol wing,
Charles Beckner was not only on Corregidor with MacArthur, but also
in the chaos of the start of the war in the Pacific he ended up in
the PT-boat squadron that evacuated the general from the
Philippines. Highly recommended as the story of one family's
sacrifices well told in the context of the broader war. Floyd knows
his military history as well as his family's." -Walter Borneman,
Author of The Admirals and MacArthur At War.
"This well- researched history vividly portrays a terrible defeat
for the United States as WWII opens in the Pacific. Dr. Floyd's
depiction of an independent duty Navy Corpsman was spot on. It is a
highly readable action story and reminded me of many solid corpsmen
I had the privilege of working alongside; ordinary yet
extraordinary, the best of what is American. Frankly, I was sorry
to see the story end. Well done, sir." -Anthony de la Torre, U.S.
Navy Corpsman 1968-78.
"Captures the feel of the times and events. Even though I knew what
the outcome was going to be I was still enjoying it and in some
suspense until the end. This was one of the best creative
nonfiction books I have read . . would make a great movie!" -
Robert Thomas, Archival Research Volunteer, National Naval Air
Museum, Pensacola, Florida.
"John Floyd's prose grabs you and pulls you in to the true story of
Navy Corpsman Charles Beckner. In 1942, Beckner was left on Bataan.
His story, as told here, is the page turning action adventure of
his time on four Philippine islands. This book is a biography, but
it reads like the best plotted fiction. I cannot recommend this
book enough. If it were possible I would give it more than five
stars." - Lynn Bopp
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