Norm Wilson

Bataan the Court-martial of Forrest Montgomery Norm Wilson

None of the four teenage youths who met on the tennis court the summer before entering Eastern High School imagined that during their next three high school years, they would become inseparable. By graduation day, two of the youths had become casualties of tragic accidents. Unhappily, only Bob Johnson and Forrest Montgomery remained at graduation. The effects of the two tragedies and the patriotic complexion of the country at the outbreak of World War II may well have been responsible for Bob's and Forrest's early decision to enlist. Their fate was the Battle of the Pacific and the fall of Bataan. Bob was wounded, scarcely managing to survive the ninety mile death march to the Camp O'Donnell prison and near death when he did. Frequently clashing with Captain Savage, and ignoring his command, Forrest did what it took to keep Bob alive. His court martial was inevitable. At the close of the war Captain Savage risked his career to court martial the man he hated. The intense court martial and the truly accurate account of life in Camp O'Donnell characterize the novel.