Caught in the Grasp of War: World War II on the Philippine Island of Mindanao - Hardcover

by Evelyn Day Burchfield (Author), David Michael Burchfield (Author)

In the early days of World War II, an American family living in Davao City is thrust into chaos when the conflict reaches the Philippine Islands. Overnight, safety vanishes.

Separated by war and forced into hiding, a mother and child face relentless uncertainty as occupation forces tighten their grip. With limited resources and no clear path forward, they rely on instinct, resilience, and the quiet bravery of Filipino civilians willing to risk their own lives for strangers.

As illness, fear, and isolation take their toll, the emotional weight of separation becomes as punishing as the physical hardships. Each day brings new risks-and no guarantees that the family will ever be whole again.

Based on contemporaneous writings preserved through extraordinary means, Caught in the Grasp of War captures the lived experience of civilians navigating wartime survival. This is not a story of strategy or battles, but of endurance, sacrifice, and the fragile hope that persists even when the world is unraveling.