Teresa R. Funke - Remember Wake




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	Home Books Events Reader Stories Writing Workshops Bio Contact Links © 2008 Teresa Funke			Books - Remember Wake author's note excerpts buy WINNER of a 2003 EVVY Award for Historical Fiction. Based on a true story . . . December, 1941—While the world focuses on the carnage at Pearl Harbor, tiny Wake Island 2,300 miles west is also under attack. On it are 1,200 civilians and a small detachment of Marines. This frightened, under-equipped band of Americans will hold the mighty Japanese navy at bay for sixteen days before succumbing to a sweeping invasion. "Remember Wake" becomes a battle cry for a nation marching to war. Now prisoners of the Emperor, Colin Finnely and the others are crowded aboard a notorious Japanese hell ship bound for Asia, where they will suffer four long years in disease-infested prison camps, while forced to work as slave laborers. They will die by the hundreds. With only one reason to live—his love for his fiancée, Maggie Braun—Colin struggles to survive torture and inhuman conditions. And on the home front, Maggie, unsure if Colin is even alive, faces agonizing decisions that may alter both their lives. Author's Note This book is based on interviews I did with thirteen men and women who actually lived the experiences depicted in Remember Wake. So virtually everything you read in my book actually happened to at least one of my interviewees. That's what lends this book the authenticity so important to good historical novels. It took me ten years to research and write this book and then get it published. I was often interrupted by other writing projects and the needs of three small children, but during those long years I never once stopped believing in the power of this story. It continues to inspire me, as do the men and women on whom the characters are based. This is their story. I've been lucky to tell it. Chapter Excerpts Wake Island Sharp coral fragments dug into Colin's knees. He'd been stripped to his undershorts and could feel the sun slowly burning his back and the soles of his feet. Before the Japanese had taken his clothing, he'd painfully removed the largest piece of shrapnel from his arm and tied a sock around the wound and the few tiny shrapnel pieces still embedded inside. A guard had confiscated the photograph of Chaplain's daughters and torn it in half, scattering the pieces at Colin's feet. He'd glared at Colin, challenging. Colin tried to look defiant, but his right eye began to twitch, and he was forced to look away. The guard grunted his disgust and bumped Colin hard as he passed. A medic had bandaged Red's shoulder but left Colin's wound untreated as he rushed to help a seriously injured civilian. Though his elbow ached terribly, Colin's more urgent concern was the wire with which he had been bound. The Japanese had tied his hands behind his back-ignoring his cries of pain-then strung the wire around his neck. If he relaxed his shoulders or let his arms drop, the wire would strangle him. Though the guards had tied Red's hands, at least they hadn't run the wire to his neck. His wounded shoulder could never have supported the weight. The prisoners had been instructed to keep silent, but when the guards occasionally circled to share cigarettes, Colin whispered to Red. "If they know we're civilians, maybe they'll treat us better." "Don't count on it," Red said weakly. "Even though we aren't military, we still fought against them. That should only give them more reason to hate us." "Do you think they'll shoot us?" "Maybe. Unless they want to save ammunition. Then they could just march us into the sea with our hands tied and let us drown." "I'm not going to die that way," Colin said. "I'll run first. Make them shoot me." Somewhere the battle continued. Communications had been cut, and Major Devereux must still be working his way around the island ordering pockets of resistance to surrender. Colin nursed the vain hope that somehow the Japanese could still be defeated. The guards finally waved their arms for the men to rise. Colin did so slowly, the joints in his knees popping loudly. The prisoners were arranged into two rows, and the guards kicked at their ankles to get them moving. Overhead, a Japanese plane exploded, shot down by the remaining free Americans, its parts raining over the island. The men jostled one another excitedly and grinned, until the guards cursed and kicked them harder. They were marched to the airfield, where they were finally untied. Holding his elbow close to him, Colin rolled the tension from his shoulders and rubbed at painful indentations on his wrist. To his surprise, the men were directed toward a pile of confiscated clothing. Colin snatched a pair of shorts and one of the last shirts, which he draped over Red's shoulders. They sat down on the runway, and the guards aimed machine guns at their chests. As the hours passed, Colin searched the faces of each new arrival for his friends. Frank came first, dragged from a hospital truck and dropped to the ground. He crawled to the front row and sat cross-legged, his head in his hands. Colin knew he'd been admitted to the hospital the night before with dysentery, but was still dismayed to see the boy looking so pale and shaken. Patrick arrived shortly after Frank, winking nervously at Colin as the guards shoved him toward the back. His face was covered with dried blood, and his left calf was wrapped in a bloody bandage. When Marty arrived with a handful of Marines, Colin finally relaxed a little, though he couldn't stop feeling someone was missing, couldn't fully accept that Chaplain was not the man sitting to his left. "I still can't figure out what's keeping our reinforcements," Colin whispered. "They're not coming," said the man that should have been Chaplain. "Commander Cunningham got a message from Pearl during the battle. Our task force was recalled." "You're lying." "Fuck you. I heard it straight from Cunningham's aide." "Then that's it," Red whispered. Colin hung his head and closed his eyes. In Boise, his mother would be hanging the Christmas wreath, his sister, Gwen, would be wrapping presents. Maggie would be baking sweet rolls for the neighbors, and Eddie would be shoveling the walk. Colin imagined himself among them, feeling the crisp winter air on his face. A sharp kick brought him back to reality. A Japanese soldier was gesturing for him to straighten the line. Colin repositioned himself, his eyes on the soldier's back. His right eye twitched again, but this time with hatred, not fear. He promised himself that if he did not die today, he would fight with every ounce of strength left in him to survive this war. No matter what it took, he would see Maggie and his family again. For the next fifty-four hours, the men were left in the open. The first cold night, Colin dug into the warm earth with his hands to escape the chilling wind and rain. Then during the day, the sun scorched his bare back and neck, and he could think of nothing but water. On Christmas Day, the men were finally issued tainted water brought in gasoline barrels. A Japanese admiral strode across the airfield dressed in a stark white uniform, wearing ribbons and a sword. The men began to jeer until the guards fired a volley over their heads. An interpreter came forward to read a proclamation. Colin raised his head to listen, his eyes on the stony features of the man who'd been introduced as Admiral Kajioka the man in whose hands rested the fate of the hundreds of men huddled together on the runway. In broken English, the interpreter began: "Here it is proclaimed that the entire island of Wake are now the state-property of the Great Empire of Japan," the interpreter read. "-Japan who loves peace and respects justice has been obliged to take arms against the challenge of President Roosevelt. Therefore, in accordance with the peace-loving spirit of the Great Empire of Japan, Japanese Imperial Navy will not inflict any harms on those people—though they have been our enemy—who do not hold hostility against us in any respect. So, they be in peace!" "Does that mean they're not going to kill us, Red?" Colin asked. "At least not now." The interpreter paused, staring into the faces of the Americans. His voice rose and became threatening. "But whoever violates our spirit or whoever are not obedient shall be severely punished by our martial law." Kajioka turned, and Colin followed his gaze to the top of the flag mast where a battered American flag barely stirred in the trade winds. Colin realized what must happen next. He cursed under his breath as two soldiers stepped forward. With each squeak of the pulley, as the American flag was lowered, Colin folded in upon himself, feeling it as a blow to his stomach. Red leaned against him, shaking his head. When Colin raised his eyes at last to see the banner of the Rising Sun snapping at the top of the flagpole, tears streaked his sunburned face. But he did not look away. He vowed never to look away again. top of page Boise They had gathered around Eddie's kitchen table ten minutes before noon on Monday morning, December 8th. A plate of sandwiches grew stale in front of them while the coffeepot percolated loudly. A small radio warbled a song about bluebirds over white cliffs, but they had not gathered to hear music. They'd come together to hear the President declare war. Maggie concentrated on the wood grain in Eddie's dark pine table, tracing the lines with her finger as they swirled and stretched across the surface-anything to keep from meeting her mother's gaze. It was infuriating to see the way Agnes looked at her with pity and concern, as if she already knew Colin was dead. She'd been hovering over Maggie since they heard the news yesterday about Pearl Harbor, denying Maggie the time to herself she so desperately needed, forcing her to take walks and help with housework, thinking, as usual, she knew what Maggie needed-to keep busy, to keep her mind off what had happened. Maggie thought of Colin's mother. She had wanted to be with Laura today, but Agnes had insisted she stay home with her own family. And she thought of Ellen and wondered if her hands were still, just this once. But mostly she thought about Colin, of the letters she'd found in her uncle's car, the ones she'd asked him to mail a few weeks ago and he'd apparently forgotten. What must Colin have thought when he received no mail from her? No one knew yet whether Wake was in danger. The news on the radio had dealt mostly with the devastation at Pearl, the fires and sunken ships, the dead sailors and terrified civilians, the blow to America's pride and the almost instantaneous lines forming at recruiting stations across the country. The end of peace. Maggie had called the Morrison Knudsen offices this morning, but they couldn't say if their workers were safe. And she'd called the governor's office and the air base on the outskirts of Boise. No one could tell her anything. It was as if Wake Island didn't exist. "Is it cold by the window? Do you want my sweater?" Agnes offered. Maggie shook her head without looking up. Eddie reached over to pat her hands. She moved them into her lap. The music stopped. And through the crackling airwaves President Roosevelt's voice filled the kitchen: Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan . . . Maggie rose, clutching the kitchen counter with both hands. She stared at the radio on the counter, the President's voice pounding in her ears: … Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. … She felt herself sliding to the floor, almost as if she were sliding into a bathtub, feeling weightless as if there really were water to buoy her. Eddie dropped down beside her, wrapped her tightly in his arms. Her mother crouched in front of her, clasping her hands. The tile floor was cool beneath her dress and her gaze fixed on a dark scuff rising from the base of the white kitchen cabinet like a column of black smoke swirling into a cloudy sky. Though his mouth was near her ear, Eddie's voice sounded low and hollow, as if traveling through water. "Don't worry, honey. Everything's going to be all right." She closed her eyes, feeling she deserved their pity and protectiveness. She wasn't strong, as she'd promised herself to be. She was numb-and Eddie's arms were warm and soothing. She accepted the glass of water her mother held out to her and sipped obediently. She would let them care for her now because she needed them to, but when this numbness wore off and she stood against the force of her fear, she vowed to face it alone in her room, surrounded by photographs of Colin and by the things he had given her. She would teach herself to be strong for his sake. She would teach herself to believe he could yet come home. top of page				Reader Comments "Remember Wake is a compelling book filled with details of World War II at home and abroad. Promising young writer Teresa R. Funke tells a story of young lovers caught up in the events of wartime that will haunt you long after you've finished the book." Sandra Dallas, author of Alice's Tulips and The Persian Pickle Club. "Teresa Funke's novel Remember Wake is a great addition to your historical fiction collection. This is a rich re-telling of the WWII battle of Wake Island. The novel brings to life an inspiring story of bravery, stoic suffering and love. A good read for historians and romantics alike." Marilyn Colter, Director Red Feather Lakes Community Library From BarnesandNoble.com A Barnes and Noble reviewer, August 9, 2002: "A Book Club Must! I wish that I could write a review as well as this book was written. I highly recommend it to everyone, young and old. I've already told many people that this is a 'must' read." Carla Wilkins, May 29, 2002: "A Great History Book. Remember Wake did more for teaching history to my kids than their Social Studies textbooks did in a year because the novel interested them. I highly recommend it for all school libraries." Lorraine Nuxoll, May 28, 2002: "A Wonderful and informative book. I couldn't put it down! This is such an inspiring story! The main characters went through such a terrible battle to survive the prison ships and prison camps. It's incredible that this is based on true facts! The author really shows you what it would be like to survive a war." From Amazon.com Lewiston Morning Tribune, reporter: "Recalling an oft-forgotten story Remember Wake (a real page-turner) had me fascinated from the first few pages. The characters were likeable and interesting, moreover, the images (especially those from the POW camps) were real and powerful." A reader from Fort Collins: "Fascinating read A wonderful, interesting read about Wake Island and its role in WWII, brought to life through two fascinating characters. I particularly enjoyed learning about the hardships experienced by women left at home. A terrific book!" Buy the Book You can purchase Remember Wake at your local bookstore or via the internet. There are several options for online purchasing: Amazon.com for $14.00 plus shipping and handling Barnes and Noble for $14.00, $12.60 for members, plus shipping and handling To support your independent bookstores, please order from www.booksense.com top of page