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Father-Son Co-Author Gripping Account Of Prisoner Of War Ordeal On Historic Anniversary

New Book Highlights Life Lessons From Survivor of Infamous Death March

For further information, contact:
Kenneth B. Murphy
1West Publications
Phone: 925.858.0964
Email: whenmenmustlive@ymail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Livermore, California – May 15, 2009 – James T. Murphy and Kenneth B. Murphy today announced the publication of their new book “When Men Must Live”, which chronicles in vivid detail James Murphy’s three-and-a-half year ordeal as a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II.

The first copies of the book, co-authored by father James, 88, and son Kenneth, 55, were released on the sixty-seventh anniversary year of the historic surrender of more than 75,000 American and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines on April 9, 1942.

The elder Murphy, who at the time was a twenty-one year old radio operator in the U.S. Army Air Corps, is one of the few remaining survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March. After the surrender, Japanese commanders forced thousands of already starving and sick POWs to march for more than a week under a scorching tropical sun without food or water, covering a distance of more than sixty miles to the first of several makeshift POW camps. Thousands of Americans and Filipinos died from exhaustion, abuse and murder along the route. Thousands more who made it all the way to Camp O’Donnell at the end of the march would later be among those dying from disease, neglect and starvation at a rate of fifty each day at O’Donnell.

“It is unprecedented have written a story like this with my father--it has never been done before. It’s like I’ve been able to step back in time and relive his long and traumatic ordeal right along side him. There were so many challenges, mysteries and miracles that happened to him along the way that allowed us to draw out some very powerful themes and life lessons for our readers,” according to the younger Murphy.

“When Men Must Live” captures many of the day-to-day conflicts these heroes encountered, contrasting good versus evil, hope and despair, and life and death through many provocative, inspirational, and often surprising anecdotes.

“All this comes from the perspective of someone who defied all the odds stacked against him, even as American military leaders and politicians—as well as the Japanese POW camp commanders— predicted or plotted his demise,” Murphy’s son added.

“We made a promise to each other during our darkest days as POWs that if any of us should be fortunate enough to survive and return home, we would tell the story of what happened”, said James Murphy. “The book honors all those who were lost and those who made it back.”

According to co-author Kenneth Murphy, there are additional reasons for this story being written now.

“This is not a run-of-the-mill war story. It is one of the rare personal accounts now in print that follows one man’s journey throughout the entirety of World War II as a POW. My father is also one of the unique few who survived not only the Death March, but three-and-a-half more years of systematic starvation, torture and abuse at places like Camp Cabanatuan, on the so-called Hell Ships that transported POWs to Japan in 1944, and as a slave laborer—in my father’s case working in a copper mine—until he was liberated a full month after the war officially ended in 1945.”

It is estimated that there are fewer than a couple of hundred remaining survivors of the Bataan Death March. To James Murphy, his survival remains both a mystery and a testament of his faith and will to return home.

“I was told by my captors in Japan that there were official orders directing that all POWs be summarily massacred at the moment Allied Forces landed on the Japanese homeland. I was shown actual copies of those orders at one point,” Murphy recalled. “Throughout the war, there had been so many inhumane acts of brutality and murder that I knew they were capable of carrying out their promise to do away with all of us.”

Anticipation of the release of this father-son publication—nearly a decade in the making—began twelve months ago when an article containing an excerpt of Murphy’s story was released at the annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Test Range in New Mexico, where more than 5,000 military and non-military enthusiasts gather each year to honor those who survived or perished on Bataan. Most of those attendees participate in a 26.2 mile marathon “march” through the desert to pay a physical and symbolic tribute to those like Murphy who endured the real Death March more than six decades ago.

James Murphy currently resides in Santa Maria, California, with his wife Nancy, after serving a twenty-two year career in the Air Force before retiring as a Captain in the early1960s, then spent the next twenty-three years working for an aerospace and missile defense contractor at Vandenberg Air Force Base. His son Kenneth is currently an author and management consultant residing in Livermore, California.

“When Men Must Live” is available immediately in a Limited Release – First Edition (paperback and hardback) directly from the publisher, 1West Publications, and will be distributed through bookstores, online retailers, museums and other specialty retail stores and outlets beginning this summer. Contact 1West Publications at 925.858.0964, or email at whenmenmustlive@ymail.com.

Looking for:

The first edition - limited release of this book was published in mid-2009, and is nearly sold out with only word of mouth publicity and no formal marketing. Currently looking for agent or publisher to print second edition to take over and expand market distribution. Book "When Men Must Live" has had outstanding response to date after only three months in print, as evidenced in the following comments received from our readers, including two newspaper articles and one TV news report:

I couldn’t put the book down once I got started. The best word I can use to describe the book is “riveting”. You are truly an inspiration to me. M.F., California

Mesmerizing . . . a gripping account . . . N.W., California

I just finished the book this morning. It was wonderful. It was educational. It was inspiring! Thank you so much for writing this. It is a treasure. God Bless you and your dad. Someday, hopefully, as a human race, we'll figure out a way to make war obsolete. L.E., California

I consider it a privilege to have read every page of your riveting book. I simply could not put it down. Yours is an amazing story . . . Long after finishing your book, I will remember your writings . . . The book should be required reading for the younger generation. L.L., California

Thank you for writing this book. It is profound. It incorporates family, war and faith in a manner that I have never seen. I haven’t been so deeply touched by a book in a long time. A.P., Texas

What a wonderful book, the format you took . . . gives the reader a vivid mental picture of those events. G.M., California

It brought tears to my eyes, and still does when I think of what you went through. I just wanted to tell you that you are a hero to me and so many others, and what you endured for this country should never be forgotten. G.T., California

The strength of Jim's words, his faith and his forgiveness, make for a shining conclusion and so utterly exemplify the force and clarity of his will to live. I feel that . . . this is a book that easily has a wide and appreciative audience. A.K., California

Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for breaking through to share your unique, yet universal, story. Thank you for inspiring us with your incredible faith. Thank you for keeping sacred the noble virtues you held dear. And, thank you for demonstrating to all of us that regardless of the horrors you endured, goodness prevails. By sharing not only your story but by revealing the nobility that resides within you, you have touched many, many hearts, and challenged many to take a hard look at our inhumanity to our brothers - no matter what their race or circumstances. J.C., California

I am so glad I read “When Men Must Live”. It was so well done! I wish everyone would read it.

I tell everyone I see about the book and why they should read it. It has changed my life! I think differently about a lot of things now. It makes for a real page turner, so easy to read and impossible to lay it down. I am so glad this book got written.

Just fantastic! Very good writing.

Thank God you got the book written It needs to be read by every teenager in this country. It is certainly a well written book and so needed to be out there now. B.J., California

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Biography/Autobiography/Memoir, Business & Economics, Management, Fiction, Drama, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense, Short Stories, War/Military, History, Military, USA Book Author