Eight Survived

Douglas A. Campbell's "Eight Survived" recounts one of the most remarkable survival stories to emerge from World War II's Pacific Theater. The book chronicles the fate of the USS Flier, a Gato-class submarine that struck a mine in the Balabac Strait between Borneo and Palawan in August 1944. Within less than a minute, the vessel sank, taking most of its crew to the bottom of the ocean. Of the approximately 86 men aboard, only 15 managed to escape the rapidly flooding submarine. From this small group of survivors, merely eight would live to see rescue, making their ordeal one of the war's most extraordinary tales of endurance and evasion.

Campbell brings meticulous research to this narrative, drawing from official naval records, personal accounts, and interviews with survivors and their families. The author's journalistic background serves the story well, as he presents the technical details of submarine warfare and the specifics of the Flier's final mission without overwhelming readers unfamiliar with naval terminology. The book carefully reconstructs the submarine's patrol, the catastrophic explosion that doomed it, and the desperate struggle of those who made it to the surface.

The strength of "Eight Survived" lies in its detailed portrayal of what happened after the sinking. The survivors found themselves adrift in enemy-controlled waters, hundreds of miles from Allied lines. Their journey to safety required not only physical endurance but also successful evasion of Japanese forces occupying the region. Campbell documents how these men, ill-equipped and exhausted, navigated treacherous waters and eventually made contact with local Filipino guerrillas who risked their own lives to assist them. This aspect of the narrative highlights the often-overlooked role that resistance fighters and local populations played in supporting Allied servicemen trapped behind enemy lines.

The author provides essential context about submarine operations in the Pacific War, explaining the strategic importance of American submarines in disrupting Japanese supply lines and military movements. This background helps readers understand both the risks submariners faced and the critical nature of their missions. Campbell also addresses the specific dangers of operating in the shallow, mine-infested waters where the Flier met its end, a region that claimed other vessels during the conflict.

Campbell's treatment of the individual survivors adds human dimension to the historical account. Rather than presenting them as uniform heroes, he acknowledges their different responses to trauma, their struggles with survivor's guilt, and the various ways the experience shaped their post-war lives. Some men spoke openly about their ordeal; others remained largely silent about what they endured. This nuanced approach prevents the narrative from becoming hagiographic while still honoring the genuine courage these men displayed.

The book also examines the Navy's response to the disaster and the subsequent investigation into what caused the Flier to sink. Campbell presents the evidence that pointed to a mine strike, though he notes the challenges investigators faced in determining exact circumstances when the primary evidence rested on the ocean floor. The author handles these technical aspects with clarity, making them accessible to general readers while satisfying those interested in naval history's finer points.

One of the narrative's most compelling elements involves the role of Filipino guerrillas and civilians who sheltered the survivors and arranged their eventual extraction. Campbell documents the considerable risks these individuals accepted in aiding American servicemen, as Japanese occupation forces dealt harshly with anyone caught assisting the enemy. This portion of the book serves as a reminder of the complex web of alliances and resistance networks that operated throughout the Pacific War.

The pacing remains steady throughout, with Campbell balancing the immediate drama of survival against the broader historical context. The book neither rushes through events nor becomes bogged down in excessive detail. Technical information about submarines, geography, and military operations integrates smoothly into the narrative without disrupting its flow.

"Eight Survived" fills an important gap in World War II literature by documenting a lesser-known incident that nonetheless represents the dangers faced by submarine crews throughout the Pacific campaign. American submarines suffered the highest casualty rate of any U.S. military branch during the war, and stories like that of the Flier illustrate why these statistics were so grim. Campbell's work ensures that this particular crew's sacrifice and the survivors' remarkable ordeal receive the attention they deserve. The book stands as both a tribute to those who served aboard the USS Flier and a valuable contribution to the historical record of submarine warfare in the Pacific.