SARALAND, Ala., May 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- What makes an American solider honorable? Are honor, duty and country the noblest goals of American soldiers? Are Americans that wear the green uniform always the most honorable among our country's citizens? These are some of the questions American G.I. Joshua David Duncan ponders during his exotic, surreal time in Asia in Born in Bataan, by Winford Lewis Allen (now available through 1stBooks Library).
As this soldier struggles to go from naive young adult to a man worthy to wear the green uniform, the hungry, ravaged, frightened children of the Philippines raise questions for him. The Asian landscape and way of life are mystifying to him and his Western outlook on the world. He sees the beauty of the land and people. Joshua sees the splendor of the sunrise and sunset and the glory of the mountain, but is left stymied by the poverty of the people. Naked children pilfer though buckets of tiny sea creatures, scavenging for the smallest item to eat.
During Joshua's stay, Lynn Reyes, a beautiful, dark native girl with a propensity to get involved with American servicemen, becomes a close friend. But an unexpected war changes everything.
The question Joshua is left asking isn't why this land is so full of people who are hungry, depraved and dependent on the sea for life; instead he asks who? Who is responsible for all these fatherless children? If an American serviceman fathers a child far, far away, is he responsible for the child's welfare or not?
Allen lives just north of Mobile, Ala. He is surrounded by a large family that's headed by his matriarch grandmother, Ada Marie Havens. He frequently rides his bike to visit her and hear her stories. The author lived with the Filipino people while working in the electric power industry and was deeply affected by their loyalty, faith and most of all, their joy.
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