Lowell Thomas

The first Lowell Thomas book I ever read was the first volume of his two autobiographical volumes. The most interesting thing to me, in reading the memoirs of this journalist/author, was that he was always just in the exact place where something important was happening, and that everyone he met was either famous, or would become famous within the next five years or so. "How is that possible for a poor boy from Cripple Creek, Colorado?", I asked myself. I still don't have the answer to this question, but know that it is true not only for Thomas but for many others, although most, unlike Thomas, have a family or financial advantage to give them a boost.

In any event, the most recent Thomas book I read is called "Back to Mandalay", and is not a first person journalistic account of his travels or reportage, but rather the story of the capture of the jungles of Burma by the Allies from the Japanese in World War II.

The topic may today sound a bit esoteric, but in fact, it is an extremely interesting tale, made more interesting by Thomas' easy reading prose.

The problem is that the Japanese control Burma. This is a problem not only for Burma but for the Allies, because they had to way to get supplies to General Stillwell in China, and because the Japanese could cross Burma on their way to India, still under British rule. The story is the story of leapfrogging most of the country to establish bases in the north, where the transportation routes were located, to destroy the Japanese ability to move supplies and manpower. In fact, once the north fell, so did the south and all of Burma.

The lead characters were Ord Wingate, of Palestine fame, and Phil Cochran, who became the model for a Terry and the Pirates cartoon character. The supporting cast consists of British and American officers and enlisted men, fearless all (or at least fearless most of the time), who had the job of moving into the jungle to set up bases, through the movement of men and material in a large glider operation. The book deals with strategy, success and failure, and mainly with the personalities of so many of those involved.

Wingate, a scholar whose heart was in Palestine with the Jews, masterminded the operation from headquarters in the south, while Cochran headed the operational side of things. Their ability to work together, in spite of enormous personality differences, is interesting, as is the success of the mission over difficult odds, and great obstacles.

Wingate was killed in a plane crash before the mission was completed, cutting off a brilliant career. His death was kept secret.

The book ends with a "where are they now?" And, as you would expect, having no relationship with their military heroism or success, some returning soldiers did just fine, and others were unable to find their bearings.

Any other unusual characters in the book? Yes. Goldberg. Goldberg had a European Jewish father, and a Burmese mother, and was a trader/guide/lost soul, who appeared and vanished equally quickly. Wouldn't you know it?