by Gene Yu
Published
October 1, 2024
Pages
231 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Little A
Hardcover
$19.26
Paperback
$12.49
Audiobook
$0.00
Audio CD
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The riveting true story behind an unsanctioned rescue mission in the jungles of the Philippines, engineered by former Green Beret and unlikely American hero Gene Yu. Evelyn Chang and her husband were vacationing in the Philippines when they were ambushed by terrorists. Evelyn’s husband was killed.
She was kidnapped and disappeared into the lawless netherworld of the Sulu Archipelago. There was no hope of a rescue. Former Green Beret Gene Yu was five years out of the military, unemployed, and struggling with his transition back to the real world when Evelyn’s family asked for help.
His improbable mission: infiltrate one of the most dangerous corners of the world and get her back. Alone. Mindful of “every young Asian kid in America struggling to fit into a dominant white culture,” Gene’s harrowing, self-deprecating, and provocative memoir is really the story of two rescues.
One, a personal liberation and the discovery of self-identity beyond both literal and figurative battlefields. The other is set amid the excruciating ordeals of a jungle war zone, where an Asian American man, once self-described as “nobody squared,” defied all stereotypes and expectations to become a woman’s last hope of survival.
In 'The Second Shot: A Green Beret's Last Mission,' author John Harper embarks on a riveting tale of valor, sacrifice, and redemption. As Lieutenant Jack Daniels faces his final mission, he wrestles with the weight of his past and the hope for a new beginning. Set against the backdrop of war-torn landscapes and personal conflicts, this novel offers an intimate portrayal of the challenges faced by those in service and explores the enduring bonds forged amidst the chaos of combat.
Experience the resilience of the human spirit in times of adversity and uncertainty. Discover the unyielding brotherhood and loyalty within the special forces. Witness the complexity of personal redemption amid extraordinary challenges.
Lieutenant Jack Daniels is a seasoned Green Beret, respected and admired yet grappling with the shadows of his past. When tasked with a clandestine mission, he is forced to confront old ghosts. With his career nearing an end, this mission is more than just duty; it is redemption.
He must navigate a web of deception and ensure his team completes their tasks against all odds. /n As the story unfolds, readers delve deep into Jack's personal history, marked by moments of loss, triumph, and the haunting memories of battles long fought. His motivations, once fueled by a sense of duty, now shift towards inner peace and closure.
This shift is pivotal, threading through each decision made on the field. /n The narrative intricately weaves camaraderie, loyalty, and betrayal, unveiling how trust is hard-earned and easily shattered in the realms of covert operations. With precision and grit, Jack exemplifies leadership, guiding his team through terrain both expected and unseen.
/n Alongside the mission's nerve-wracking suspense, the story explores the man's internal workings behind the soldier's facade. Moral dilemmas and the desire for absolution play a significant role in this mission's unfolding drama, giving readers an insightful journey through complex emotions. /n As the mission crescendos towards a heart-pounding conclusion, Jack's encounters test the limits of his physical and emotional endurance.
Ultimately, 'The Second Shot' offers not just an action-packed narrative but a soul-stirring exploration of courage, legacy, and hope.
The novel offers a profound exploration of the soldier's psyche skillfully balancing action with introspection inviting readers to understand the emotional spectrum of warfare /n Rich character development and intricate plot lines elevate the storytelling making it more than just a tale of suspense but a nuanced exploration of personal growth and camaraderie /n Evocative descriptions and authentic depictions of military life immerse readers in Jack's world making the stakes tangible ensuring an engaged and emotionally invested readership experience.
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Based on 398 ratings
Not what you expect from a special forces soldier. Gene Yu expresses his humanity and his deep concerns for others, particularly Asian Americans trying to fit into American society. Not a great book, but an honest one.
"The Second Shot" is a wonderful blend of action, humor, and self-reflection. Gene Yu's account of the rescue of Evelyn Chang is a deeply personal journey of courage, resilience, and reinvention. Unafraid to confront his own failures, Gene's down-to-earth writing style makes it easy to connect with his journey of personal growth and determination, all with a Special Forces, edge-of-your-seat flavor. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys war stories, thrillers, or real-life tales of bravery, humor, and redemption.
Well written story. The author does a great job of presenting his information and behavior in telling the plot of the book. He adds a lot of his failures to show how important it is to get back up after you fall short. It's great to know that people have shown that honor and your word still mean something.
It's an interesting story of the rescue of a Taiwan kidnap victim. I liked the way that he navigated the complex political maze to succeed
This is a rare and detailed peek behind the scenes of a high profile kidnapping recovery as told by the former U.S. Special Forces soldier that lead the effort. After leaving the military, Yu worked a series of high value jobs, but had yet to find his professional anchoring when he decided to lead an unofficial and clandestine recovery effort for Evelyn Chang who was being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. Working against the odds, Yu assembled a team of private contractors, worked around international cooperation barriers, and deployed some interesting and unconventional tactics that make for a fascinating and insightful story. Yu shares the story along with the backdrop of his career as well as his personal journey to find meaning by doing something selfless and meaningful. As such, this is not just a great K&R story, it is a personal and compelling journey shared with humility and honest reflection. Highly recommended.
I got sucked into reading this book by the story. It is interesting overall if you enjoy military history and covert ops. The story, however, gets distracted by the author’s style which I found ponderous. While the author’s perspective is self-effacing, it ends up being the opposite, in my opinion. I also didn’t buy into the Asian victimization angle, having grown up with many Japanese, Chinese and Korean kids. The younger generation of Asian kids do not adhere as well to family traditions and are keen to be as American as their non-Asian peers.
I'm going to put the pros and cons here for you. Pros: It's hard to not be interested in a story that's about saving someone's life. As a culturally bicultural person with a great deal of experience living in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, I felt an understanding of many of the experiences with culture and with in-group attitudes and negative behaviors he shares. Dealing with racism, especially when serving your country- facing that challenge and dealing with it deserves much respect. And I can only hope that facing a truth like this in a book will open some readers' eyes and empathy and understanding. Finally, it was very interesting to learn about some of the backstory to operations and events. The kind of thinking that goes into hostage negotiation and rescue operations is very new to me and fascinating. Cons: The story needed better overall shaping and pacing. I can't help but think of the same issue that the author of the famed "All Things Bright and Beautiful" books had. After he became famous, he ditched his professional editors, or at least a great deal of their advice, and as a result, the books lost shape and gained a wandering discourse nature. Gene, I'm sorry to say but that's what happened quite a bit here. You really needed a super pro to organize the shape and the sidelines you went into so it wouldn't be stretched outside of what a good story expectations are. I can't help but imagine that perhaps some of your trained reticence to even talk about your achievements interfered here with really going for it with the level of direction the story needed to really become a gripping one. Nevertheless, I see a really good possibility that this would make an excellent movie. It's about time that all my Chinese American friends had recognition for their patriotism and service to a country with a majority of faces that look different than theirs but hold the same hearts.
I thoroughly enjoyed Gene Yu's book Second Shot: A Green Beret’s Last Mission. Was great from beginning to end. The book deals with many serious subjects. But does so in a way that can inform and educate and help us all think about how to be better people. It’s an incredibly well-written book, packed with powerful lessons on leadership, resilience, and success in life. One of the key takeaways is that it’s not about how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up. Like a sniper, it’s not just the first shot that matters—it’s how the second shot connects. The book also emphasizes the importance of self-education, and you’ll find yourself laughing when you read how Gene Yu acquired books as a kid, including the one that motivated him to apply to West Point. There’s even a fun Hogwarts reference! This is a very human story, with complex personalities you’ll empathize with, including Gene himself, as he navigates the moral challenges of his mission. His success in securing the release of Abu Sayyaf kidnapping victim Evelyn Chang is a testament to his determination and leadership. Knowing Gene personally and having observed his leadership as a CEO, this book gave me a deeper understanding of why he’s one of the greatest leaders I’ve had the privilege of meeting. He’s someone who puts people first and never shies away from hard work in service of a cause bigger than himself. Highly recommended!