This is the story of John McKinney who received the Medal of Honor for his actions against a Japanese surprise attack. On May 11, 1945, McKinney returned fire on the Japanese attacking his unit, using every available weapon-even his fists-standing alone against wave after wave of dedicated Japanese soldiers. At the end, John McKinney was alive-with over forty Japanese bodies before him.

This is the story of an extraordinary man whose courage and fortitude in battle saved many American lives, and whose legacy has been sadly forgotten by all but a few. Here, the proud legacy of John McKinney lives on. “One man can do extraordinary, almost unbelievable, things. In this vivid telling of one of World War II’s most legendary exploits, Forrest Johnson closely examines a single act of courage—and the haunting memories that linger long after the battle is over.”—Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Blood and Thunder and Ghost Soldiers
 
“Phantom Warrior is the most riveting and unforgettable account of individual combat I’ve ever read. Set against the backdrop of General Douglas MacArthur’s reconquest of the Philippines, Forrest Johnson’s gripping portrayal of Private John McKinney’s one-man battle against the Japanese at Umiray outpost in northern Luzon will inspire even the most fainthearted World War II reader.”—Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beyond Band of Brothers

“Johnson's gripping book tells the story of one of the obscurest but most remarkable Medal of Honor winners of World War II...[McKinney] never made much of his achievement. Those who owed their lives to him, however, did not forget him.”—Booklist