Traces the experiences of the author's father and three fellow Navy doctors who were captured during the battles of Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines, which united the men as they attended patients under the eye of their captors.

"Portions of Conduct under fire appeared in different form in The Virginia quarterly review and Travel + leisure."--T.p. verso.

The prettiest girl in the world -- Pearl of the Orient -- Red sunset -- Invisible enemies -- Exodus -- Rendezvous -- Opening salvos -- Never surrender -- "Help is on the way" -- "Wherever I am ... I still love you" -- "We are not barbarians" -- "I go to meet the Japanese commander" -- Limbo -- Horyo -- "The last thin tie" -- The good doctor -- "The Japanese will pay" -- Bridge over hell -- Bad timing and good luck -- "Action taken" none" -- The Arisan Maru -- Fire from the sky -- Total war -- Darkness before dawn -- Mission of mercy -- Coming home.