Hold Strong Summary, Characters and Themes

Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree is a historical novel that follows the harrowing journey of Sam Carlson, an American soldier captured during World War II, and Sarah Haber, the woman he loves. Her life becomes entangled in wartime intelligence work.

Based on real-life events and inspired by actual people, the novel explores the resilience of the human spirit under brutal conditions. It travels from small-town America to the horrors of Japanese prison camps and the hidden world of naval codebreaking. Through alternating perspectives, the novel captures love, endurance, sacrifice, and the enduring will to return home—even when the world has been turned upside down. It’s a story about survival, faith, and the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship forged in the darkest of times.

Summary

The story begins in 1944 aboard the Arisan Maru, a Japanese “hell ship” carrying American POWs in unspeakable conditions. Among them is Sam Carlson, who clings to life through memories of his hometown and the woman he loves, Sarah Haber.

The ship is overcrowded and suffocating, a prelude to the inhumanity Sam and his fellow prisoners have already endured—and will continue to endure.

The narrative then traces back to 1938 in Eagle Grove, Minnesota. Sam is a young dreamer in love with Sarah, a determined student aspiring to become a teacher.

The Great Depression has left them with few options. While Sarah pursues college, Sam enlists in the National Guard to carve a future.

Their love deepens through letters, promises, and rare reunions as the world inches closer to war.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Sam’s unit is deployed to the Philippines. He’s eventually captured during the fall of Bataan.

He endures the infamous Death March and is imprisoned in brutal camps, including Cabanatuan. There, he bonds with fellow prisoners Pete Chavez, a fierce protector, and Father Tom Scecina, a compassionate priest who becomes their spiritual anchor.

Meanwhile, Sarah joins the WAVES and eventually works in naval codebreaking. Her intellect and dedication earn her a place in the top-secret FRUPAC unit.

Unbeknownst to her, her work decoding Japanese communications intersects directly with Sam’s fate. She begins to suspect that POWs are being moved aboard unmarked transport ships targeted by American submarines.

Sam survives the treacherous journey on the Arisan Maru only because he’s removed before it’s sunk by an American sub. The attack is based on misidentified intelligence.

He’s transported to Japan and forced to labor in mines and on airfields under horrifying conditions. His body deteriorates, and his soul nearly breaks.

But the friendships he forms with Chavez and Father Tom, and the memory of Sarah, sustain him. They endure bombings, cave-ins, and public executions.

Even as Father Tom dies, his final words strengthen Sam’s resolve.

As Japan’s defeat looms, desperation rises. Guards grow more violent, and rumors circulate about orders to execute all POWs if Allied forces land.

Sam takes it upon himself to rally hope. He keeps a secret journal, plans for resistance, and ensures that stories of those lost will not be forgotten.

Sarah, working tirelessly from the other side of the world, finally confirms Sam’s survival from a fragment of a Japanese camp’s roster. Driven by hope and guilt, she works with Red Cross teams to support repatriation.

As peace nears, an American pilot captured and thrown into Sam’s camp confirms that liberation is imminent. Sam and Chavez cling to life, each promising to tell the other’s story if they don’t both make it.

Sam is finally rescued. Weighed down by trauma, he returns to American soil and to Sarah.

Their reunion is quiet, emotional, and complicated. Both carry scars—hers from the secrecy and burden of war work, his from years of torture and loss.

They begin to rebuild their lives, sharing stories and grappling with survivor’s guilt.

In a final scene, Sam proposes to Sarah again at the same white church where their journey began. This time, she says yes.

Their love, tempered by war, is reborn in peace. The novel closes with the understanding that while not all were saved, those who endured carry forward the stories of the fallen—holding strong in their memory.

Characters

Sam Carlson

Sam Carlson, the central protagonist, embodies resilience, sacrifice, and the painful transformation brought on by the horrors of war. From his humble beginnings in Eagle Grove, Minnesota, to his harrowing experiences as a POW in Japan, Sam evolves into a symbol of endurance.

He starts as a young man with dreams of education and a future with his sweetheart, Sarah. However, as the war progresses, he is thrust into the brutal realities of battle and captivity.

Despite the physical and emotional trauma, Sam never loses his connection to his past life, particularly to Sarah, whom he clings to as a source of hope. His leadership qualities emerge in the POW camps, where he helps his comrades survive through the darkest times.

Sam’s journey is not just about survival but about maintaining his humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering. His deep bond with his friends, particularly Father Tom and Chavez, keeps him grounded, even as the war and the brutal conditions around him threaten to crush his spirit.

Sarah Haber

Sarah Haber plays a crucial role in the narrative, acting as a parallel figure to Sam in terms of strength, perseverance, and personal sacrifice. Although she is physically separated from Sam by the war, she becomes integral to the American war effort, particularly through her work in codebreaking as part of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).

Her intellect and mathematical skills make her indispensable, and she is one of the few who is capable of deciphering critical information about POW transport ships. Despite her growing career and independence, Sarah is constantly haunted by the uncertainty of Sam’s fate, and her emotional journey mirrors Sam’s in many ways.

Sarah struggles with survivor’s guilt, especially after uncovering that some of the American POWs may have died as a result of her country’s actions, such as the sinking of the Arisan Maru. Her love for Sam drives her to seek out every clue, every piece of intelligence, with the hope of reuniting with him.

Sarah’s evolution throughout the book is a powerful testament to her intelligence, inner strength, and dedication, making her a pivotal character in the narrative.

Father Tom Scecina

Father Tom serves as the spiritual anchor for Sam and his fellow POWs. His unwavering faith, despite the horrors he witnesses, provides a source of emotional and moral guidance for the men around him.

Though he is not physically strong, his strength comes from his ability to uplift others through words, rituals, and his sense of purpose. Father Tom’s death in the POW camp marks a significant turning point for Sam, symbolizing the loss of the last connection to their pre-war life.

His death deeply impacts the morale of the group but also reinforces the importance of maintaining faith and hope, even in the darkest moments. Through Father Tom, the novel emphasizes the power of belief and the role of community in surviving trauma.

Pete Chavez

Chavez is one of Sam’s closest friends and a key character who adds both humor and depth to the narrative. Despite the brutal conditions in the POW camps, Chavez is often the one who helps maintain morale.

His rebellious nature and willingness to challenge authority, even in small acts of defiance, provide a sense of resistance in the face of oppression. Chavez’s relationship with Sam is one of mutual respect and camaraderie, and he becomes a source of emotional support for Sam as they endure their captivity.

Chavez’s deep sense of loyalty is evident when he risks his life to help Sam after he is trapped under debris during a mine collapse. Chavez’s acts of selflessness and his ability to inspire others, even in the face of certain death, demonstrate his strength of character.

His friendship with Sam becomes one of the most meaningful relationships in the book, symbolizing the power of brotherhood in times of extreme adversity.

Themes

The Resilience of the Human Spirit in the Face of Unimaginable Suffering

One of the most significant and enduring themes in Hold Strong is the resilience of the human spirit when subjected to the harshest possible conditions. This is seen most poignantly through the character of Sam Carlson and his friends as they endure the unimaginable horrors of being prisoners of war under the Japanese.

The brutal conditions aboard the Arisan Maru, the torturous labor camps in Japan, and the constant threat of death challenge the physical, emotional, and mental limits of the POWs. Yet, Sam’s capacity to endure is rooted in his inner strength and his deep sense of duty to return to Sarah, and the connection with his fellow POWs—especially Father Tom and Chavez—becomes a lifeline that sustains him.

Morality in a World Defined by War and Dehumanization

In Hold Strong, the moral dilemmas faced by characters are heightened by the dehumanizing environment of war. The POWs are subjected to extreme physical and psychological abuse, forcing them to confront the very limits of their humanity.

The guards, too, become more than just faceless antagonists—they are driven by their own fears and allegiances, showing moments of cruelty but also vulnerability. For Sam and his comrades, survival sometimes means making decisions that blur the lines between right and wrong, and their internal struggles with these choices form a critical part of the narrative.

This theme invites readers to consider how warfare and its horrors force individuals into morally complex positions, where survival often comes at a high ethical cost.

Role of Love and Memory as Sources of Strength in Extreme Adversity

Love and memory emerge as central themes throughout Hold Strong. Despite the overwhelming despair, Sam’s love for Sarah and his memories of their life together back in Minnesota become crucial for his survival.

His dreams of returning to her serve as a guiding force that keeps him anchored when all hope seems lost. Additionally, the bond between Sam and his fellow POWs—especially the spiritual strength provided by Father Tom—becomes a vital source of endurance.

These relationships underscore the idea that human connections, whether through love, friendship, or shared suffering, are critical to enduring life’s darkest moments. Even when faced with death, the characters cling to the love they once knew and the belief that it will sustain them through their trials.

Psychological Toll of War and the Struggle for Identity and Reconciliation

Hold Strong does not shy away from exploring the profound psychological toll of war on its characters. As Sam and his fellow prisoners endure relentless hardships, the mental scars of their experiences—manifested as survivor’s guilt, PTSD, and trauma—become as significant as the physical ones.

Sam’s struggles with reintegration into civilian life after his liberation highlight the difficulty of reconciling the person he was before the war with the person he has become in its aftermath. The theme of reentry into normal life, complicated by deep psychological wounds, challenges the reader to understand the lasting impact of war on identity and the long road to healing.

Sam’s struggles with survivor’s guilt, his nightmares, and his inability to fully reconnect with his past life all serve as powerful reminders of how deeply trauma can alter one’s sense of self.

Unseen and Unacknowledged Contributions of Women in Wartime

While Hold Strong largely focuses on the experiences of men in combat and captivity, the contributions of women during the war, particularly through Sarah’s role as a codebreaker, play an equally pivotal role. Sarah’s intellectual abilities, her drive to contribute to the war effort, and her quiet sacrifice in dealing with the emotional burden of her work highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women during wartime.

As she deciphers enemy codes and indirectly aids in the fate of POWs like Sam, Sarah’s story brings attention to the essential role women played in wartime efforts, particularly in intelligence and communication, and how their personal sacrifices shaped the course of history.

This theme reflects the broader social issues of gender roles and the shifting expectations of women in times of global crisis.

The Heroism Found in Everyday Survival and the Enduring Power of Hope

Finally, Hold Strong highlights the heroism in simple acts of survival and endurance. While traditional notions of heroism often focus on grand battles and bold victories, the true heroism in this story is found in the quiet moments of defiance, the small acts of kindness and resistance, and the refusal to give in to despair.

Sam’s survival is not only a testament to his physical strength but also to his moral courage in the face of unspeakable suffering. The continual presence of hope, even when it seems impossible, is what defines the characters as heroes.

It is this refusal to surrender to the brutal realities of war that allows them to continue holding strong, finding meaning in the smallest fragments of their humanity, whether in dreams of reunion, fleeting moments of spiritual solace, or acts of compassion in the midst of cruelty.