H-POW-UnKnown

Prisoner of War Experiences of  Author Unknown, 19^th BG, 28^th Sqd 1940-1945

                This story was received in ’98 from Melvin McKensie, of the 19^th BG who had been at Clark Field Dec 8 1941. His comment, as that of any reader, was that he wished he knew who the name of the author of this story. The story includes two clues: Chuck  and  Kaelin. At the time of the authors arrival Clark Field was the home of the 28^th Sqd, which was merged with the newly arrived 14^th, 30^th and 93^rd as part of the 19^th BG before the war began. The current 1941-1943 19^th BG Roster, of all persons known to have been in the 19^th BG during that time is made up from surviving records provided by association members – it does not include the name Kaelin. If anyone who reads this can identify the author, please notify the Historian of the 19^th BG. DL.

FOREWORD

I have put on paper the following with but one thought in mind, namely, to tell/record my story/tale of having been a World War II Prisoner-of War of the Japanese for three and one half years, as it happened to me, before the memory processes fade away.., (The Japanese, Government has since denied any atrocities, such as The Bataan Death March, Unmarked Ships Carrying POWs, Unwarranted Executions, Inhumane Treatment, and etc.,)

Little or nothing has been written about us so far . . . So in effect, I suppose that I'm telling Our Story. . .

Guess I sorta put my foot in my mouth (a habit I've always had), back in June of '39 when I roared into my Company Orderly Room, 11^th US Infantry, Ft. Benj., Harrison Indiana, insisting on a transfer into the US Army Air Corps including at the same time an overseas assignment . . . I further compounded this request (which later proved to be a bit of a folly), by requesting that subject overseas stint be at our/the US's farthest outpost!! ... My thinking? behind this ran so: I had spent a couple of years hoofing around with the Infantry, and a couple of years getting my fanny beat off in a Tank Outfit, so why not a couple of years in the comfort of the Wild Blue Yonder!! ... I was also due to get out of the Service in a couple of more years, so why not see some of the World particularly if Uncle Sam was to pick up the travel tab!! ... Obviously the aforementioned request(s) were granted, hence this scripts-man-ship.  In September of '39 I was on my way to our farthest outpost, one each Clark Field, US Army Air Corps, Ft.,, Stotsenburg, Island of Luzon, Pampanga, Philippine Islands, some six thousand miles from the Coast of California!! ... (I suppose that could be termed farthest).  The trip by US Army Transport Service aboard the US Grant proved to be pleasant and enlightening, in spite of travelling Troop Class ... Departure Point: Brooklyn N.Y., to Panama, through the Canal, along the Coast of Mexico and Lower California to San Francisco; thence to Honolulu, to Guam, and finally Manila, Philippine Islands, approximately a 30 day journey...The Grant had huge American flags painted on each side which were floodlighted at night; ‘though at the time I doubt that many of us attached much significance to this..

Upon disembarking, some were assigned to Nichols Field at Manila, and the rest to Clark Field, some sixty miles North of Manila. . . A good assignment for those of us who went to Clark: good quarters, fine recreation facilities, in addition to being some five hundred feet above sea level which meant that the mountain breezes pretty much held down the humidity with the exception of from June through August, during which time we worked only in the mornings.  My tour of duty was to end in October, '41, at which time I would return to the States.  Until early '41 life in our area remained pretty uneventful despite the 'War Rumblings' throughout the rest of the World. Though we were not too concerned with nor involved in the current World situation, probably erroneously feeling that we were too far off the beaten path, I do recall writing some friends that I felt that it might be some time before we all might meet again.  By mid '41 we became aware that our area was becoming the center of attraction from what was to prove to be an unwelcome source.  Such as almost daily high altitude flights by unidentified aircraft, and the off-shore waters suddenly infested by Japanese fishing boats.  The Filipino Navy and Coast Guard intercepted these boats whenever they “wandered” within the Philippine Coastal Waters Area, and discovered all to be equipped with a new type of fishing gear known as powerful short-wave radios!!  At the same time our daily activities became a bit more varied - the digging of trenches and Air Raid Shelters, having Air Raid Drills, practicing aircraft dispersal and defensive combat tactics AND the back breaking task of setting up aircraft parts and gasoline storage areas in the surrounding jungle.  In Oct of '41, 2 National Guard Tank Battalions and an Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the 200^th Coast Artillery came in from the States along with thirty-six B-17's, Flying Fortress aircraft!!  All of this, in addition to my being one of the aircraft crews that had observed the Japanese invasion fleet when it went into Indo-China indicated that the 'pot was beginning to boil'!! ... I was with a group from Clark which was in Manila the week end of Dec., 7, '41, the date that the 'Sons of Nippon' took their 'whacks' at Pearl Harbor, and it was NOT until the next morning that we heard the slightest reference to the EVENT!! ... In fact, the first that we at Clark heard at all was from a news broadcast on KZRM Radio Manila at 0900 hrs, 8 Dec, '41!! ... I had always envisioned that in such a situation the troops would be assembled and informed that a State of War existed between their country and a foreign power ... NOT SO ... NO WORD AT ALL was the best that we could come up with ... NO aircraft were dispersed, NO anti-aircraft crews were at the ready, and NO air raid alert was sounded.  To wit: we didn't get ready, and were NOT ready when they hit us Were there those who thought that they weren't coming after us?  Or was all of this part of a deliberate plan?  No matter, we 'dumb dog faces' knew that they'd come, and come they did!!  In the interim we were issued WW I tin helmets, gas asks, and rifles and ammunition.  Being an NCO, I was issued a 45 caliber automatic pistol, for which there was NO ammo on hand... STILL NO WORD, NO ORDERS ... After the noon meal we loafed about the barracks, listening to the radio news from Manila, and with special interest to the accounts of the Japanese air activity in our area ... Within minutes of this newscast, someone came dashing through the barracks yelling "The Japs are here"!! ... Everyone made a dash for the nearest window or door of which there suddenly seemed to be too few.  I got as far as the front steps of the barracks when the air was filled with whistling sounds of the bombs falling, and seconds later the blasts as they exploded.  Since our barracks was some fifty yards from the flight line, we were not in the bomb pattern or we would have been pretty much wiped out!....Unofficial estimates have placed the number of bombers from fifty to seventy-five; they hit us in two waves, and since they were unopposed as well as unannounced, plus their 'knowledge' of where things were, they 'broke our backs' combat-wise!!  I submit the statement 'unopposed and unannounced' since our Air Raid System made not a sound!! ... A fine job of sabotage.  As a result, none of our fighter planes were in the air, nor did the anti-aircraft guns fire a burst!!  The bombers were followed by a number of carrier based fighters which strafed the area until it had more holes in it than a fish net.  Two of our planes got airborne, and got several; they were flown by Capt.  Jesus Villamre, Philippine AF, and Lt Buzz Wagner, one of our boys.  Also the AA guns, depressed, and the tanks got a few.  Several more of our P-40's tried to get airborne but were shot up attempting to do so.  IRONY: In the early morning of this day our thirty six B-17's with fighter escort were preparing for an attack on Formosa/Taiwan from whence came our attackers.  However, SOMEONE?? ordered them to remain on Ground Alert UNTIL ATTACKED!!  This order prevented us from catching them on the ground, as they did us, and probably further prevented us from gaining some additional time which might have changed the course of the War in the Pacific (an uneducated guess, naturally).  During a lull in the enemy strafing, our 1^st Sergeant and I started towards the Flight Line to check the area, mainly on our Squadron personnel.  The area was a shambles, in flames and generally unrecognizable.  The dead and dying were everywhere.  Many of the living were suffering horribly from flash burns.  The majority of our planes seemed to be pretty well banged up, and it looked as if we were "out of business'!!  I will never forget the sight of Chaplain Major Braun tending the wounded and the dying during the strafing attacks Casualties were heavy since many personnel were quartered in one of the hangars due to lack of barracks space.  The pilots were at lunch and in their barracks when the bombers came, and their barracks got a direct hit.  We evacuated the immediate area late that afternoon in order to attempt to round up the scattered personnel into their respective units so that we might organize ourselves into some sort of effective military force.  We reoccupied the field the next day, began cleaning up the mess, salvaging what was left; we then visited the Hospital to see whom had made it, and whom hadn't.  Many hadn't.  We even finally got the Air Raid System working.  We then settled down to “hold the Fort”!!  From then until 24 Dec, when we made our FINAL evacuation of Clark Field, things were reasonably routine except for the almost daily nuisance raids from a couple of dive bombers who generally did little damage.  These bombers came from our abandoned air strip at Aparri on the northern tip of Luzon.  The Japanese were already 'on board', having effected a landing in that area from Lingayen Gulf, with heavy losses we heard from participants in the defense against them.  Our final two weeks at Clark were spent perfecting a defense system which we knew wouldn't hold.  We watched the swarms of enemy bombers daily as they over-flew us on their way to the Cavite US Naval Base at Manila, and Corregidor at the entrance to Manila Bay.  In fact we sort of acted as an Early Warning System the best we could, which required constant repairing of our phone lines after they had been cut.  We also listened to the radio reports of the enemy's progress from the North and the South, and grim reports they were.  They were raping the countryside, literally!!  The reality of what we were up against, and what was to come, had not dawned upon us as yet.  I believe that we were waiting for the promised relief convoys and the swarms of friendly aircraft that were to “darken the skies". It was probably a good thing that we couldn't visualize the situation as it was, and was to become!!  One night while still at Clark, we were alerted to prepare to repel an enemy paratroop attack.   No one seemed to realize that they couldn't see where to jump in the dark, so prepare we did.  Between the tanks blundering around in the pitch dark, and we intrepid warriors falling over things, and into holes, we probably out did Laurel and Hardy at their best!!  Yep, NO paratroop attack.  Any comedy aspect of our situation, if there was one, began to fade, when on 24 Dec, we were ordered to grab our gear consisting of weapons and field equipment, nothing else, and clamber aboard some Filipino trains, destination unknown.  Subject destination was reached the following day around noon, and was the small town of Gua Gua at the entrance to the Bataan Peninsula.  We detrained and climbed aboard US Army Trucks and headed into the Peninsula, waving and shouting to the Filipinos, and brandishing our weapons, for all the world like Victorious Heroes, though it DID SEEM that we were Advancing to the Rear!!  Enemy planes were overhead during most of our Odessy, but we were never attacked.  I strongly suspect that they were herding us in, to get us into a nice compact group, easy to find!!  The highway, barely a two lane dirt road, was a curtain of choking dust.  It was full of scattered equipment and wrecked vehicles.  The wooded-jungle area that our Squadron went into was just below a newly bull-dozed air strip, Cabcaben Field, from where the remains of our Air Corps was to operate their 20 Curtiss P-40's.  The B-17 Bombers that were intact after the first day at Clark were sent to the Borneo area in a vain attempt to hold off the Japanese there.  There was little to do in our vacation 'spa' except to watch the enemy as they daily raided the air strip, and our fighters as they flew out to harass the advancing Japanese troops.  All this while we prepared ourselves for the day when we would be able to show those "bandy legged little b ------ s" what REAL FIGHTING MEN looked like.  After all, we had been told by good authority that they were so short and small that they could barely handle their rifles, and it was common knowledge that they all wore glasses because of weak eyes, and that they could barely see beyond the ends of their rifles!!  During the first month and a half of our 'Jungle Jim' saga the food was pretty decent, primarily because it had been brought with us from Clark.  However, it was becoming apparent that we would run out of rations very soon.  Re-stocking our larder seemed to be the item of most importance, so let's have at it.  On 29 Dec four of us took a 2 ½ ton truck and headed for Manila, approx., 100 miles away, to see what we might procure/ scrounge/steal in the form of food necessities, etc.  Our shopping list included food/booze/clothing, etc, not necessarily in that order.  Also, each of we four had some fine friends among the European Community in Manila whom we were anxious to see.  In fact one of our group had married a rather well-to-do Austrian girl some months past, and he was anxious to make arrangements for getting her out of Manila, although now I would wonder how and where to.  Find our friends we did, well and safe for the time being.  By way of a re-union celebration we all attended a gala New Year's eve party at the Manila Hotel, complete with side arms!!  Gen MacArthur had declared Manila an Open City to spare it's being bombed, which the Japanese ignored.  For the next couple of days we roamed about the Dock Area rummaging through mountains of foodstuffs, clothing, ammunition, and etc., all of which was destined for destruction to keep it from falling into the hands of the rapidly advancing enemy.  I will never be able to understand why that materiel was not loaded onto anything that would float, and an attempt made to get it across the Bay to Bataan, some 20 miles.  Surely some would have made it.  After our truck was so loaded that it groaned, and after fond farewells with our friends amid promises to see them in a couple of weeks, we roared out of Manila's North East end of town not too far ahead of the enemy's advance parties who were entering the city from the South.  In fact we barely made it across some bridges before our Engineers blew them.  Upon returning to our jungle habitat we learned that all Air Corps personnel had been designated as Air Corps Provisional Infantry.  This made some sense since we were afoot anyhow.  Those of us with previous service, particularly Infantry, became combat instructors to the youngsters who had arrived only a couple of months earlier, fresh from Technical Schools, with little or no Basic Training.  They were to get their Recruit Training the hard way!!  Most of them were suffering from their 'first time away from home', in addition to probably having never handled a weapon more deadly than a BB gun.  Some of the kids thought that a hand grenade was a type of dress glove, and in bayonet drill, the term butt stroke, meant patting the fanny!!  A couple of our NCO's had been Commissioned and had joined front line units, where incidentally, one would die the day of our surrender.  In late Jan '42 we moved up to a position close to the Front, an area where the Peninsula was quite narrow, with pretty dense jungle on our left, and Manila Bay on our right, with open dry rice paddies to our front.  It was here that we the Air Corps Infantry, the US 31^st Infantry, elements of the National Guard tank units, and of the poorly trained, poorly organized, and poorly equipped Philippine Army were to make a stand.  We were holding a pretty good position, so mostly we had to contend with snipers, and a few enemy patrols checking us out. There was a pretty major attack which I'll cover a bit later.  Our area was finally overrun when he made his heavily reinforced assault the following April.  I feel that the US resistance on Bataan and Corregidor upset the enemy's conquest timetable for advancement enough to have hurt him pretty badly.  Initially it was hoped that we might hold out for a couple of weeks!!  We made it for SIXTEEN, add FOUR more for Corregidor, and you have TWENTY.  We felt that we could hold them off until help arrived, or until late May, at which time the monsoon rains could 'ground' everything.  A segment of our Air Corps Infantry provided some unrehearsed comedy that fortunately didn't have tragic results.  Led by a Colonel, eagles brightly shining on each shoulder, they went plowing through head-high Cogon grass and into the rice paddies until an US Army patrol intercepted them with the news that they were somewhere between both front lines, and that they had best "Get The Hell Outta There!!  They beat a hasty retreat, and I'll guess that their 'Intrepid Leader's' next assignment was the Motor Pool.  It was in February until the end in April that the grim specter of HUNGER made it's appearance.  The MOST EFFECTIVE Japanese Air and Naval Blockade sealed us off from any attempts to get supplies into us, so consequently there was a dire shortage of everything but ammunition for the Artillery.  In passing, I should like to express my admiration and awe for those Artillery men, the US Army Philippine Scouts.  To us it seemed that they could 'thread a needle' with their field guns, which many an enemy patrol discovered, to their sorrow.  Back to the food department: A couple of US Subs managed to get through and into Corregidor, and we on Bataan received some canned goods from Australia.  All we could say for canned mutton was "PHOOEY", and we discovered that canned Abalone was the forerunner of Neolite Shoe Soles.  The food shortage reached it's low point at which it was to remain in February; we went on two skimpy meals per day. Breakfast: some wet and mushy rice with a bit of salt or sugar, and a sort of coffee brewed from browned rice.  NO Lunch.  Evening: Rice with a soup brewed from some unidentified type of greens, and a chunk of Carabao (Water Buffalo), or US Mule.  Unfortunately these two meat sources didn't last very long.  The next step was to supplement the food supply, or lack thereof, by foraging through the countryside.  This began in earnest, and all sorts of recipes began making the rounds.  Monkey, Snake, and Lizard became the main sources of meat, although I can’t recall any of these showing up in our Stew Pots.  Foraging efforts in our area met with just fair success, mainly because we were so far UP.  We had some pretty resourceful types in our Platoon, and I should like to cite some examples of their efforts: (1) A Patrol investigated what appeared to be an abandoned sugar mill one night, and the next morning returned lugging all sorts of containers filled with a heavy brown syrup that we doused on our rice, made into candy, and used to barter for other commodities.  (2) while manning our observation and listening outposts during the daylight hours, several of the men would spend the day inside a rice stack (similar in shape to a US hay stack), harvesting rice which would be ground into a coarse flour for making bread and cakes.  (3) I also recall them stripping a sugar cane patch down to tiny stubble.  (3) Our Le Grande Foray: The men had heard of a small fishing village, unfortunately well within the enemy lines, where every night some enterprising Filipinos would bring small boats, bancas by name, loaded with food slipped out of the Manila area, which we could buy if we could get to it.  I imagine that it was for sale to the enemy also, which made the venture a pretty risky proposition at best.  The general opinion was that only an idiot would attempt such a caper!!  Needless to say, six of we idiots set out one night for the trip to the Super Market.  Away we went, weapons at the ready, jumping at every sound, bumping into each other and into everything that couldn't get out of our way, probably making enough noise to alert the entire enemy forces.  Fortunately nothing happened.  We reached the village only to discover that the boats would not arrive until nearly daybreak; so we were faced with either going back empty handed, or waiting and going back in broad daylight!!  Having come this far without incident and feeling like an invincible band of Texas Rangers, we decided to wait, and phooey on the mighty Sons of Nippon.  The boats arrived, and it was daylight.  After much haggling, etc., we became the possessors of quite a sizeable load of merchandise.  At this point, one of the Intrepid Six raised the question of how we were to get the stuff back, since there was more than we could carry.  Details, details.  We might still be there mulling that problem around if one of the group hadn’t spotted a pony-less pony cart.  Into said cart went the merchandise, and we started back, two pulling, two pushing, and two 'walking shotgun'.  Here we came, in plain sight of everyone, right along the only road in Bataan, living proof that the Good Lord looks after His idiots as well.  Suddenly we heard the drone of an aircraft engine, and here came Japan's 'Photo Joe', eyeballing the area.  He spotted the cart, under which we had all dived., and dropped down for a better look; he seemed to be more curious than anything else, for he could have shot up things a dab, had he taken a notion to.  I'm surprised that he didn't, since every time he circled back the cart had moved a bit farther down the road.  He must have decided to shrug off this crazy Filipino 'whatever it was', so he zoomed off and we zoomed on.  Upon returning to our bivouac area, and during the distribution process of the loot to those whom had contributed to the finances, we discovered that suddenly we had acquired many friends, well wisher’s admirers, etc, not to mention some dyed-in-the wool CHISELERS.  Those who had been perfectly willing to sit on their 'duffs' and wait for handouts, got nuttin!!  With those types we became a bit unpopular, but we were less hungry than they.  Since our food situation had improved a bit, the time seemed ripe to improve upon our living conditions.  A couple of miles or so from us was a fairly good size fishing village, Orani by name, right at the edge of Manila Bay.  The original inhabitants had earlier departed for more serene surroundings, probably because we and the enemy had swapped artillery shells in their direction with some questionable accuracy.  A rummaging about through the village unearthed all sorts of items, such as: chairs and tables, beds and bedding, skeeter nets, cabinets, and chamber pots!!  Armed with the items necessary for good housekeeping including, dishes, cutlery, and cooking utensils, we proceeded to set up permanent residence.  Me and a buddy discovered a large, well made bamboo enclosure, unused and though unroofed, we took care of that with some bamboo slats and some tarpaulin.  We moved in our newly acquired furniture and settled back to comfortably loll through the coming Monsoon rains and the arrival of our relief columns which would drive out the invaders, allowing us to return home and to bask in the adulation of a grateful nation!!  Inactivity became the daily routine with the exception of a few nuisance and undamaging air raids, and an occasional artillery shell or two.  Generally, few of our Contact Patrols made any contact with the enemy.  However, on our West flank we could see and hear the heavy fighting as the enemy daily probed for a break-through.  Our immediate area remained quiet primarily because the terrain was open and flat in every direction for hundreds of yards with the jungle on our left/West and Manila Bay on our right/East.  When we came into Bataan, the Ordnance Engineers brought some 50 caliber aircraft machine guns with loads of ammunition which they proceeded to mount on steel tubing about four feet off the ground, and mounted so that they could be raised and depressed.   We had a grouping of four of these in our immediate area, and one of our fellows was credited with a 'kill' when one of their 'Photo Joes' came snooping along a bit too low and too close.  Directly to our rear were quite a few units of artillery, both light and heavy; I previously mentioned the skill of these fellows, Philippine Scouts, U.S. Army.  Generally speaking, we felt that an attack in our area would be most unlikely, however, ATTACK they did!!  Down the road they came in captured GI trucks and School buses, wearing Filipino Army uniforms.  Probably a thousand or so hand picked assault troops made this attempt; fortunately they were detected immediately.  They were allowed to progress unchallenged until the tanks and artillery had them within point blank range.   There were few survivors!!  In spite of this attempt at surprise and infiltration, and it's subsequent failure, a few days later they launched a frontal assault over the flat and exposed area to our front.  Blowing bugles, screaming and yelling they came, and were beaten back with heavy losses!!  In what seemed to be a result of rage and frustration, they stepped up their efforts in the mountainous and jungle area to our left with round the clock pounding to include air attack on the US defenders who were gradually being worn down.   Men fighting on little or no food, no medicine, no air support, and the growing realization of NO HOPE:!  When a complete 18 karat literary amateur like myself attempts to put something like this on paper without tile benefit of copious notes, accurate references, and materiel assembly, a great deal of after-thinking occurs, requiring back tracking. However, since this is primarily for personal use, any “off the cuff readers” will just have to live with it.  EXAMPLE OF BACKTRACKING:  When our bunch made the syrup find, and after the rice had been pounded into flour, each individual was given his fair share to use as he so desired.  One of our Sgts had procured for his living area, an old fashioned kitchen cabinet which he used for his food storage, and which he guarded fiercely!  A recent addition to our platoon named 'Jiggs', for some unknown reason seemed attracted to the Sarge’s living area.  Said 'Jiggs’ was a mischievous, prankish type, probably because of his ancestry seeing as how he was a monkey!!  One afternoon our immediate area was startled into an Alert Status by screams of rage, and volumes of profanity, and all the while a pall of menace seemed to settle over us.  After the arrival or reinforcements and the restoration of order, it was learned that the good Sarge  had discovered one each 'Jiggs' in his, the Sarge's. kitchen cabinet, with his, 'Jigg's' rear end parked in a basin of rice flour, and all the while gleefully pouring syrup over everything!! That evening, 'Jiggs' became conspicuous by his absence; he had either 'taken himself to the hills', or answered a mating call, or become a 'Simian Stew', ala Chef Sarge!!  We also had our share of tragedies such as one day when the dive bombers gave us an unusually rough time, and they scored a hit on one of our air raid shelters.  The bomb landed right at the entrance to the shelter, and the resultant concussion and fragments killed and wounded several.   Our morale?  Never too high, nor never really too low.  However, inactivity and uncertainty is never been too good for combat troops; add to that a doubtful confidence in your leaders, and you're well on your way to being a LOSER"  Speaking of our leaders, let me quote you from some of their "Orders of the Day”; “Do not discharge your weapons, it will reveal our position!!  (I never quite decided whether or not this applied when meeting the enemy). Or: "Don't rattle your mess gear, they will hear you"!!  I always felt that the enemy pretty well knew where we were. Another: "All weapons of the riotgun type will be turned in or destroyed, their use is contrary to the provisions of the League of Nations"!! (However, the enemy was not a member, nor was he well known for his humanitarian conduct).

At every opportunity we conjured up reasons for making a trip to the back areas to see what we might find that wasn't tied down, or under guard.  Foodstuffs was our prime target.  We had gotten a couple of trucks from the Motor Pool, in addition to a new '41 Chevrolet sedan, and a '41 Lincoln Zephyr which we used as sort of a Command Car.  We had the roof cut out of the Lincoln for easy exit whenever any 'Fun Loving’ 'Son of Nippon', (or SOB of Nippon) decided to do a little strafing along the highway.  During our visits to the back areas, we had a favorite stunt that worked pretty well: We'd drive into whatever looked like a storage area and ask for directions, making sure that we looked like warriors from the Front!!...We might even regale the guard with a couple of tales while a couple of guys were pilfering anything not too heavy to carry!!  At times we were fortunate enough to run across a kind hearted Sgt, or officer whom would give us a bag or two of rice, or flour, or beans.  Actually, they weren't in position to give much of anything to anyone since they were faced with the problem of trying to feed the thousands of refugees constantly coming through the Lines fleeing the enemy.   We had a powerful short-wave radio in our area that would pick up "Tokyo Rose” with her assurances that if we would quit resisting and surrender, 'All Would Be Well', and that we could return to our homes and families.  Also, of our Stateside news commentators kept us a bit confused as to just what Philippine Islands they were referring to when they would describe, in detail, our glorious victories!!  One particular purveyor of garbled gossip, a William Winter of San Francisco, made the following comment verbatim: "Let them batter their heads against the rocky defenses of Bataan and Corregidor, they shall not pass"!!  (There were heads being battered all right, but we were furnishing the heads!!).  Rumor had it that the enemy inactivity was due to their awaiting reinforcements, needed as a result of their Miscalculation of how long it would take them to conquer the Islands.  Reinforcements they got, AND HOW!!  Some 100,000, veterans of the Malay Campaign and Singapore.  Led by Gen Yamashita, dubbed the 'Tiger of Malaya'.  When they began 'having a go' at us, things began coming to a head rapidly.  The morning of 6 April, 1942, we were ordered to fall back to some better prepared defensive positions, since the enemy was preparing for an all out assault, with troops, tanks, and aircraft!!  Our platoon remained in our area to destroy the equipment that had to be left behind, and to observe the enemy advance.  We were then to join up with the 45th Infantry Division's Regimental Combat Team, Philippine Scouts, to carry out delaying actions until the new defensive positions could be fully manned.  Since the odds had risen to some 30 to 1, guess in who's favor, the fall-back made sense.  We knew that they had broken through the jungle defenses on our left, in fact we could see them advancing. We also knew that we couldn't stop their tanks in the flat, dry rice fields to our front; their tanks were approaching our area as we took off, all of which prompted us to move a bit are rapidly than usual.  Their tanks and aircraft forced us to leave the main road and well marked trails, and to plow through the jungle which would have been tough on a Sunday stroll, let alone going as fast as possible with a load of equipment on your back.  Consequently we pretty much lost any semblance of order and unity, and sort of became refugees, I suspect.  At nightfall we were able to halt, still in the jungle, and rest a bit, and eat if you were carrying anything in your pockets.  The next morning we joined up with the main body of troops at the defense positions, settled in, and prepared to 'have a go at it'.  We were positioned atop a steep slope, thickly wooded, from which we could look down as they came up, there we waited.  They didn't keep us waiting long, but first they sent in some dive bombers and literally ‘blasted us off the hill’!!  The bombers worked us over to the extent that we knew we would never be able to hold off an infantry assault.  Our casualties were slight, but we were so dazed by the bombs, and blinded by the choking dust and smoke that combat-wise we were finished.  So again, fall back, carry your wounded, wait for nightfall so that you might gain time enough to re-group and try it again tomorrow, though many felt that tomorrow might be the last tomorrow!!  Late that night, 6 April, we finally made contact with the 45th Infantry, tough jungle fighters, for whom the enemy had an undying hatred.  Some time during the night or early morning, we experienced a violent earthquake, which might have preluded 'The Beginning Of The End'!!  We began moving again at daylight, and received word that as soon as the Bataan Commander, Maj/Gen King could contact the enemy Field Commander, an attempt to surrender us would be made.  However, the forces on Corregidor, under Gen Wainwright would continue to resist.  Around noon that day, word was passed that contact with the enemy had been made, and that they would accept our surrender.  We were told to lay down our weapons and to raise our hands above our heads.  Shortly thereafter we were surrounded by Japanese soldiers, many leading some pretty savage looking dogs.  We also found ourselves surrounded by some small, but highly mobile tanks.  The surrender 'thing' went off pretty smoothly. Some of the things that we immediately noticed, were: There were more Japanese who could speak some English than there were Americans who could speak any Japanese.  Plus, they were well equipped and trained for jungle fighting, and carried whatever they needed with them. We were searched and jostled about a bit, but so far no display of meanness or brutality.  We were allowed to keep most of our personal belongings such as cigarettes, lighters, etc.  But Heaven help the guy found with any sort of Japanese souvenir or piece of equipment!!  They told us that they were combat/assault troops and had no extra food other than what they carried with them.  They did share some rice balls and hard candies with us.  Later they built some fires and brewed lots of strong, hot tea which we drank like it was going out of style. They even had a couple of their Medics look us over.  That night we were herded into a large square, amply guarded but not bothered, and we had our first decent night's sleep in some time.  The next morning they told us that they were moving on for the attack on Corregidor, and that we would be sent to the rear.  As the assault troops marched off, little did we realize that soon we would be wishing that we could have stayed with them!!  Now we were to get our introduction to Occupation, Troops!!   Our 'new captors' marched us out of the jungle and onto the main road where we were loaded onto trucks and started back to where we had just come from.  Our progress was nil, since the road was choked with troops, trucks, tanks, and artillery pieces moving up for the assault on Corregidor.  Late that afternoon we were unloaded at a school or church which had either been bombed or shelled.  We were given all of the hot rice and salt, and tea that we could handle, and were told to stay put.  Stay put we did, and at the time things didn't look too grim, we had full bellies, and for dessert, a juicy rumor, to wit: 'There were Red Cross in Manila Bay waiting to take us home'! (Some one, a great deal smarter than most, knew that the circulation of this type of rumor helped keep the men's minds off their present plight).  The next morning, some several hundred of us were herded onto the main road, and this time we were afoot.  Now we were going to learn the difference between Combat Troops and Occupation Troops, the hard way!!  The rough treatment began immediately, no water, no food, no rest stops, and bare headed in the tropical sun, and any other refinements they could think of.  In short, we were taking the first steps on the BATAAN DEATH MARCH!!   We dragged on all day, stopping only when guards were changed.  Late that afternoon we were shoved into a barbed wire enclosure along the side of the road that was already are than half full of men whom had been overrun by the enemy's initial break through.  These men were in bad shape, wounded, had had no water nor food, there were no sanitation facilities, nothing.  Our addition to the enclosure created practically a standing room only situation.  The dying ones died standing, and the sick and wounded were being trampled on, while on the outside of the enclosure the Japanese soldiers were screaming and yelling and flailing away with rifles and clubs at those against the fence.  It seemed that they were attempting to create a panic so that they could open fire and cut us down!! Several men were dragged from the enclosure and beaten or shot to death!!  Around seven o'clock that evening several hundred of us, mostly all who could walk, were ordered to line up outside the enclosure for a 'short march to a better area where there were some buildings in which to house us, and where we would be fed'. As we moved away we heard shots and screams, and we knew that the sick and wounded whom we had left behind were being EXECUTED!  .Remember now, we began this exercise proximately seven 0’clock in the evening, and the next afternoon about at approximately five o'clock wave arrived at the new/better area!!   During this march we probably left as many as half of our number behind, either dead or dying along the road.  In the darkness along the march we were clubbed and beaten by Japanese soldiers lined up along the road.  It's pretty difficult to run a gauntlet in the darkness, and the safest place in a situation like that is to be in the middle of the ground; however, this presents a problem since everyone has the same idea at the same time!!  We never stopped, and to keep us moving, the guards were changed by truck.  Anyone who stopped or fell out line for whatever reason, was shot or bayoneted on the spot!!  Water cans had been placed along the road in a deliberate attempt to get men to break ranks so that they could be beaten or killed!!  We quickly set up men along our lines to stop anyone from attempting to get to the water.  A thirst crazed is something terrible to see.  Those who become ill along the way, or felt that they couldn't go on were carried or helped along to prevent their being executed.  Where this reserve of strength came from is a question, but it was there, because another fellow and I carried a sick youngster between us for more miles that I care to recall.  Filipinos along the way tried to help us, and were clubbed and beaten for their efforts.  Late in the afternoon of the next day we arrived at San Fernando, Pampanga, just a few miles below Clark Field where we were herded into a wired area around the City Buildings. There was running water, we could use the showers and toilets, and we were fed all the rice and tea we could eat!!  The absolute luxury of all this minus the possibility of having your skull split or your teeth knocked out, is beyond description.  A Filipino Doctor was sent in to look over those in the worst shape, but he had no medicines, and could only sadly shake his head.  The illness factor was growing as men's systems began to deteriorate from the lack of proper food, water, and medicines, which had begun in February, some three hard months past.  Malaria, Diarrhea, and Dysentery were the immediate problems, with more to come.  Early the next morning we were marched to the town's rail head where we were loaded/stuffed into box cars with a probable capacity of fifty.  They probably managed to get in double that number.  The cars were tightly sealed, and off we went; imagine what it was like in the tropical heat!!  Some time that afternoon we arrived at our unknown destination.  We were barely able to unload from the cars having been in such cramped positions for so long, STAND.  Those unable to unload were the DEAD!!  Our destination/arrival point was Camp O'Donnell, an unfinished Philippine Army Camp, at Tarlac, fifteen or so miles North of Clark Field.  Camp O'Donnell consisted of some unfinished bamboo buildings, nothing else.  In the area where our group settled was ONE water faucet for several hundred men.  Each morning volunteers would take as many canteens as each could carry, and wait in line for several hours to fill them. We were fed twice daily, steamed rice, some sort of boiled greens, and steamed Camotes, a type of Yam.  Better than nothing!!  Let's not even dwell on the Medical Facilities!!  The Philippine Army and Scouts were in the same general area, but separated from us by the usual barbed wire fence, and if I remember correctly, they had no housing of any type.  Their area did have a small stream running through it which made us a bit envious until it was discovered that it was their only source of water, and infected with Amoebic Dysentery!!  We later heard that thousands of Filipinos died at O'Donnell!!  Knowing of the cruelty of the Japanese in occupied areas, lends credence to any statements of this type.  The day after our arrival, we were addressed by the Japanese Camp Commander. Short in stature, but probably as mean as a snake.  He raved and ranted like Adolf Hitler, and strutted about like Benito Mussolini. Comic like though he might have appeared, his words and actions were brief, and to the point: "You are CAPTIVES, NOT PRISONERS OF WAR therefore you have NO RIGHTS under the rules of warfare.  You will work for the glory of the Greater East Asia CoProsperity Sphere.  Any type of disobedience will bring instant death!!  To emphasize his meaning of death, three men were shot/murdered where they stood in ranks!!  After a week or-so of 'Restful Relaxation', which consisted of trying to improve our living conditions, filling out some cards which we were told would be sent to our families through the International Red Cross, and were not, burying the dead, and being hungry, not to mention the manufacturing of and listening to favorable rumors, the Japanese began drafting of work parties.  The sight of these groups coming back into Camp each night with the 'goodies' that they had managed to scrounge/steal, or that had been slipped to them by the Filipinos, such as canned goods, cigarettes, fruit, etc., stirred up a desire for volunteering for manual labor, that probably has not been equaled since.  In early May, the Japanese ordered a large and permanent work party to be formed.  Since it was becoming more obvious each day that survival odds at O'Donnell were getting slimmer, a group of six of us from our old platoon volunteered. The following morning we were routed out early, fed surprisingly well, and 150 of us were loaded aboard some trucks.  We headed South in the direction of Manila, destination unknown.  As our convoy of some eight or ten trucks passed through the small villages/barrios along the way, we were warmly greeted by the Filipinos, many of whom tossed us fruit, coconuts, etc., for which they generally got a thumping from the Japanese guards. They would also gather in groups and openly display Winston Churchill's V for Victory sign, we heard shots fired at these groups, but never knew the results.  After passing through Manila we headed Southwest into the narrow tip of Luzon.  As habitation grew more scarce, the guards relaxed, and we made stops for water, and gathered sugar cane and coconuts.  our first stop was at a small town Santa Ana, where we dropped off 50 of our group, which turned out to be 200 instead of the 150 as previously stated.  These 50 were to work on repairing a small bridge.  Our 150 proceeded to wherever??  Some 20% of our group was in varying stages of illness, and unfortunately had not been sorted out prior to our departure.  These would ultimately die after we reached our destination, however that, might have been better than O'Donnell.  Our journeys' end was at a small village, Lumban Laguna, on Laguna Bay, some 150 miles from Manila.  It would have taken the National Geographic People to have done justice to the lush tropical setting we found.  Palm trees, blue skies, and the green water of the Bay.  We were quartered in some sort of Civic Building of wooden construction, with dirt floors, no lights nor running water, and no toilet facilities.  We dug a toilet pit at the side of the building, and boarded it up for a semblance of privacy.  We were given lime to hold down the odors and the flies.  Our first victory in some time, even if it was just over the common house fly!! The area around the building was encircled with the now familiar barbed wire.  In addition to our building was a small grass shack; this 'villa' housed two American Officers, a Captain and a First Lieutenant.  They had joined us in Manila, but what their role was, we never quite figured out, since in the ensuing weeks they contributed nothing to the general effort with but one exception, which I will touch upon later.  Our diet was hardly gourmet, however it was generally plentiful, consisting mainly of rice, fish, greens, salt, and tea.  Out on the job we were generally able to get limes, sugar cane, and coconuts.  We instituted a rigid rule that these extra items would be community property shared by all. Originally we had hoped that these items would supplement the diet of the sick and be of some help, but to no avail, it wasn't what their bodies needed, so they just died!!  A Filipino Doctor was allowed to examine the sick, but there was no way that he could help them.  The bridge that we were to work on was across a stream approximately 200 or more feet from bank to bank, fairly deep water, not too swift, but the banks were very steep.  The work wasn't too hard since there were quite a few Filipinos working as well as the Japanese and us.  Actually the Japanese were a pretty decent bunch, more interested in getting the bridge rebuilt than anything else.  They rarely ever heckled us, and generally looked the other way when we were wheeling and dealing with the Filipinos.  Since I was pretty much the ranking American, I sort of became the 'Consulting American Engineer' to the sort of Japanese Chief Engineer, a Warrant Officer, a real decent type.  I went with him on trips picking out timber sites since the bridge was to be built of wood, and as he gathered up other materials.  (His method of getting materials went something like this: whenever he saw something he wanted, he would have me tell the Filipinos to see that it was sent to the bridge area, and it was!!) I shall always feel that the fairly decent treatment that we received on the bridge detail did much towards rebuilding us physically and mentally to a point that making it the rest of the way became a bit easier!!  I fared quite well personally through my association with the WO, he generally saw to it that I ate and drank when he did on trips, which also included smoking when he smoked.  I recall him buying or somehow coming up with a batch of tooth brushes for the POWs!  Regards our living quarters: As previously stated, a wooden structure somewhat resembling a movie house, with a small stage on the ground floor and an upper floor balcony.  The stage was large enough for us to set up a sort of secluded area for our sick, which we screened off with some mosquito netting in an attempt to make them as comfortable as possible.  All NCOs' bunked in the balcony area while the others settled down on the wooden benches on the ground floor.  There was a definite shortage of bedding, that is sheets, pillows, and the like, of course sheets and/or blankets were unneeded because of the heat and humidity.  A mattress would have been appreciated.  One had to devise a method of sleeping with the least amount of exposed skin because of the skeeters.  We set up a sort of Doctor/Nurse/Orderly system to look after the sick which might have eased their 'going' a bit.  The Japanese devised a numbered layout of the building corresponding to a number that was assigned to each of us. We were then divided into groups of fifty, each group identified by a colored arm band, green, pink, and white.  The group I was in wore the white arm bands, the significance of which will manifest itself a bit later on.  For the sake of some sort of continuity, we arrived at Lumban on 9 May, '42, and departed the latter part of July, '42. During late May, while out on the job, I was contacted by a Filipino worker who said that he was a member of the Southern Luzon Guerilla Forces who were working on plans to set us free very soon!!.  I relayed this startling bit of info, to the two officers and discussed it with the NCO's.  We decided to wait and see.  On the morning of 9 June I was handed a paper by the same Filipino.  After getting back to the compound we read the letter, a reasonably well-worded official looking affair, ostensibly from the Commander, Southern Luzon Guerilla Forces, US.  Said paper stated that the guerillas would attack the area that night, and for us to be ready.  Our reaction was, "Ready for what"?...We held a so-called Council of War that evening and decided: 'IF the guerillas did attack in force, IF they were able to neutralize the Japanese garrison, about a half mile away, AND IF they could evacuate our sick who would be excited if left behind, we would join them'!!  Of course we had no way of letting the guerillas know of our decision, so everything hinged on the way that the 'ball would bounce'!!  Around midnight we were awakened by the sound of automatic weapons being fired outside our building.  We looked out a window and saw our two Japanese guards sprawled on the ground, dead we later discovered, and about a half dozen Filipinos dashing about, yelling: "Come out Joe, Joe come out"!!  There were no sounds of any activity up the road where the Japanese were quartered, which meant to us that things were as we feared they might be, in that there was no attack being made in their area, and that it would be possible for us to get our sick out, as they would have to be carried! From the window I shouted to the Filipinos that we were NOT coming out.  At the same time I sent two downstairs to bar the door to keep the Filipinos from coming in, and to keep any of our people from going out into that obviously disorganized mess.   The Filipinos milled about for another few minutes, fired some more shots perhaps at us, and were gone. I would guess that the whole thing was over in less than ten minutes.  Prior to our getting the downstairs door secured, two of our men left the building, but just before the first Japanese arrived on the scene, one man came back in. The Japanese interpreter asked if we were all right and if anyone had escaped, to which I replied yes and no respectively.  He cautioned us to stay in the building, and that there would be no work detail that day.  They posted a strong guard around the building, and we could hear them going throughout the village raising Hell in general.  Before we had to fall out for a roll call and whatever else, we determined that one of our NCO group was missing from the group wearing the green arm bands.  (For those of you readers who might wonder why are of us didn’t try to escape, I submit this: 1^st there was our sick, surely to be executed if left behind, and 2^nd , if at any time a POW managed to escape, the Japanese would execute the remaining nine of his group!!  This was what they termed a BLOOD BROTHRT GROUP.  As for escaping, there was no place to go; you were on an island that would be starved and beaten into submission by the Japanese, and further there were no facilities nor logistical support for groups that might attempt combat-type resistance, forays, etc.  Around Noon the next day, several truck loads of Japanese troops arrived, and took over the village.  They were a tough looking lot, commanded by a Colonel.  Things took on a grimmer aspect as they set up road blocks, machine gun posts, and proceeded to give the Villagers a tough time; and last but not least they relieved the Engineers from control over us!!  Then the 'fun began: After it had been determined that one of our group was missing, two Japanese in civilian clothing came into the Compound and entered the hut where the two American Officers resided.  Not too long there after I was summoned to the hut.  Upon entering, I could sense that the compost was about to hit the whirlygig!!  In flawless English, one of the Japanese began questioning me about my association with the Guerilla outfit, when and where I had made my contacts, and who the Guerillas were, and my part in organizing the raid!! ... He also told that the American officers had said that I was the Senior individual going out on the work parties, that the Guerillas had contacted and that I had the knowledge of the raid, etc.  The younger of the two Japanese, the one questioning me, really started giving me Hell; I was responsible for the raid, and for the death of the two guards, etc., etc.,!!  There was little doubt in my mind that I had 'bought the farm', and was first in line for a haircut with a Samuri Sword!  I thanked the two American Officers for their support, and told them what a pair of dirty SOB's they were.  Since things seemed to be getting out of hand, the older of the two Japanese told everyone to 'Shut Up', and began talking to the younger man. After this, he told me that I could go, which I did, breathing a bit easier, but not too much!!  I had gotten by here, but there was still that Japanese Infantry outfit to worry about, and Heaven knows what they had in mind.  Our men were in an ugly and frightened mood, and there was talk of grabbing guns, clubs, and whatever, and making a fight of it!!  We managed to get them quieted down, but the-tension was unreal.  About mid-afternoon we were marched up the road to the area where the Jap Engineers occupied a large and fairly modern school building.  We were lined up on the school playground and were immediately surrounded by machine gunners and assorted unfriendly Orientals.  The Japanese Colonel who spoke some English, began berating us about the raid, stating that it was all our fault, for if we had not been there the two guards would not have been killed!!  We let that pass as we weren't in any position to tell him that it was they who had brought us here!!  He was also yelling about the fact that there were supposed to be 150 of us, and that all were not present.  The Jap Engineers interpreter managed to convince his that some of the absentees were sick, and some were in the Cemetery, where I felt that we might all be pretty soon!!  He then produced the numbered diagram of our building and began reading off the numbers nearest in sequence to that of the escapee.  He stopped reading after nine, and ordered those whose number had been read to step forward.  We did so, I say WE, since I was one of numbers read out.  A little fellow from Texas, I remember his name, asked "Chuck what is this"?  Although I he knew, I answered: "Shorty, this is a firing squad"!!  We chosen few were immediately surrounded by some riflemen and a Jap soldier started down the line handing out blindfolds!!  Suddenly the Colonel after talking to another Jap Officer announced that since the escapee was from the group that wore green arm bands, that the men to be shot should be from his group, and the rest of us with other arm bands should step back into ranks!! Four of us, including Shorty and I returned to ranks!!...Without a single command or word being uttered, four men wearing green arm bands took our places!!  What brave men they were!!  IRONY: One of the four replacements was the one who had returned to the hut the night before!!  We were forced to watch the execution which was carried out by the Jap Engineers rather than the Infantry outfit.  The first volley apparently killed but two of the men outright, two were standing untouched, the other five threshing about on the ground. The second volley got the two standing.  The coup-de-grace was then administered with rifles, the use of which at close range tore the bodies up pretty badly.  I stayed behind with the burial party while the rest were marched back to the compound.  Everyone was pretty much in a state of shock, nevertheless we organized a group to 'take over' in the event things got of hand internally.  This seemed to be in order since the Jap Infantry outfit seemed to be in a nastier than usual and were probably in favor of some additional Yankee bloodletting!!  The following day, the Engineers CO, a Captain, called for just a small work party, and through the Interpreter told me that they, the Engineers, were sorry for what had happened, and that as soon as the Infantry outfit left, he had some changes in mind for us.  Said Infantry 'goons' stayed for about another week, didn't bother with us, but continued to heckle the villagers, and anyone approaching the village.  Right after their departure, minus any 'God speed’ from us, we were moved into the school building along with the Engineers. As previously stated, it was a pretty modern affair; our first hot shower in four months, or for that matter, our first shower or bath of any kind.  Electricity.  Sitting on a was a commode was a new and satisfying experience.   We bunked on US Army cots with GI mosquito netting. We ate with them, and the rice was supplanted with meat and beans.  Each evening every POW was given a bottle of San Miguel beer.  Daily we were allowed to send a group to the local cemetery to work on our graves, and one of the Jap carpenters made some wooden, crosses to which we affixed each man's 'dog tags', metal identification tag.  Whatever the reason for this complete Japanese about face, it was a welcome relief.  However, the Engineers had never really been a mean bunch from the start.  Towards the end of July we were told that we would be leaving soon to work on another bridge along with the same Engineers; however, since the bridge would be a smaller one, only 40 men would be needed. Amazingly, the Jap Captain gave me a list containing the names of the men that they wanted for the new detail.  It appears that they had been keeping some sort work tally on us!!  Those not picked to go would be sent to a large POW Camp, he did not say where, but it was not O'Donnell.  This was sort of comforting news, since going back to O'Donnell was sort of like getting an engraved invitation from the undertaker!!  Be all this as it may, off we roared, 'we engineers', with our slant-eyed brother engineers as our new conquest.  (Incidentally, without the two American officers).  We went back the way we had come to Lumban originally, on past O'Donnell, which was now empty.  The Japanese insisted that they did not know where the O'Donnell inhabitants had been moved to.  One thing we were sure of was that they had NOT been loaded onto any Red Cross ships and sent to the US!!  Can't recall just where our new project was, and though the stream was not very wide bank to bank, it was quite deep and swift; in fact some of the Japanese indicated that this would be a tough job.  Again we were housed with the Japanese, and again, in another school building.  AND, we were given fresh new US fatigues and shoes, probably from that mountain of stuff that we left in Manila.  FOOD: MEAT, VEGETABLES, FRESH FRUIT, FISH, COOKING OIL, SALT, SUGAR, TEA, and a daily hand out of beer and American CIGARETTES, and we ate right with the Japs.  How's that for the Famine to Feast routine??  (No matter if we were being fattened up for the kill, this was the way to go!)  As you may have already guessed this good fortune that had befallen the Yankee Chapter of the -Japanese Brotherhood of Structural Engineers was destined to flop, and flop it did!!  Within a few days after our arrival, the guerillas became active in our area to such an extent that the bridge project was halted; the Japanese moved on, and we went to the new, wherever, large POW Camp.  We talked a bit of trying an escape attempt, which might have been a bit easier now, but we had become a bit leery of the Guerillas and their methods, organization, abilities, and etc.  As we were to learn more of them, it became evident that they were little more than bandits, preying upon their own as well as harassing the Japanese.  This was later confirmed when we learned that the only organized Guerilla activity was in the Southern Islands, led by American Officers, and supplied, equipped and directed by US Headquarters in Australia.

            There was quite a parting ceremony when we took leave of the Jap Engineers, much handshaking, bowing, and back slapping.  Plus we left loaded with bottles of Sake, cartons of cigarettes, canned goods, sugar, coffee, and Lord knows what else!!  I dare say that any of the local population who might have observed this touching ceremony were surely convinced that no finer group of American collaborators existed anywhere!!  Our trip to the POW Camp by truck, was an all day affair; we traveled due East, which basically meant nothing other than we knew what direction we were going.  One grim aspect of the journey was that the guards, part of the Engineers, indicated that where we were going was not a good place!!  Late in the afternoon we passed through a large town, Cabanatuan, and the guards said that we were almost there.  WE ARE THERE: Great God in Heaven!!  The sights that met our eyes defies description; another O'Donnell only indescribably worse!!  In an area probably less than a mile square, heavily barb wired, with a few ramshackle straw huts, and many more unfinished, were herded together several thousand Americans!!  Never before, nor never again do I expect to see, nor do I want to see, such utter misery, degradation, filth, and death!!  In the merciless tropical sun, many of these poor wretches were dragging them selves about, literally dying on their feet, begging for food and water.  After the gates closed behind us, we forty decided to attempt to stay together, if possible.  We reported to the Senior Camp Officer, a Marine Colonel, and were allowed to stay together.  We were moved into a bamboo barracks-type affair, and the guys asked me to be Barracks Leader.

Being asked to be Barracks Leader I considered a compliment, since most any of our group could have been; it was not a onerous chore since were a good resourceful group, well organized, and efficient.  We inherited a dozen or so 'existees' already in the barracks, rest of whom in pretty poor physical condition, poor spirits, no ambition, no nothing.  The Japanese would not allow the POW's to set up any sort of Camp internal discipline or organization, so things were about as bad as they could get.  Our group decided that we would set up our own Rules and Regs for the running of our hut.  The 'loot' that we had brought with us was hoarded with the idea that unless needed otherwise, it would be used for the sick; since our gang was pretty healthy, we would see if it would help the ones we inherited.  We gave the place a thorough cleaning since it was in awful shape, and set about checking the sick ones to see what, if anything, could be done for them.  Two or three of them were suffering from Dysentery, and in bad shape; we contacted the Medics for advice and/or help.  Well, Medics/Doctors the camp had, but medicine they did not have.  Volunteers among us bathed and fed the sick, doing what little we could for them, knowing full well that they would probably have to be sent to the “Hospital” area, known as the 'ZERO WARD’, from where not too many returned!!  The Survival Rules that we set up in our hut were pretty tough, and were rigidly  enforced, and, we had a 'Goon Squad' to back them up.  The number one rule was: NO ONE, but NO ONE, would be allowed to trade a morsel of food for other than a like item, food that is.  Poor devils had been known to trade an entire day's rations, meager as it was, for a few cigarettes!!  This we stopped; this type of person was required/ forced to eat his meals in a specified, supervised area, and to remain there until he'd eaten his meal.  (We had the extreme satisfaction of having one of those people that our policies had helped save his life!!)  There were two plentiful items in Camp, water and mosquitoes. We insisted that our. people keep clean personally, and to help keep the entire living area clean, this would be an attempt to hold down breeding places for flies, mosquitoes and the like.  The truly ill got rather tender care from the volunteers, but any others had a bathing session with the "Goon Squad”!!  Extra Cruel?  Perhaps, but during the ensuing two and one half years that our hut was in existence, there were NO new cases of illness, nor did ONE man die, and No ONE went to the ZERO WARD!!  The Camp was fed two meals per day, morning and evening, consisting of steamed rice and greens; it was cooked by the Japanese and trundled over to us in buckets. Our Medics asked the Japanese for the scrapings from the bottoms of their rice vats which would have been on the crisp or well cooked side; the ingestion of this would have been some help for the POW's suffering from Diarrhea and Dysentery, no luck.  It appeared that we were going to be either starved to death, and/or 'lack of medicined' to death.  One day the entire Japanese garrison was replaced, and the new one was under the command of a Colonel Mori, a former business man in Baguio.  Baguio was a city high in the Zambales Mountains, heart of the gold mining country, location of the Philippine Military Academy, a resort city, known for it's wealthy people and beautiful homes.   Since Mori had lived there and was known to many Americans, perhaps conditions might improve.  THEY WORSENED, DRASTICALLY!!  DIGRESSION: The Camp's daily Sick Call was a tragic comedy: There was little or no medicine, nor medical equipment.  Cases that the Doctors knew were hopeless were transferred to the "ZEPO WARD".  What food or medicine that could NOT help them would be used for someone whose to 'make it' seemed a bit better.  (Wouldn't having to decide to send some one to the 'ZERO WARD' have been a nice chore?).  With the mosquitoes there was much Malaria, but fortunately there was quite a lot of Quinine on hand.  I had Malaria in November of '42, but they soaked it out of me.  For Diarrhea and Dysentery, powdered charcoal, and the grimly humorous admonition: "Watch your diet"!!  CONCLUSION: Don't get ill!!  BACK TO OUR BARRACKS/HUT: whenever one of the traders made it into our hut, particularly the cigarette type, he might very well be 'relieved' of his loot and tossed out while the spoils were divided amongst the inmates.  In addition to the many drawbacks normally associated with this type, POW, of existence is the awful daily monotony, no changes, excepting the weather.  'Tis no place for a worrier; if one can't adjust for living for today only, and not worry about tomorrow, things get a bit tougher.  In spite of Japanese semi-disapproval, a Camp Morale Program was instituted, which flourished with gusto!!  (I have written of this)  Either being believers in that old 'saw' that "Idle Hands Brew mischief or as a result of the benevolence of the aforementioned Col. Mori, a 'Farm Program' was initiated: Several acres of rocky, unfertile soil were staked out, and daily a few hundred POW's, regardless of their physical condition, labored on the 'Farm'.  They did so with crude tools, hacking and chopping in the broiling sun.  The work was brutally hard, and the guards were worse!!  In addition, whatever vegetables grew were kept by the Japanese.  This little detail operated on a six day per week schedule.  Any POW caught nibbling on a planting, or straightening up his aching back could expect to be clubbed; being stripped naked and tied to a stake/post was a favorite Jap punishment!!  Due to the existing living conditions, it is estimated that some 3,000 POW's died during the period of from June of '42

to October '43!!  The bodies would be stacked like cordwood waiting for the burial detail to get around to them, which could be several days later; by that time the tropical sun had bloated the bodies like balloons.  To further complicate the task of the burial detail, the internment area was mostly swampy rice paddies, therefore the graves were just deep enough to cover the corpses, and during the rainy season many bodies were uncovered and afloat!!  Conditions within the Camp grew steadily worse, if that were possible, with the Japanese refusing to undertake or to allow any improvement measures.  Sanitation as such, simply did not exist; toilet facilities consisted of large open pits, into which it is said, a few of the weaker ones had fallen and drowned!!  This required the setting up of a type Life Guard system in these areas.  The most severe cases of Diarrhea & Dysentery had to be removed from the barracks for the protection of the others; in most cases they were looked after by volunteers, until the Medics could transport them to the Hospital/Zero Ward.  To make matters worse, a new type of Malaria, at least new to most of us, made itself known; Cerebral Malaria which attacked the brain, for which nothing could be done, and from which few recovered!!  After hours and days of screaming and moaning the victim would lapse into a merciful coma and finally death!!  Perhaps you might recall the youngster that the two of us helped along the Death March?   I had gotten him a job inside the Camp to enable us to keep an eye on him; he died of Cerebral Malaria.  I was with him at the end; the little guy was almost like a kid brother.  Another malady for contention with was a type of Edema or beriberi, a watery swelling within the tissues of the body, a direct result of malnutrition and our type of diet.  There were two types, the Wet and the Dry.  The Wet resulted from the kidneys being unable to pass off the excess body fluids, causing the lower extremities to swell almost to the point of bursting.  This swelling and pressure had to be relieved or internal gases could endanger the heart.  Relief in the form of lancing the feet and along the legs and thighs to promote drainage; sort of like tapping for Maple Syrup!!  The Dry affected the nerves, causing parts of the body, particularly the hands and feet to ache and swell very badly; the slightest touch brought on extreme pain.  It seemed that the large men suffered more from the Wet beriberi than others, probably because they lost more weight therefore being in a more weakened condition with less resistance.  In December of 1943 the Japs did a complete about face!!  We were allowed to set up Camp Rules and Regulations, and to begin a program of improving the Camp's conditions, why, no one knew, and I might add no one questioned.  Some building materials were furnished along with some tools.  The Japs also announced that they would soon release some Red Cross parcels that had JUST ARRIVED!!  The first Camp problem that was tackled was that of sanitation; the open pits were filled in, and new ones dug.  These were boxed in and had seats with covers, and included a 55 gal. drum flushing system.  Pretty much of an open air 'Chic Sale' affair, but the disease carrying flies disappeared.  Barbering equipment was also issued, and off came long matted hair and beards!!  Unless you had a skin condition that would be affected by the sun, you became one of hundreds of bald heads!!  Water pipes were installed along with 5 gallon cans for self-administered showers; we didn't get any prettier, but we sure smelled better!!  It was also announced that we could be paid the same amount as our Japanese counterpart.  Obviously somehow we had finally achieved Prisoner of War status and were no longer Captives only.  We were paid in Occupation Yen and were allowed to place orders in the newly organized Camp Commissary for such luxuries as: sugar, salt, peanuts, limes, a hard rock candy made from sugar cane, rice flour, and tobacco.  These commodities were purchased by a combined POW & Jap 'Shopping Service', from the merchants in Cabanatuan.  Around Christmas of '43 the Red Cross parcels were distributed; one parcel per two men.  As small as they were, their morale factor far outweighed their nutritional value.  The items in the parcels, particularly the soluble coffee, set up some brisk trading activities.  A further announcement: We could set up our own kitchens to do our own cooking; our stoves, POW constructed, were of mud and straw bricks, similar to the adobe brick of the US Southwest.  A large hole was left in the center of the rectangular brick pile which was to accommodate a large, round cast iron pot; material to be cooked in said pot would be- stirred with a long paddle resembling an oar.  One might wonder how it was possible to construct and staff these ‘kitchens’ to handle the type of cooking that would be required, generally for the most part foreign to we Round Eyes.  Let me assure you that in all probability the culinary world never dreamed that there were so many American Chefs and kitchen help so well versed in the art of Oriental cooking!!  As you guessed, Chef Kaelin was in the forefront of these experts!!  (Be this as it may, there was one thing that I realized early in this situation, and that was one had better be prepared to look after oneself; to expect, as too many did, some one else to do so, was a bit like preparing ones own epitaph!  The daily food issue became large enough and varied enough to 'rouse some suspicions, but we DID NOT make the mistake of 'Looking the Gift Horse In The Mouth'!!  In a very short time, the kitchens and the chefs improved to the point that some pretty tasty viands began appearing in the chow lines.  Examples: Breakfast consisted of a thin, mushy type of rice known as Lugao, into which had been blended garlic, peanut oil, and salt; also browned rice water, refereed to as coffee.  The Noon meal offered the usual steamed rice and a thick soup made of Mongo Beans a type of Chick Pea, and Taro Root which when cooked resembled mashed potatoes.  Evening Meal: Rice, braised or boiled Carabao (water buffalo) meat, gravy, and a pudding of Corn Starch, browned/burned/caramelized sugar and Peanut Oil.  Again, not Gourmet but filling.  At this time the food issue was large enough to offer generous portions, and times there might even be 'seconds'!!  The burned coating of rice was scraped from the pots and passed among the barracks for those with Diarrhea and Dysentery, and it seemed to help.  Then there was a period when we were issued heaps of field corn, hard and dry; we soaked the corn in a type of lye water made from soaking wood ashes in water.  This removed the husks from the corn, and Voila, Hominy!!  After hours of cooking, we would swish the Hominy around in Peanut Oil and stir it into the Rice.  A further bonanza made the scene in the form of wooden kegs, approx. 50 lbs., filled with dried and salted Salmon or Tuna steaks!!  These we soaked in water to reduce the salt, they were then shredded, mixed with steamed rice, shaped into thick patties, and braised/fried with Peanut Oil.  In a short period of time we had gone from a semi-Human existence to Human status!!  As a result of the improvement in the Camp living conditions, the Red Cross parcels, and the improved rations, the change in the men was astounding.  Personal habits and mental outlooks 'perked up', AND the death rate fell off sharply!!  A Black Market was born which received substantial backing from Jap NCOs who were in charge of details of POWs going outside-of the Camp (suppose there was some personal gain for the Japs involved?) ..Nevertheless, it was amazing to see what could be and was gotten through the Market; each member of the Market was required to turn over a percentage of his loot to the Medics who used same in the Hospital/Zero Ward which was improving to the point where a man sent there now had an even chance of getting out again!"   Enough credit cannot be given to the American leaders for the improvements, who, despite the many long months of Japanese refusals and face slappings, never gave up!!  Their efforts gave the men a 'straw of hope', and a chance for survival; unfortunately, nothing could be done for the terminally ill and the weak-willed (perhaps the term 'weak-willed' is unkind, but there were those who gave up from the first day, and in a few words “Doomed Themselves To Die"!!  I knew of two such sad cases, they were both in my Squadron at Clark Field.  By mid 1944 rumors began filtering into Camp that the Allies were steadily advancing in the Pacific area.  Said rumors were sometimes borne out by papers smuggled in from the Underground, and by POW's going outside on work details. Further rumors from the Jap side of the fence had it that soon all of the POWs would be taken to Japan to get them out of the Combat Zone, although we knew that this could be done to keep us from failing into friendly hands.  There were also visible signs of other changes taking place, such as: Guerilla activity in the immediate area causing the Japs to increase the number of guards, roving guard patrols outside the fence, and the setting up of an Air Raid Warning System to include spot lights and flood lights.  In August of '44 the first groups of POWs began leaving Camp, and none ever returned; then we knew that the 'Exodus' had begun.  Towards the end of that same month Yours Truly's name appeared on a list, and off he went.  With our few personal belongings, approx. 500 of us were loaded aboard trucks, destination unknown.  We went directly to Manila and were deposited in Bilibid Prison, where we found many of those whom had preceded us still sitting.  In addition there were many POWs from other areas which left no doubt in our minds that we were being gathered for shift to Japan. 

We later learned that many small details of POWs which the Japs were unable to get to shipment areas, were SLAUGHTERED to keep them from falling into the hands of the Allies who were rapidly closing in on the Philippines!!  The rest infamous of the massacres was at Palawan, in the Southern Philippine Islands, where in excess of 100 American POWs were hustled into an Air Raid Shelter by a false air raid alert and burned, machine gunned, and hand grenaded to death!!  Our immediate thought was, "If and when we sail for Japan will we get there"??  Rumor had it that the waters between the Philippines and Japan were becoming infested with US submarines, and that US Carrier based planes were giving any and all Jap shipping daily harassment!!  After two or three days at Bilibid, some several hundred or so of us were marched to the Port Area/Dock Area and loaded aboard a Jap freighter, tonnage escapes me, however probably of size; name: the Nissyo Maru.  We were jammed below deck in a dark and airless hold with the hatch covers in place.  The heat and humidity was beyond description.  Panic was inches away, and we knew that the Japs wanted nothing better than an excuse to do a little machine gunning, or to have a bit of grenade practice!!  we managed to get things under control, and for my efforts I'm proud to say I received the Bronze Star Medal.  We were able to persuade the Japs to move some of us forward to another hold which eased the crowded conditions.  We laid at dockside in Manila Bay for about four or five days before finally getting under way; after getting out to sea, groups were permitted to come up on the deck and sit in the fresh air.  Our only food was steamed rice.  Toilet facilities consisted of a large wooden keg/tub that was lowered and raised by rope; if, during the raising process said container tilted, it was "Look Out Below"!  This was obviously a troop carrying tub, and we slept on wooden shelves in the hold.  It was very damp and cold, as it was constantly rainy and overcast.  In all probability the gloomy weather kept us from being clobbered along the way; we were part of a fairly large convoy which included quite a few Jap Navy ships.  Several times during the trip we heard the Jap destroyers dropping depth charges.  Later shiploads of POWs were lost to American bombing and torpedoed, since none of the ships carrying POWs were so marked!!  That's a tough way to go, at the hands of your own people, but WARS DO KILL PEOPLE!!   Can't recall how long our safari took, but it was pretty speedy.  We landed at Moji on the Island of Honshu in the South Central part of Japan.  We were given a physical inspection aboard ship and then offloaded aboard some pretty modern street cars.   Quite a number of civilians had gathered about, but the guards kept them at a distance which was fine, since they had sort of an unfriendly air about them.  The street cars/trolleys that we were loaded into had their window curtains drawn; just what sort of precaution this was I never quite decided, since we didn't know where we were, nor where we were going!!  After a fairly long but swift ride, we were unloaded in a downtown area, which we learned was the city of Fukuoka, on the Island of Kyushu.  A Jap Warrant Officer in charge of the guard detail that met us there, allowed us to use the toilet facilities in a nearby empty office building, and then we just lolled about in the sunshine; in fact things became sort of peaceful.  We were all given a pack of Jap cigarettes, and some hard candies to gnaw on; a welcome change from the late shipboard niceties, the 'friendly' Jap Marines, etc.  The Jap WO strolled about using some fairly good 'pidgin' English, telling us that as soon as some trucks arrived we would be going to a Camp-3, and would be working in the steel mill nearby.   Whenever someone would mention using POWs to work in an area contributing to the War effort, he would smile and stroll on.  Said WO, KAWASAKI by name, turned out to be the 2^nd in Command at the Camp where we were headed; more about him later.  The trucks finally arrived, we climbed aboard, and after a short ride arrived at an area in a residential area surrounded by a wooden fence instead of the usual barbwire.  This was Camp-3, Yawata, Kyushu, Japan, home of the world's 4th largest steel mill.  The Camp consisted of ten pine story and a half buildings, a small Dispensary, a Jap Headquarters building, a Guard Barracks, a combination Kitchen and Storehouse complex, and, of all things, a Bath House!!  There were some Allied POWs already there: some hundred or so British troops from Singapore, a dozen or so British Merchant seamen, a few Australian soldiers, some Javanese troops, a few Chinese and Indians from India, (they were probably off the British Merchant ships), some US North China Marines, US Merchant seamen, and some US Contractor personnel from Guam and Wake Islands.  With the addition of our 400, a total population of maybe a thousand.  Since the Americans constituted the largest group, the Japs made us responsible for the Camp, under their guidance naturally.  There were probably six American Officers, including an Irish Catholic Chaplain, and three Doctors; also a Warrant Officer fluent in Japanese, a big plus.  The first several days were pretty hectic, getting organized, and adapting to the avalanche of Jap rules and regulations.   The barracks housed about 100 men, with toilet facilities consisting of several stand up or squat position holes in the concrete floor, and three or four faucets of cold water.  We Americans occupied six of the barracks, and in spite of there being enough officers on hand, darned if I didn't wind up being a Barracks Leader again, of Barracks-10 (Kutai-Kyu).  The Camp was relatively clean and orderly, quite a contrast to the Tropical ‘Rest Home' we had that we had left a few weeks past.  Sleeping space was arranged in two tiers running the length of the building, each man getting approximately a 3x6 ft. area that served as living room, dining room, etc. The mattress was straw, sans pillows.  There were some picnic-type tables in the narrow walkway for eating, but not sufficient space for everyone.  There were no heating facilities in evidence about which we wondered, since we were pretty close to the Inland Sea, and felt that it would get cold and damp in the winter months (which it did).  We were issued mosquito nets, four cotton blankets, a thin, dark green two piece uniform affair, similar to the type still being worn by Oriental working people, and a new pair of US GI shoes; oh yes, a heavy, dark green overcoat, but no gloves.  Our straw mats were pretty thick which helped keep out some of the cold but we paired off making a sort of envelope of our blankets into which we squirmed; the overcoats served as pillows which kept our heads and necks up from the cold mats.  There was one small stove-type affair that burned charcoal, and radiated enough heat to slightly burn ones fingers.  'Twas quite a chore making a trip to the Men's Room in the Winter!!  The Jap camp commander was an old Major Rikitaki, who neither did anything for us nor to us; generally he was never there, leaving Kawasaki in charge.  Kawasaki ran a pretty-tight-ship, but was never mean; he was particularly tough on the Jap quards who were a mixture of ex-soldiers and young recruits who wanted to act tough.  They rotated their Commander of the Guard on a daily basis among their few Sgt's and a couple of Corporals, and when a Sgt, Nakagura was IT, things got a bit 'hairy'!!  'Nastygura' as we call him was as 'mean as a snake'; a pretty good sized SOB, who would clobber any and all for whatever reason suited him!!  He was also the Camp Supply Sgt, and you had to go through him personally to get a replacement item of clothing, etc., you could count on a few raps on the head from his bamboo stick, or if he decided to get good and mad, a few stomps from his hobnailed shoes up and down your shins!  The guards were not too bad as a general rule, however there were a couple of 'Nakagura-types' whom we kept a pretty close tab on.  Our diet consisted of steamed rice with some type of beans mixed in, a soup of vegetables and fish, and hot tea; there was also salt and sugar, and Soy Sauce for seasoning.  We also received a small weekly ration of cigarettes or tobacco; all in all, somewhat better than our 'tour' in the Philippines.

We worked in the Mill Monday through Saturday; Sunday was our 'Day of Yasume (Rest)'.  Sunday routine: Up early, area and barracks clean up, wash clothing and get ready for inspection (by our hosts). The washing of ones personal clothing might have been considered a bit on the humorous side since it was done without soap or hot water; however since we had but the one work/dress ensemble it was donned again while still wet which was a bit uncomfortable in winter weather!!  It had to be-put on immediately after washing, to be ready for their Inspection which could come at any time.  On Sunday evenings we had our BATH!!  This event was looked forward to quite eagerly, to a point that is; EXPLANATION: The denizens of all ten barracks used the same water!!  The bath was a concrete pool some 2 to 3 feet deep, and maybe 20 feet square, and the water was kept quite hot.  The bathing was on a rotating basis; that is if your barracks was 1^st this Sunday, it would be last next Sunday and would work it's way up.  A fair enough system, but when you were 10^th, by that time the water had gotten a bit 'thick'!!  Bathe you did, regardless; the Guards would clear each barracks, and a couple of Guards in the Bath House made sure that everyone took a dip!!  Another Sunday ritual sort of on the bittersweet side was: THE SHAVE.  On Sunday morning each Barracks was issued ONE (1) Safety Razor with ONE (1) Blade, and EVERYONE was required to be clean shaven!!  Since a barracks housed 80+ men, shaving using cold water and a strong lye-type soap for shaving cream after 30 or 40 tough-bearded guys had preceded you was quite an EXPERIENCE!!  The following Summer we discovered that our mosquito nets were infested with Bed Bugs!!  We got some Creosote at the Mill in which we soaked or painted the nets; 'twas pretty smelly, but though' it never really killed the little feelers, it pretty much kept them off the net and us.  A week or so after our arrival we were sorted into groups according to SKILLS and were all set to be steel workers.  Each morning we were marched about a mile to a rail head where we loaded onto some flat bed RR cars for the trip to the Mill, some 6 to 10 miles distant.  The ride through the countryside was pleasant enough, but sorta uncomfortable when it rained, and in the Winter.  The ride also had another interesting side: Enroute, we passed under quite a few overhead pedestrian and vehicle bridges; from almost all of these young Jap urchins attempted to 'bean us' with assorted hard objects!!  This fun and games thing came to a screeching halt after several of the Guards were 'bonked'!!  We later learned that the kids were probably aiming at the Guards as much as they were at us!!   Maybe they didn't like future LOSERS!!  Upon arrival at the Mill we were turned over to civilians who led us off to various types of work details, which were of the clean up type, rather than those requiring skills.  I doubt that few of the POW, were used in any type of skilled technical work since the Mill was almost at a standstill I can't recall any rough treatment at the hands of the civilians; they were for the most part, elderly types, some of whom could speak a FEW words of English, and this together with the few of us who could 'murder' a FEW words of Japanese led to some hilarious conversations!!  The old guys would almost always manage to get their details ‘LOST’ amongst the complex of furnaces, etc.  This kept us from the soldiers/guards, and kept us warm in the Winter; there we could swap stories about our homes, families, etc.  Invariably the conversation would get around to base ball, or 'Beezu-Ballu’, of which their knowledge was amazing until we remembered that in quieter times the American All Stars, Babe Ruth, Lou Gerig, Jimmy Foxx and CO., had toured the Orient.  We carried a mall wooden box (Binto Box), to work containing rice and a salted/pickled vegetable; whenever possible the group's civilian boss would take these boxes to the Mill's Lunch row and either warm up the rice or replace it with hot rice.  Many times he would take a couple POWs along and bring back a bucket of hot soup and a bucket of hot tea.  I would hazard a guess that our being shipped to Japan, those of us who made it, was the best thing that had happened so far, mentally and physically.  To one old fellow, the chief civilian in charge of the work details, gave the title: “Grand Pop"; after much explaining what it meant, and that we had done so because of our liking for him, we could do no wrong.  He would strut about like a Banty Rooster, constantly using the only English expression he ever mastered: "Grand Popu speaks'!!   A sort of POW/Japanese Civilian Brotherhood soon developed, in that the civilians tried to set the same group of POWs each day.  The Guards growled about this, but the civilians would say that the job wasn't finished as yet!!  Soon many of the civilians started bringing us things such as a bar of soap, a wash cloth, a little sugar or candy, a few cookies, fruit and etc.  The Camp guards were constantly on the watch for our bringing in things from the Mill, such as sugar, salt, rice, beans, cigarettes, etc.  We generally managed to get the loot in without much trouble, but when that 'Great Japanese Humanitarian', Nakagura was Sgt. of the Guard, nothing was brought in; when he was on, every individual was searched, no matter how long it took.  We had a system for the other guards that went like so: a couple of guys would volunteer to 'get caught', and while the confusion/hullabaloo of their getting caught., was at it's height, the rest of us came on through; the volunteers would get slapped around a bit, but nothing serious.  Every evening we had an Inspection complete with a Personnel Report given by the Barracks Leader, that went/sounded like this:"Barracks-10, 76 men present, 3 men in Sick Bay, 2 men in toilet, 1 man working late in Japanese Headquarters.  The report had to be given in Japanese!!  Thank Heaven there always was an English speaking Jap and a Japanese speaking POW in the Inspection party.  At these inspections we were expected to be spic and shiny; I never did figure out how we were supposed to do this after spending all day at the Mill.  I got my jaws boxed soundly once for having a button missing!!  When the civilians at the Mill heard of this, they would give us to clean up which could include Washing the work suit which would dry very quickly near one of the warm furnaces

Will now close the chapter on Sgt., Nakagura thusly: After the Jap surrender/we found enough Red Cross food and hospital equipment and medicine to equip a 100 bed hospital for a year in his/their store room!!  I kept a diary while in Japan, and it was used to get the good Sgt., 40 years, and the old Major was given Life!!  In Oct of '44 I was notified by the Camp Hq, that since I had had experience cooking for PCWS, that I would be transferred to the Camp kitchen.  I would rather have stayed at the Mill rather than go to the Kitchen, particularly since Nakagura was also the Mess Sgt!!  Obviously I submitted no rebuttals, and went to the Kitchen. It was quite modern; the walls and floor were tiled, and kept spotless. We cooked in huge steel double-jacketed vats, using steam.  Our hours in the Kitchen was from 0200 AM 'till approximately 7 PM six days per week. BONUS: we were excused from the Sunday inspection.  Each afternoon we drew our supplies for the next day from the Store Room, and since 'Nastygura' refused to have an Interpreter present, the routine went something like this: We would disagree with him over the issue, and while he screamed and yelled, an extra sack of rice, or beans, or keg of fish would go out with the regular issue just seconds before he began 'thumping heads'!!  Consequently the POW rations were always a bit heavier than originally prescribed by the Camp Dietician (Nakagura)!!   WO Kawasaki would stroll into the kitchen daily and gab with us while drinking tea; he told us that Nakagura's inventory in the Store Room was generally short, and that he Kawasaki knew what was going on.  He warned us that we could be shot if caught!!  He and I became quite friendly, probably because his Quarters were across the street from my Barracks.   He used to invite me and one of the Doctors to his quarters a couple of times a week for some tea and cookies, and some cigarettes and rice wine.  In late Dec of ‘44, a group of maybe 30 or 40 American Officers were brought into Camp; these poor devils were almost more dead than alive!!  Among then were two of my friends from Cabanatuan, Cols O. O. Wilson, and T.J.H. Trapnell, later Lt General.  They were part of a shipload of POWs from the 'Hell Ship' as it became known that had been both torpedoed and bombed enroute with a loss of over 1000 of it's 1,500 that started out!!   Luckily, Kawasaki was in Camp when they were brought in, and he had a special issue of food for them in addition to an issue of medicine to the Camp Doctors!!  I credit this action of his with keeping them from "Slipping Over the Edge'!!  (I lost many friends that were on that ship).  There was a young Air Force Lt  among them who was stricken with Meningitis, and in pretty grim shape.  One of our Drs. said that with the medicines on hand there was a slim chance that he might make it, but that he would have to have some blood transfusions.  I don't know who, or how many volunteered, but they did; I was among them, (don't think that I could have ever looked into a mirror again if I hadn't!!)  Since there was no blood extraction equipment on hand, the good Dr improvised; he used some sort of thin, hollow tubing, which was inserted into our arm, and the heart action out the stuff!!  The blood ran so slowly that it would coagulate in the tubing requiring that it be cleaned during the process; this required it being withdrawn, and then reinserted, which got pretty painful.  BUT, the Lt  got the blood, and better still, he LIVED!!  (I managed to locate him after the War, and we were in touch until he recently, '80, died of a massive Heart attack.)  After a couple of weeks, when they were able to travel, the group left, and after the War we heard that they were taken to Mukden, Manchuria where they were released after the surrender to the Russians who treated them as badly as had the Japs.  In late 1944 American air activity began in our area; at first it was just the flights passing overhead on their way inland.  Then as the flights increased in frequency, a few planes would drop off and take a whack at the Mill and the local docks and shipping.  The activity was always at night, and we were warned that under pain of death, we were to never attempt to signal to them.  (We wondered how we could, and with what?)  Our windows were covered with heavy black cloth, but we sneaked many a look; generally we were able to see very little other than the Jap search lights and the antiaircraft bursts.   Once while on a rice hauling detail we drove along the Inland Sea for several miles, and the bomb damage was a sight to behold: dock facilities and warehouses were for the most part leveled, and the masts, of sunken ships sticking up from the water looked like burned out candies on a cake.  Before long the raids began coming in daylight; whenever a raid came, while the POWs were at the Mill, they were loaded on the flat cars and taken to a tunnel a mile or so away and parked there until the ALL CLEAR signal was given.  Every morning a large plane, flying very high, would pass over our area; either a weather or photo reconnaissance plane.  The Japs rarely ever fired at it, probably it might have been out of their range.  We knew nothing about the plane, and had never seen anything that large; the Japs called it an Oki Skoki (large aircraft), and said that it was a B-NijuKyu, B-29.

Reference the A-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we knew little or nothing about the bomb, but saw a newspaper photo of Hiroshima and couldn't believe what we saw!!  One evening while a couple of us were in Kawasaki's quarters, he very calmly told us that the War would be over very soon, and that we would be going home!!  He said that another of the 'Biq Bombs' had been dropped, and that his Government would surrender very soon!!  He also told us that if the Americans had attempted to invade Japan, that they, the Japanese, were determined to fight to the death, and that ALL POWs would have been lined up on the beaches, and that the Americans would have had to come 'Over and Through' them!!  He also cautioned us to be very careful after the surrender was announced, because of what the soldiers and civilians might do after learning that they had lost!!  In August of '45 we were told that the Mill had been closed, and that no more POWs would be going there, but were told nothing further.  A few days later, while at morning roll call, we were addressed by an English speaking Japanese Officer who told us that the War was officially over!!  We were told to remain in the Camp which would be guarded by the Japanese Military Police for our protection until American Troops could get to the area.  I don't recall any spontan-demnstrations of joy over the news, but just more of a relaxation, like 'The Pressure Is Finally Off!!   IT IS OVER: There would be no more Palawans (where over 100 American POWs were slaughtered as the Americans were closing in!!); no more Lumbans (our bridge building detail!!); no more Nichols Fields, Manila, where POWs working on building an air strip died as they worked/slaved, and were bull dozed into the earth where they fell!!  This detail was under a Japanese Naval Officer known as 'The White Angel Of Death.  No more POW ships , strafed, and torpedoed!!  No more torturing and executing of downed Airmen at Ofuna Prison in Tokyo!!  And no more other horrors that I/we never heard of; however, there will always be 'Man's Inhumanity To Man'!!   Back to Camp-3: In a matter of minutes the Jap flag at the Camp had been replaced by an American one; where it had been hidden these many months was a well kept secret.  We painted large POW letters on the roofs of all of the buildings for the American planes that we felt/hoped would soon be overhead.  In a couple of days several fighters came over, P-38s, and took some good low-level looks at us jumping up and down, waving and yelling (hope we didn't scare them).  One of them dropped a canister containing some info/instructions for us, to wit: We were to remain in the Camp and be patient, Rescue Teams were enroute; also some planes would soon be there to drop us food and clothing.  The food and clothing caper sounded fine, but we knew that it would be quite a while before any Rescue Team hit our area; firstly their Home Base was the Kobe/Yokahama area, some 300+ miles away, and secondly there were quite a few POW Camps between them and us.  Within a day or two the supply planes came; there was a large open field near a huge power plant, and there we stationed groups of POWs to gather in the stuff after it hit the ground.  Most of the supplies were in 55 gal drums that were bolted together, end to end; they were parachuted in, but since they were dropped at 'such a low altitude, the 'chutes really didn't have time to slow them down too much, so consequently a whistling projectile was enroute!  Some of the containers broke loose from the 'chutes, but luckily no POWs were injured; however, a Jap civilian attempted to catch a case that had broken loose!! What was left of him was pretty messy! They dropped more than we could use, or so it seemed, probably because we had been practicing frugality for so long.  Amongst the items of clothing dropped was a batch of women's apparel; this brought about some real guffaws!  With our system being unused to this type of foodstuffs, upset stomachs were the order of the day.  Kawasaki was still in Camp, so we set aside some items of food and clothing for any Japanese women and children only for him to distribute.  He told us that he would be leaving in a few days for an area where all Jap troops were to assemble for demobilization, disarmament' and whatever.  We wrote a letter to the attention of the American authorities outlining his decent and humane treatment of us, hoping that it might be of some post-War help to him. All of the other Camp Guards had Disappeared.  The ensuing days of inactivity, doing little other than over-eating and over-sleeping, soon became tedious and boring.  Sooo, at night quite a few of the men began to slip into town in search of???.  Since we had already decided that it was going to be quite a wait for the Rescue Teams, the men began to get restless, and wanted to get the Hell outta there!!  With this in mind, several of us, five to be exact, began working on a plan to make our way to the US Forces on our own!!

We went into Yawata where we knew that one of the Mill officials lived; he had been educated in the states, and spoke flawless English.  We were able to find him and outlined our plan.  He said that it would be pretty risky, but would probably work.  He felt we might encounter some problems with any soldiers that we might run across, but that as far as he knew, the civilian populace was pretty quiet.  He stated that the RR was open through to Tokyo in spite of the bombings, and wished us luck!  Back at Camp we rigged ourselves up knapsack type affairs to carry some food plus other items that we could use for bribery tactics.  We then went to the senior Camp Officer, an American Major whom had been conspicuous by his absence whenever things had gotten a bit ‘tough’!!  His reaction was to threaten us with a Courts Martial if we DESERTED!!  His transformation from a 'Casper Milquetoast’  type, to a 'Fearsome Warrior' type in so short a time was truly remarkable.  We then confided in our Irish Catholic Chaplain, a man among men; his reaction: I give you my Blessing, and wish you God Speed !!  We decided to wear our POW garb rather than the GI uniforms that had been dropped to us; we felt that the least attention that we attracted so much the better.  We also decided to make the journey at night.  So, late one evening after dark, we slipped out of Camp 3 and were on our way!!  Getting back to our not attracting attention to ourselves, I remember that we had a 6’-4" Marine with us, and another Marine probably a couple of inches shorter; oh well.  It was somewhere around the 5^th or 6^th of September.  We climbed aboard a street car/trolley in Yawata and headed for Shimonesenko, a coastal city where we could make connections with the Express train for Kobe/Yokahama; this portion of our safari had been laid out by the guy from the Mill, the rest was up to us.  So far we had seen few civilians, and, no soldiers.  However, upon our arrival at Shimonesenko the atmosphere changed.  The RR Station was huge, and was jammed with civilians and soldiers, most of the soldiers were fully armed!  Now What?  Well, we brought this upon ourselves, so grab the ball and go!!  Still no one seemed to be paying any particular attention to us, when suddenly we were confronted by three Jap Military Police, one a Lt, in perfect English he demanded to know where we thought we were going, and, in perfect English we told him!!  He advised us to go back to Camp-3 before some Jap soldiers decided that having a few less Americans around would be appropriate, or words to that effect.  He seemed like a decent type, and was obviously quite sincere; how-ever, ON we were going.  He then switched tactics: he told us that we couldn't ride the train without tickets, and that we couldn't buy tickets without money.  He had spoke some trueisms, but he had reckoned without knowing that we had liberated wads of Yen from the Camp Headquarters!!  Upon seeing our wealth, without another word he led us to the Ticket Office and even translated to get our tickets to Kobe; he said that Kobe was where the Advance American Forces were.  He wished us luck as we boarded the train, looking for all the world , or at least acting, like First-Class travelers.  I have no illusion that we were fooling anyone, but surmise that the people, soldiers included, were so stunned at their defeat, that the element of surprise was in our favor.  Our train was an Express that made only a couple or three stops along the way; at these stops we would get off and stroll about the station like ordinary sight-seers.  When we initially boarded the train we felt that probably we should remain in our seats and keep out of sight, but after wandering about our car passing out gum and candy to the kids, and cigarettes and items of food to the elders with no problem, we decided to explore the rest of the train...We came upon a plush Club Car type affair that was almost filled with NCOs, no officers.  Now why we decided to push our luck further I’ll never know but we did: We began rousting the Japs out of the car, at the same time not letting them take anything with them, such as bundles and bags with whatever was in them!!  why these guys put up with this I've never quite figured out; we certainly; we certainly didn't look like any official Group, in fact all we had going for us was those two big marines; perhaps that was enough.  The bags they had contained rice, assorted foodstuffs, bottles of wine and cigarettes.  We then turned the car over to the women and kids and the oldsters with the loot intact!! The remainder of the trip proved uneventful, particularly since we settled down and tended to our own business. Sometime in the wee hours of the next morning we arrived at Kobe; this RR Station was also huge, but was deserted. OK, whereinell are the Yanks!!  We wandered about the place, found nothing and finally wandered outside; there we found an Army MP Jeep.  We began hocking the horn and tooting the siren, and finally produced a couple of MPs'; and wouldn’t you know, these jackasses were going to arrest us for DESERTERS!!  In spite of the way we looked and were dressed, it took a bit of jawing with them to finally get it in their thick skulls!! One of them finally grabbed the Field Telephone in the jeep and began blabbing with some one; shortly thereafter several Jeeps arrived, sirens screeching and red lights a-blinkin’. A large gentleman in slacks and T-shirt identified himself as Lt Gen Eichelburger, Commander of the Occupation Forces, and asked if we would care to accompany him?  We should have told him about his 'jerk MPs', but we didn't.  Within a short time we were all aboard a Navy Cruiser, in the Captain's quarters, showering, shaving, putting on fresh clean clothing, and eating some mighty fine vittles!!

We sent messages to families, were interviewed by War Correspondents, and relaxed and talked.  We were the first POWs they had seen, and gave us the ‘Red Carpet’ treatment. The next day we were taken to 8^th Army Hq where we were interviewed by Info Officers, and the Military Police.  We briefed them on Camp 3, and I gave them my diary. That afternoon the five of us were flown to Okinawa in Gen Eichelburger’s private plane; we stayed there overnight, and the next day we were in Manila.  We were given a very thorough physical exam and the medics were astounded!! Other than being under weight, we were in excellent condition. We made up temporary Personnel Records, were given partial payments, and just loafed about for a week or so.  We were a at a Replacement Depot where we had the run of the place; came and went as we pleased, borrowed a jeep and toured Manila, found the fiends that we had known before the War, and talked to the Supply Sgt out of loads of food and clothing for them, since they had lost everything, homes, etc.  In about a week or ten days we found ourselves aboard a small but very speedy transport with the Red Arrow Division Troops, enroute to San Francisco, where we docked some 20 days later. (I had departed San Francisco some six years ago.)  Note: We five were back in the States BEFORE the Rescue Teams made it to Camp 3!!  Anything more said of this period of my/our lives would be redundant/boring/ and of no interest.  I have arrived at these conclusions: ‘In a tight squeeze, an average American is a good guy to have around’, AND: ‘Three and a half years as POW is one helluva way to save money’!!

FINI