The
VOLUME 60
PITTSBURGH, PA — NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005
NUMBER 3
VA Appoints New Chief of Research
Joel Kupersmith, M.D., has been
appointed VA’s new Chief Research and
Development Officer (CRADO) effective
May 31, 2005. Dr. Kupersmith will oversee
the Office of Research and Development’s
(ORD) four research and development
services: biomedical laboratory, clinical
science, rehabilitation, and health services.
He also will set VA research priorities and
manage all aspects of the national research
program with a budget of over $400 million,
supporting the veteran-focused research of more than 3,000
investigators at over 115 VA facilities across the country.
A Navy veteran, Dr. Kupersmith is a graduate of New York
Medical College, where he completed his clinical training in
internal medicine. Subsequently, he completed cardiology
training at Beth Israel Medical Center/Harvard Medical School.
Most recently, Dr. Kupersmith was Dean of the School of
Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Vice
President for Clinical Affairs at Texas Tech University and CEO
of the Faculty Practice.
Dr. Kupersmith is a Scholar-in-Residence at both the
Institute of Medicine and the Association of American Medical
Colleges. In these roles he has completed projects and
published papers on a number of health and research policy
topics including how to fund, oversee, and promote effectiveness research; how Academic Medical Centers should be
accountable; quality of care in teaching hospitals; regional
IRBs; medical manpower; and other issues.
In addition to 150 publications, he has authored two books on
electrophysiology and the management of heart disease, respectively. His research interests include the causes and treatment of
heart rhythm abnormalities, as well as the cost-effectiveness of
heart disease treatments and outcomes following heart attacks.
Most recently his work has focused on health policy issues.
Dr. Kupersmith brings a breadth of talent, expertise and
enthusiasm to his new position as CRADO. On behalf of HSR&D,
we welcome him and look forward to working together toward the
continuous improvement of our research organization.
USS Bataan
The
Dedicated to those persons both living and dead who fought against
overwhelming odds against the enemy at the outbreak of World War II.
Official Publication of the
AMERICAN DEFENDERS OF BATAAN & CORREGIDOR, INC.
(INCLUDING ANY UNIT OF FORCE OF THE ASIATIC FLEET, PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO,
WAKE ISLAND, GUAM OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS, AND DUTCH EAST INDIES)
PUBLISHED 5 TIMES A YEAR
HONORARY OFFICERS
Paul Reuter ........................................................Honorary Vice Commander
HAROLD A. BERGBOWER
JOSEPH L. ALEXANDER, PNC
PAUL ROPP
PAUL REUTER
AGAPITO E. SILVA
Commander
8412 W. Planada Ln.
Peoria, AZ 85383
Sr. Vice Commander
9407 Fernglen
San Antonio, TX 78240
Executive Secretary
504-B North Thomas St.
Arlington, VA 22203
703-527-6983
Adjutant & Legislative Officer
516 Sandy Pl.
Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Past Commander
1820 La Poblana, N.W.
Albuquerque, N.M. 87104
EVERETT D. REAMER
EDWARD JACKFERT, PNC
MARTIN S. CHRISTIE
RALPH LEVENBERG, PNC
Jr. Vice Commander
London Bridge Town
2301 S. Jamaica Blvd.
Lake Havasu, AZ 86403
National Treasurer
201 Hillcrest Dr.
Wellsburg, W.Va. 26070
304-737-1496
Necrology Committee Chrmn.
23424 Mobile St.
West Hills, CA 91307-3323
Special Projects
2716 Eastshore Dr.
Reno, NV 89509
MRS. JEAN PRUITT
Historian
1605 Cagua Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110
REV. ROBERT W. PHILLIPS
Merchandise Sales
109 Young Dr.
Sweetwater, TN 37874
Chaplain
1620 Mayflower Court A-418
Winter Park, FL 32792
MEMBERS OF THE INVESTMENT BOARD
Edward Jackfert
Secretary
Joseph A. Vater
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Henry Cornellisson
Charles Graham
Charles Dragich
Pete Locarnini
Charles B. Heffron
Carlos Montoya
All Incumbent State Commanders
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
504-B North Thomas St.
Arlington, VA 22203
703-527-6983
ANDREW MILLER
DR. WILLIAM R. BRENNER
Surgeon
1006 State St.
Larned, KA 67550
JOSEPH A. VATER PNC
Editor of Quan
Co-Chairman Site Committee
18 Warbler Drive
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
412-771-3956
Fax: 412-875-6606
PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS
*Harold Spooner
*Rev. Albert D. Talbot
James McEvoy
*M/Gen. E.P. King Jr.
Simme Pickman
Albert Senna
*Maurice Mazer
Joseph A. Vater
*Lewis Goldstein
*Albert C. Cimini
*Samuel M. Bloom, M.D.
*Kenneth J. Stull
*Harry P. Menozzi
*John F. Ray
*Samuel B. Moody
*Arthur A. Bressi
*John E. Le Clair
*James K. Cavanaugh
*Thomas A. Hackett
*Bernard Grill
Louis Scahwald
*Jerome A. McDavitt
John M. Emerick
*Joseph T. Poster
*John Bennett
*James D. Cantwell
Ralph Levenberg
*Elmer E. Long, Jr.
*Philip Arslanian
*John Rowland
*John Crago
Edward Jackfert
*John R. Lyons
*Ken Curley
Henry J. Wilayto
*Charles Bloskis
Arthur Beale
Andy Miller
*Joseph Matheny
*George Wonneman
*Frank Bigelow
*Charles L. Pruitt
Melvin L. Routt
James R. Flaitz
*John Koot
*Roy Y. Gentry
Edward Jackfert
Joseph L. Alexander
*Joseph Ward
Omar McGuire
John H. Oliver
Agapito E. Silva
The National D-Day Museum
New Orleans
Greetings from The National D-Day Museum!
I am writing to inform you and your organization that New Orleans and the National D-Day Museum will be hosting one of the
largest, most significant World War II gatherings to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II. Historians, World
War II veterans, authors, journalists, and other participants from all over the world gathered to discuss the war and its lasting impact
for more than half a century.
The International Conference on World War II, October 5-9, 2005, not only covered how and why the war was fought and
won, but also what it means today. Keynote speakers included Madeleine Albright, Gen. Paul Tibbetts, Walter Cronkite, Andy
Rooney, James Bradley, David Kennedy and many others.
Another great benefit of attending the conference was Memory Hall. Within Memory Hall you had the opportunity to meet
World War II Medal of Honor recipients, members of the flight crews on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki missions, German concentration camp survivors, POW’s, Navajo Code Talkers, and those who fought at home against Jim Crow Laws. Memory Hall provided
the opportunity to hear about the price of freedom and the American Spirit free of charge (though registration was still required),
thanks to The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Best Regards,
Dr. Gordon “Nick” Mueller
President & CEO
Editor’s Note: I don’t know if it has been affected by Katrina.
2 — THE QUAN
Survivor Helps Mark Legacy
of WWII Veterans
By Volt Contreras
Inquirer News Service
Editor’s Note: Published on
page A1 of the March 7, 2005
issue of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer.
A bowl of lugaw (porridge) that
seemed to get lighter by the day.
The morning and evening roll calls
in the corridors. The need to bow
before Japanese sentries. The
crackle of distant gunfire. The burning night sky over Manila.
These are a little girl’s memories of World War II.
Leslie Ann Murray was just a little girl when Japanese troops
detained her American family and hundreds of other foreigners
on the University of Santo Tomas campus.
Now 65, Murray has made Manila her home for the last 43
years and has devoted a part of her life making sure that the
stories and sacrifices of WWII veterans in the Philippines would
never be lost to postwar generations.
She is the first vice president of the Filipino-American
Memorial Endowment Inc. (FAME), which has been particularly
active these days as the country commemorates the 60th
anniversary of the end of the Pacific War.
In an interview last week, Murray couldn’t help but air her
frustration, particularly over the scant attention and respect
given to the country’s various war shrines.
Since 2000, FAME, an organization under the auspices of
the american Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, has
been working on the restoration of the “Death March kilometer
markers” from Bataan to Tarlac, she said.
The original markers — concrete obelisks 1.37 meters (4.5
feet) tall and numbering 130 — were installed in the last ’60’s
during the Marcos administration, in memory of the Filipino and
American prisoners of war who were forced to walk for days by
their Japanese captors from the Bataan peninsula to Camp
O’Donnell in Capas town, Tarlac. Of the 60,000 to 80,000
captives, only 54,000 prisoners reached the camp alive.
Each marker indicated a POW’s ordeal at each stage,
starting in Bataan’s Mariveles town. It had an emblem with the
figures of a fallen soldier and two others who continued to
march, wearily clinging to each other.
But by the time Am-Cham began the restoration, only “10 to
15” of the original markers were found still standing. Some had
been knocked over, defaced, or chopped off. The rest of the
markers had simply gone missing, carted away by the locals
and reportedly even “offered to tourists as souvenirs,” she said.
Through the years, parts of the original Death March route
had virtually been erased, mainly with the construction of the
Subic export processing zone, changes in the road system, and
the landscape-altering eruptions of Mount Pinatubo, she said.
Missing markers
To date, FAME has replaced 83 markers, with the latest
marker to be planted in time for this year’s Bataan Day
observance on April 9, Murray said. Helping fund the project
are both local and U.S. donors, including individuals, families
and groups not at all associated with WWII commemorations.
“But it’s still sadly disappointing; we tried to place them in
front of schools, homes and businesses, hoping they will finally
get the right kind of attention. But they are still getting the
wrong kind of attention,” she told the Inquirer.
In last year’s national elections, for example, many of the
restored markers were “slapped with campaign posters,” she
said, adding: “Again they were vandalized, they were not
respected. And I just feel that the youth, the population in
general, whoever is doing the desecration, should understand
that it’s like [writing] graffiti on tombstones.”
“Basically the markers are memorials to the dead, so it’s
such a shame,” she said.
Murray was among the american expatriates and tourists
who attended memorial services on historic Corregidor Island
on March 2 marking the retaking of the island fortress dubbed
“The Rock” by American paratroopers in 1945.
Memories of the war
“I was only 5 [years old] during Liberation so my memories
are a little dim, but I do remember the fires and the bombings,”
Murray said.
She confided that hearing gunshots and cannon fire —
even the “peacetime” gun salutes during the corregidor ceremonies — would trigger childhood wartime fears. “I still carry
that part with me.”
Leslie resides in Makati City with her British husband Brian,
a naturalized Filipino citizen. She was born in California and
was only 6 months old when her family came to Manila
because her father, who was with an import-export company,
was posted here.
An only child, her family was living in Del Pan when they
were rounded up together with other foreign nationals and
incarcerated at the University of Santo Tomas at 1942 to 1945.
After the war, her family spent the next 10 years in the
United States and later moved to Hong Kong. She was back in
the Philippines by the time she was 21, and had since traveled
extensively around the country.
Murray had also worked for local travel agencies and was
one-time country manager for Scandinavian airlines. She’s
now an editorial consultant for Am-Cham.
Going to school
She had no ready anecdotes about the war during the
Inquirer interview. But after a few questions, hazy images
started to surface.
The foreign prisoners were not exactly held in cells but in
“classrooms” at the UST, she said, with the women and children kept in the main building and the men in another.
Her father was among those who worked in the camp’s
kitchen. “There wasn’t much food. There was only lugaw
(porridge), and it got less and less throughout the years until
[meals were served] just once a day.”
Asked if it was hard growing up during the war, Murray, not
surprisingly, managed to dig up the more pleasant and innocent of memories. Since the UST inmates were composed of
professionals — teachers, priests, doctors, businessmen —
they were able to form a “community” so elders held classes
for the youngsters, she recalled.
“We actually had a nursery, a school for small children and
a high school,“ she said.
Know your history
Murray could not easily recall any close encounters with
their Japanese captors. “All I know was that we had to bow [to
them] and there was a roll call every morning and evening. My
parents were there and I’m just very glad that we all survived,”
she said.
Six decades later, whatever she lacked in war yarns, she
more than made up for in sentiment and determination to keep
the veterans’ legacy alive and relevant.
“Even though I don’t have vivid memories of the war, I’m
saddened by the fact that little is known of World War II here,”
she said.
“I don’t know what they’re teaching in History, but they’re
not telling them here. Even in the States, there’s a lot of
emphasis on Europe. Everybody knows about Normandy but
not too many people know about the Leyte or Lingayen landing,” Murray noted.
“History is not being taught, or if it’s taught, it’s not really
being absorbed, which I think is a pity for the Filipino youth,“
she lamented.
“I think it’s very important for the students, the present
generation, to know their history and appreciate what their
fathers, uncles and grandfathers had fought for.”
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 3
I’m Not a Hero …
By George Wallace
“I’m not a hero … I’m just an ordinary man who tried to do his duty.”
With those humble words Edward Jackfert of Wellsburg began a brief narrative of what took place when Japan attacked a
completely unprepared America; first at Pearl Harbor, then in the Philippine Islands, where he was based.
His presentation was one describing unimaginable hardship, illness, brutality, hunger and death. It was a recounting of the
capture of more than 27,465 American soldiers along with over 120,000 Philippine troops in what came to be known as the worst
surrender in the history of the United States military.
While the infamous “hellships” and “Bataan Death March” are somewhat known, it is the courage and determination of a
dramatically outnumbered and under-equipped allied force which demands equal time and great honor.
Jackfert’s comments came at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the naming of August 15,
2005, as Edward Jackfert Day in Brooke County.
A crowd of over 100 interested individuals, officials and veterans joined Jackfert and two of his fellow POW’s for the event,
held at the Brooke County Public Library.
The library in Wellsburg houses the Edward Jackfert Collection of memorabilia, maps, documents, photos and paintings. It
has been entitled “1941 Defenders of the Philippines — POW’s 1945 Collection.”
Since its dedication in November, 2003, the original Jackfert Collection has become the nucleus for a national depository of
thousands of similar materials relating to the period and events.
Jackfert was an aircraft mechanic at Clark Field when the initial bombing attack came on December 8, 1941.
“We all were given rifles and told we are now infantry,“ Jackfert said.
Thus began a period of fighting by valiant, starving, under-equipped troops who had no chance for victory against the well
trained and equipped Japanese Army.
Reinforcements and supplies were promised but never came, and later it was learned that the Pacific front had been written
off from the start by the War Department.
America simply didn’t have enough resources to fight in Europe and the Philippine Islands.
Allies captured were sent to Japan on the hated “hell ships”, taken to area POW camps on the “Death March” or some went
through both.
The atrocities were unimaginable. Said Jackfert, “You had to be there” to understand.
“The Jackfert Collection came to be,” said George Wallace, master of ceremonies, “when this little lady who had her pilot
light lit in Butler, Pennsylvania, by meeting the ‘Ghost of Bataan,” Abie Abraham.”
Coming to Wellsburg and meeting Ed Jackfert fueled the flame and she was determined to assemble his materials for their
historical value, Wallace said as he introduced Mary Kay Wallace, library director and his wife.
Mrs. Wallace received a standing ovation following her introduction and she told the audience that the display is one of the
largest and most complete collections in existence for a public library.”
There are, she said, some 1500 “catalogued items currently in the collection with even more waiting to be catalogued.”
Following the initial dedication of the materials donated by Jackfert and his wife, Henrietta, news of the collection was printed
in the national POW newsletter, The Quan, and materials from other POW’s from all over America began to flow into the local
library, she said.
Mrs. Wallace spoke of her interest and passion for “telling the story which has been glossed over in text books.”
“Their story must not ever be forgotten,” she asserted to a spontaneous and lengthy round of applause.
Brooke County Commissioners Bernard Kazienko and Norma Tarr were on hand to read the proclamation declaring Edward
Jackfert Day, drafted by David B. Cross, county attorney and prosecutor.
Ed Bowman, executive director of the West Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, read a letter of regrets
from Adjutant General Allen E. Tackett who was initially expected as the “keynote” speaker. General Tackett was unable to attend
since his 146th MedEvac unit was returning from the War Zone that morning and his first responsibility was to greet his troops when
they returned after a year’s deployment.
He sent his regards and respects to Jackfert and those present.
Joseph Vater, a survivor from McKees Rocks, PA, and editor of the national publication, The Quan, spoke briefly of his
experiences and congratulated Jackfert. Vater and Jackfert are both past commanders of The American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, a national organization seeking an apology and compensation for those captured and enslaved by the Japanese.
Also on hand was Abie Abraham of Butler, PA, author of “The Ghost of Bataan Speaks” and “Oh God Where Are You?”.
Tom Hess of New Cumberland, who served as a pilot in the Army, and Mrs. Hess were invited back to participate. Hess gave
the invocation and benediction.
In concluding the program, Wallace drew attention to “the empty chair”, which represented the death of nearly three quarters
of a million World War II veterans since the initial dedication in November, 2003.
One such loss was that of Harold Feiner, a death march survivor and close friend of the POWs and who was on hand at the
initial program in 2003.
A reception arranged by Ms. Connie Waugh and Dr. Ruth Lewis followed, and Jackfert and Abraham signed their books for
those purchasing copies.
Please Help
August 25, 2005
Dear Mr. Vater,
I was recently given a copy of The
Quan by a fellow co-worker that knew of
my interest in WWII, Pacific.
My Uncle, Frank William Ferguson, Lt.
Col. (Ret.) was captured on Corregidor
and sent to Bilibid Prison. He survived,
4 — THE QUAN
and on his return I was too young to
appreciate all the details of his Marine
Corps military history.
I would appreciate any information on
how to go about finding out details of his
complete military career. He designated
me as the historian of our family. In
James Belote’s book — “Corregidor, the
Saga of a Fortress,” he is written about in
several places in the book.
I am enclosing my check #7914, dated
August 25, 2005 for $25.00 for a one year
subscription to The Quan.
Thank you for your helping me.
Sincerely,
Frank David Ferguson, Sr.
4547 Misty Moor Ln., Memphis, TN 38141
E-mail: [email protected]
Work: (901) 544-0896
Home: (901) 365-1603
POWs Who Don’t Forget
By Steve Earley
Freeman staff
KINGSTON — It’s been 60 years since the end of World
War II and events are being held across the globe to mark the
anniversary. Yet the story of a group of American POWs
captured by Japan has only recently begun to be told.
Survivors of the Japanese work camp in Mukden,
Manchuria, who held a reunion in Kingston recently, lived
through a death march on which close to 1,000 died. Veterans
of the Philippines’ battles of Bataan and Corregidor, the men
were used as a source of forced labor and for medical experiments. Those who made it to the end of the war were liberated
days before the Japanese were to execute them.
But when they returned home they were told by the government to keep quiet. And, for the first four decades after the
war, most did.
Jim Bolich of Lafayette, La., among a handful of Mukden
survivors to have now written a book about their experience,
said it was only about 15 to 20 years ago that former POWs
began speaking out.
Suzanne Zimbler of Kingston, who is organizing this week’s
reunion along with her husband, Sheldon, said her great uncle
Abraham Garfinkel, an Army colonel in Bataan, was forced to
sign an oath promising not to talk about what happened.
Bataan and Corregidor’s place in the larger war effort is
slowly gaining recognition. Soldiers there with minimal supplies
held off the Japanese for months in battles that were expected
to take 30 days. Historians now credit the men with halting
Japan’s plans to invade Australia, which proved to be a vital
staging ground for Allied forces.
“We’re trying to make sure that people know that there was
another part of World War II,” said Mrs. Zimbler. “These men
were heroes. Not that the men in Europe weren’t, of course,
but these men didn’t get the kind of respect that they’re due.”
After a four-month battle, Bataan was surrendered on April
9, 1942. Prisoners were led on the death march to Camp
O’Donnell, where an additional 2,000 men died. Corregidor
was surrendered, like Bataan by the men’s general, on May 6.
The troops were sent to Cabanatuan, another POW camp. It
was here soldiers from Corregidor first met up with those from
Bataan. In November 1942, 1,500 men were transported by
ship from Cabanatuan to Mukden.
Oliver “Red” Allen of Tyler, Texas, who related tales about
the Bataan Death March in his book, “Abandoned on Bataan,”
said those at Mukden quickly made peace with death.
“Well, sir,” he remembers saying to a superior. “We’ve
been through hell so we’re definitely going to heaven.”
Even before they were forced to endure the horrors of
Mukden, the soldiers at Bataan and Corregidor already had
proven themselves as ultimate survivors, Zimbler said.
“During those six months of war they were told constantly
they were going to get airplanes, they were going to get
weapons, they were going to get food,” he said. “And that just
didn’t happen.”
As they would have to throughout and even after the war
—recognized as POWs and not as veterans, Mukden survivors
did not get military benefits until 1951 — the soldiers made do
with what they had.
A shrapnel wound suffered by sailor George Edwards on
the way to Mukden, for example, had to be operated on without
an anesthetic, said Edwards’ son, Coit, of Rockaway, NJ.
Coit Edwards was among about 40 relatives of survivors
who are deceased or unable to travel attending the reunion in
Kingston. George Edwards died of cancer in August at age 84.
Bolich, 84, said sabotage at the work camp was widespread.
For information, an American soldier would hide a weekly
Japanese newspaper in the hollowed-out heel of his shoe, and
pass it along to a New Zealand officer who could read it.
“We would have a kind of news report when one of the
papers came in,” Bolich said. “We tracked the (Allied) advance
over the islands.”
Bolich said he never got mail or wrote home, however, and
did not find out until after the war that both of his older brothers
had perished in North Africa. But he said not knowing was
probably best.
“Had I known about their deaths when I was in the prison
camp, I think it would have made the experience a lot harder to
take.”
Men would disappear for days at a time, ostensibly used as
subjects for medical experiments, Bolich said. But he said he
could never prove it because it did not happen to him.
“They were as cruel as the Germans,” she said. “The only
things they didn’t have were concentration camps.”
Why Americans were treated so harshly can be begun to
be explained by the unwavering allegiance of Japanese soldiers, Mrs. Zimbler said. Their approach to war drove them to
carry out suicide airplane missions and would have made an
Allied invasion of Japan’s main islands extremely bloody.
“Surrendering, to the Japanese, was a disgrace,” she said.
“(The Americans) had disgraced themselves by not fighting to
the death.”
Confounding the tragedy, the United States had no clue the
factories at Mukden were POW work camps and had no way of
knowing if Japanese boats were carrying prisoners. Zimbler
said friendly fire killed thousands of prisoners aboard Japanese
“hellboats“ and one american bombing of Mukden killed 19 and
wounded 60.
The roar of American B-29s that dropped those bombs,
nonetheless, provided some comfort.
“That was the first indication the war was getting closer to
being ended,” Bolich said.
The reunion ran through September 11 and included a
memorial service at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, a
tour of Kingston, a boat ride on the Hudson and a visit to an
area middle school.
————————
Pacific War Study Group
Needs Your Help
The Pacific War Study Group is seeking World War IIrelated items which will be used for displays and exhibits in the
organization’s planned museum and research center. We need
items such as battlefield souvenirs, uniforms, helmets, caps,
medals, awards, swords, bayonets, weapons, canteens,
diaries, photographs, books, magazines, newspapers, documents, flags, naval artifacts, aircraft artifacts, etc. Especially
needed are items related to the Battle of Bataan/Corregidor.
Also needed for the museum’s library are military history
books (all eras, all conflicts). If you have a few books on the
shelf that you no longer want, we can put them to good use —
no matter what condition they are in. We also need back
issues of The Quan.
Additionally, we are interested in interviewing ADBC
veterans (via telephone or email) for our Oral History Project.
The history of the Second World War is an important part
of our heritage and needs to be preserved. We need your help
to make it happen!
Please contact the organization at one of the following:
Pacific War Study Group, Museum Committee,
1985 Stonecrest Court, Vista, CA 92081; (760) 727-4355;
[email protected]
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 5
POWs Future
This is a translated copy of the directive sent by Japanese
Military Headquarters, Tokyo to all commanding officers of
Japanese Military POW Facilities. This specific copy was taken
from Taiwan POW Hqrs dated 1 August 1944: All POW Camps
received duplicate orders to kill all allied POWs on the
Japanese mainland and other POW camps in WWII.
Document No. 2701 (Certified as Exhibit “O” in Doc. No.
2687). From the Journal of the Taiwan POW Camp HQ in
Taihoku, entry 1 August 1944:
1. (entries about money, promotions of Formosans at Branch
Camps, including promotion of Yo Yusuku to 1st 01 Kaibiin
— 5 entries)
2. The following answer about the extreme measures for
POWs was sent to the Chief of Staff of the 11th Unit
(Formosa POW Security No. 10)
“Under the present situation if there were a near explosion
or fire; a shelter for the time being could be had in nearby buildings such as the school, a warehouse, or the like. However, at
such time as the situation became urgent and it be extremely
important, the POWs will be concentrated and confined in their
present location and under heavy guard the preparation for the
final disposition will be made.
The time and method of the disposition are as follows:
(1) The Time.
Although the basic aim is to act under superior orders,
individual disposition may be made in the following
circumstances:
(a) When an uprising of large numbers cannot be
suppressed without the use of firearms.
(b) when escape from the camp may turn into a hostile
fighting force.
(2) The Methods.
(a) Whether they are destroyed individually or in
groups, or however it is done, with mass bombing,
poisonous smoke poisons, drowning, decapitation,
or what, dispose of them as the situation dictates.
(b) In any case it is the aim not to allow the escape of a
single one, to annihilate them all, and not to leave
any traces.
(3) To: The Commanding General
The Commanding General of Military Police
Reported matters conferred on with the 11th Unit, the
Kiirun Fortified Area H.Q., and each prefecture concerning the extreme security in Taiwan POW Camps.”
3. (The next entry concerns the will of a deceased POW.)
The above is a fax transmittal from the National Archives,
Washington, D.C. Documents from Record Group 33, Int’l.
Prosecution Section, GHQ SCAP, Tokyo, Japan — Declassified
after July 1974.
————————
Can You Help?
You probably knew ADBC PNC John Bennett, so can you
help John Lewis find Bennett’s unit name? John is building a
huge database from material you gave him, but Bennett’s unit
information is missing.
If you can help, please send the information to either John
Lewis directly or fax it to me and I’ll pass it on to John.
Joe Vater
6 — THE QUAN
Book Information
Linda G. Holmes
30 Dinah Rock Road P.O. Box 546
Shelter Island, NY 11964
631-749-1202
email: [email protected]
July 20, 2005
Stephen R. Tritch
President and CEO
Westinghouse Electric Company
4350 Northern Pike
Monroeville, PA 15146
Dear Mr. Tritch,
Enclosed is a copy of my 2001 book, Unjust Enrichment:
How Japan’s Companies Built Postwar Fortunes Using
American POWs. I ask especially that you read chapter 9,
“Mitsubishi: Empire of Exploitation.” At least 3176 American
prisoners of war worked as slave laborers in the factories,
mines and shipyards of Mitsubishi subsidiaries. We have their
names — and so does Mitsubishi. (Japanese companies kept
meticulous records on the POWs they used for labor.)
Companies were responsible for housing, food and medical
care for the POWs; the Japanese government ordered them to
pay the prisoners Japanese soldiers’ pay — an order which
was rarely carried out.
Forty percent of American POWs died in Japanese captivity;
most of these deaths occurred on company property. By contrast,
just one percent of American POWs died in Nazi military stalags.
If you are considering Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a
worthy candidate to purchase Westinghouse Electric
Company, you can do no greater service to our veterans of the
Pacific War than to urge Mitsubishi to lead the way in offering a
sincere apology and some gesture of compensation to these
survivors of our “Greatest Generation.” While some Japanese
officials have expressed personal remorse for WWII mistreatment of Asian neighbors, none has apologized to Americans. I
hope you will encourage Mitsubishi to set a new path as we
observe the 60th anniversary of the war’s end.
Sincerely,
Linda Goetz Holmes
Perhaps some ex-POWs would like to join me in writing a
letter to Stephen R. Tritch, President and CEO of Westinghouse
Electric Co., 4350 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146.
Westinghouse is considering selling this nuclear facility to
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Mitsubishi used at least 3200
American POWs for slave labor in its shipyards, steel mills,
factories and mines. No voice would be stronger than that of a
veteran who worked for Mitsubishi in urging Westinghouse to
insist that Mitsubishi make a public sincere apology and offer
some form of compensation to you. We are told that
Westinghouse will make its decision some time in October. Let
them ponder their patriotism! Especially if you worked at Sendai
#3 (Hosokura), Sendai #5 (Hanawa), Sendai #6B (Osaruzawa),
Fukuoka #14 (Nagasaki & Saiwaimachi & Nagoya), Osaka #4
(Ikuno), or Osaka #6 (Akenobe), or Mukden. I urge you to join
me in making your views known to the Board of Directors at
Westinghouse.
If Mitsubishi can be persuaded to lead the way, other
Japanese companies will follow suit — Mitsubishi will insist on it!
Linda Goetz Holmes
Western States Chapter
Information
Commanders Column: Well, we’ve just mailed out the last
of the “Thank You’s” to those wonderful people and merchants
who were generous enough to provide us with door prizes.
Weren’t they really something??? Kathie and I certainly hope
that all of you winners enjoy whatever the prize was that you
won. Let us not forget to give a great big Thank You to those of
our own group who are always there to help with our meetings
— Audrey Locarnini, Charlie Mills, Esther Jennings, and there
are some others. Forgive me if I’ve overlooked you.
Now, we begin another year of our Western States group.
It’s an honor for me to have been chosen your leader … once
again … this is my third “hitch”!
We really missed a lot of you folks who usually grace our
tables. We are hoping that whatever problems caused you to
miss or cancel this reunion have by now disappeared. We
realize that illnesses do take a toll on us all. Just remember …
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN! As I explained to our general
business attendees, we have been bound together by an
experience that makes us “blood-brothers”. No one, but we,
know what this means. And, no one or nothing will ever break
this bond that we have and cherish.
Now, to some business at hand … We have a new
Treasurer. He is John Perkowski of Minden, Nevada. John and
his wife, Jean, have attended our reunions for many years.
John is a retired businessman and CPA.
Audrey Locarnini has requested to remain Membership
Chairman, and our Board has approved this request. We owe
she and Peter a vote of thanks for a job well done over the
many years that they were Treasurers for the chapter. In that
capacity, she will be in charge of keeping our membership
roster up to date. I would ask each of the members to be sure
to keep her informed of any changes that occur to our
members: new addresses, new marriages, new deaths.
The Executive Secretary of ADBC National … Mr. Duane
Heisinger joined us at the reunion. Duane is a retired Navy
Captain. His father was with us in the Philippines and died on
the Oryoko Maru. Duane has volunteered to work with National
in helping out administratively. He has been a tremendous help
to National staff. Duane had requested Western States to consider joining with national for the May 2006 national convention
which will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Embassy Suites
(North). The Board and members of the chapter have approved
this request. We will issue additional information in a later issue
of the Sea Lion. Speaking of the Sea Lion, our Editor, Bill Braye
has indicated his desire to continue in that position, an we are
truly grateful for that.
A SERIOUS MATTER: We are all getting older. I would ask
you to give some thought as to: (1) What you want from the organization? … (2) What should happen when no one is capable of
assuming officer responsibility? … (3) Should Western States
continue until the last man is standing? … (4) Should we consider
having a “Last Hurrah” gathering and use our money to pay for
everything? … (5) To maintain communication, should we not
continue the Sea Lion to let one another know what’s going on in
our lives?
Let’s all come up with some ideas and suggestions. That’s
it for now. Take care of yourselves.
Ralph
Alfred Leo Goudge was born at Coleraine, MN on April 14,
1922 to Russell Goudge and Louise Pallister, the 5th of 6
children. Brothers were William R., Ralph, and David and
sisters Beatrice and Marie. David was killed by Japanese
ambush in New Guinea in September 1944. Marie is now Al’s
only surviving sibling.
Al grew up on a farm in Blackduck, MN and attended a
one-teacher, country school from 1st to 8th grade, then 9th and
10th grade in Blackduck High School, and 11th grade in Hoover
High School in San Diego, CA where he was enrolled in ROTC
and Sea Scouts.
Al joined the Navy on August 9, 1940 at age 18. His first ship
was the USS Arizona 4th Division. His second ship was the USS
Lexington CV-2, V-1 Division, then transferred to USS Tulsa
(Gunboat), South China Patrol. The ship was on mine patrol off
Corregidor Island in Manila Bay. He was in Cavite Naval
Shipyard during bombing 8/9/10 of December 1941 where he
was wounded by shrapnel in his left leg. He was sent to an Army
hospital (Sternberg) in Manila amongst more bombing raids.
He was first captured in Pasay Provence on January 2, 1942
and escaped in April from a work detail and was hidden by two
Filipinos who took him to Corregidor Island in Bianca and covered
him with banana leaves. He was assigned to Inshore Patrol
under Lt. Cmdr G.G. Harrison, who retired as a Rear Admiral. Al
was re-captured when Corregidor Island was surrendered by
Gen. J. Wainwright and loaded on a barge with about 150 other
prisoners and taken to Pasay Elementary School, then to Bilibid
Prison, then to Port area detail — Cabanatuan #3, Clark Field for
a period of 21⁄2 years. He was taken to Japan in fall of 1944 on
Hellship Noto Maru. This was a nightmare voyage in which 39
prisoners died. From Moji, Japan, he was transported by railroad
car to Hanawa to work for Mitsubishi in their copper mine. While
there a piece of shrapnel was removed from his leg by an Army
captain. He was provided a gunny sack coat and pants and wore
only grass shoes in freezing temperatures down to 20 degrees
below zero. Barley and Seaweed soup became a subsistence
diet. He was at least twice threatened to be beheaded.
He was liberated (RAMP) 9/2/45, having disintegrated from
156 to 89 pounds in body weight. He was returned to the USA
on October 1, 1945 and was promoted from G-M3 to Chief
Boatswain’s Mate. Al was a POW for a total of 31⁄2 years.
He was in Tsingtau, China in 1948-49 on the USS Kermit
Roosevelt — ARG-16 when the communists took over the area.
In 1950, he was stationed in Adak, Alaska as a Fire Chief.
In 1951-52 he was in the Korean War. In 1953, he was Tugmaster of YTB-264 at Vallejo, CA. In 1956, he was in the USS
Cape Esperance. In 1958-59, he was petty officer in charge of
fuel docks in Subic Bay-Cubi Point, Philippines.
On 10/30/59, Al retired from the Navy. He was awarded
many medals and citations. After retirement, Al was a driver for
school bus and charter trips for 11⁄2 years in Pittsburg, CA.
He then worked in Civil Service for 16 years at the US Naval
Weapons Station (QEEL) in Concord, CA and retired as GS-9
on April 14, 1977 as Planning and Coordinating Specialist. Al
now enjoys life and resides in WA with his wife, Lucille, where
Mt. Rainier provides a serene, peaceful and majestic view.
Alfred L. Goudge
13816-51 51 Ave. East
Tacoma, WA 98446-4106
Hell Ships Memorial
Thanks so much for all who have
chosen to contribute towards the building
of the Hell Ships Memorial to be placed on
the shores of Subic Bay in the Philippines.
The Memorial is dedicated to all those who
died and those who survived from those
hell ships trips. The contribution process is
going well (mail checks to Alex Keller, 535
Rolling Rock Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio
45255. Make checks out to FAME and in
memo line, Hell Ships Memorial). Money
raised to date (August 2005) is over
$27,000. We expect the construction to be
completed well ahead of the Memorial
dedication on 22 January 2006. A Valor
Tours scheduled eight day tour flying out
of San Francisco, (phone: 800-842-4504)
will be present at the dedication. Call Valor
Tours, check their web site or e-mail me if
you desire more information.
Duane Heisinger
(703) 222-2480
E-mail: [email protected]
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 7
‘We’re Thankful We’re Alive’ —
Film Stirs Memories for Veterans
The former POWs said their eyes filled with tears
at images of the infamous camp where they were
starved, beaten and tortured.
By Ronni Gordon
[email protected]
Leaving the movie “The Great Raid” after its opening
recently, Dominic Pellegrino gently touched his friend Antonio
Casanova on the shoulder.
Simultaneously, silently, both gave a thumbs-up.
The two survived the horrors of the Japanese prison camp
Cabanatuan in the Philippines, a little-known chapter of World
War II that is the focus of the movie. It tells of a band of outnumbered U.S. Rangers and Filipino guerrilla fighters who freed 511
U.S. prisoners from the camp in January 1945.
“People don’t believe that things like that place existed,”
84-year-old Springfield veteran Casanova said outside the
Eastfield Mall Cinemas. “I’m a witness and he’s a witness, too.
I think it’s good that this movie got out to show what those
people were like.”
Both said their eyes filled with tears as the big screen
flashed images of the place where they were starved, beaten
and tortured more than 60 years ago.
“When you actually witnessed something like that, it really
hits home,” said Pellegrino, 85, a Longmeadow resident.
Both survived the infamous Bataan Death March that
followed the fall of Bataan in the Philippines in April 1942.
Some 5,000 men died during the 70-mile trek to Japanese
prison camps, where many thousands more died.
Pellegrino and Casanova were held in Cabanatuan for two
and a half years. In July 1944, some six months before the
rescue raid, they were moved by ship to the island of Kyushu
in Japan, where they were liberated at the war’s end.
The movie has another local connection: Capt. John Francis
Murphy of Springfield was a platoon leader with the Army’s 6th
Ranger Battalion that staged the rescue. He died September 5,
1964 at age 53.
Casanova, now frail and suffering from throat cancer, came
to the movie in a wheelchair pushed by his son, Jim, one of his
five children. He speaks in a hoarse whisper, but looked jaunty in
a bright red cardigan and an American Ex-Prisoners of War cap.
He said the least realistic part of the movie was how good
the captives looked.
Having begun his military service at 130 pounds, he
dwindled to just 77 in captivity. At one point, suffering from
malaria and dysentery, he was given up for dead and tossed
naked into a pile of bodies, pulling himself out just before he was
to be buried alive.
“I didn’t see any (actors) there that looked like 77 pounds,”
he said.
Pellegrino, who went from 165 pounds to 92, almost died
from a cerebral form of malaria. He watched the movie with his
hands folded in his lap, running his hand over his face at one
point where Japanese guards shoot 10 men as payback for a
prisoner’s escape attempt.
Pellegrino said later over coffee that scene reminded him of
their indoctrination into the camp, when Japanese guards shot
five men and pushed them into graves they had been forced to
dig, to demonstrate what would happen if anyone tried to escape.
Pellegrino and Casanova each went to the Philippines as
aircraft mechanics with the Army Air Corps in the months
before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941.
When the U.S. planes in the Philippines were decimated by the
Japanese, they were assigned to the infantry.
After the war, Casanova taught special education at Putnam
Vocational high School. Pellegrino is retired from the quality
control division of Pratt & Whitney. Casanova is commander of
the Western Massachusetts chapter of the American
8 — THE QUAN
Ex-Prisoners of War Association, and Pellegrino is senior vice
commander.
Both said they only discuss their war experiences if asked.
“We open our eyes in the morning and we’re thankful we’re
alive,” Pellegrino said. “I’ve been a lucky guy. I’ve got such a
beautiful wife,” he said of Rosemarie Pellegrino. “Thinking of
her and the nice times we’ve had for 56 years, I don’t care.”
Still, he said, “I won’t buy anything if I know it’s Japanese.”
————————
Information
Frank Victory Exline
Pleasant Hill, Iowa
April 20, 2005
On October 1, 1942, I boarded the hell ship Totori Maru in
Manila, Philippine Islands. We set sail on October 2 with 600
prisoners of war in each of 2 cargo holds. There was a stairway
to the next deck down and the hatch was covered. We barely
had room to sit down.
On October 3, I went topside to relieve myself. When I got
there, I saw something peculiar at a distance (my eyesight was
exceptional). I was standing forward of the bridge, portside. I
started waving my arms and pointing out at the water when a
soldier on the wing of the bridge raised his rifle to shoot me. An
officer stopped him and looked out to see what I was pointing
at. Then he went to get his binoculars. He saw the two
torpedoes coming at us.
That was when all hell broke loose — sirens, whistles, and
the ship turning. I saw the torpedoes pass along the side of the
ship, the nearest one inches away.
We stopped at Formosa on October 13 (my 24th birthday).
We offloaded long enough to have a glass tube stuck up our
rectum.
On November 2, we docked in Osaka, Japan. My first four
year enlistment was up. On the trip, we were allowed one
canteen cup of water and a small handful of oyster crackers a
day. I was in great shape: malaria, dysentery, diphtheria and
pellagra.
Six men were buried at sea (dumped over the side) from the
cargo hold I was in. One was a shipmate of mine from Tracy,
California. My action saved hundreds of POWs. It also saved a
freighter and its crew.
On August 14 or 15, 1945, I was in a POW camp in Nagoya,
Japan. I witnessed the blast from the last atomic bomb dropped
on Japan. I believe we were about 20 miles away from the blast
site. I was looking across a body of water and had a clear view
of the blast.
I retired from the Navy a Chief Boatswain’s Mate after 20
years service.
The following is a list of the citations I received for service:
Bronze Star
National Defense Medal
POW Medal
Asiatic/Pacific Theater
Presidential Unit Citation
WWII Victory Medal
Distinguished Army Unit Citation Korean Service
Philippine Defense Medal
United Nations
American Defense Medal
Good Conduct (3 Stars)
Frank Exline
————————
Please Help
Dear Joe,
My uncle, William George (Jimmy) Jamison, was a crew
member of the USS Oahu and was KIA April 17, 1942 near Ft.
Hughes. We were told he and a fellow shipmate, Frank
Cavender, were in a small boat returning to Ft. Hughes from
Corregidor. Does anyone have any information on Jimmy or
Frank that they could share? Please forward to his family: Wes
Shoop, 500 Auten Road #3A, Hillsboro, NJ 08844 or telephone
(732) 594-7138.
Surrendered, Yes. Defeated, NO!
The Chaplain’s Corner
I have always been told, “to start a letter with an apology is
not a good idea”. However, I am sorry at the delay in getting
this off to you. It is a pleasure to have my computer back in
operation, my health reassured and to get this off of my mind.
While the Holiday Inn was in the process of an owner
changeover, they did their best to make our stay a pleasant
one, once we managed to get to the correct Holiday Inn,
Arlington. Seems like there are 3 or 4 Holiday Inns in Arlington
and I think Don Versaw got to visit all of them before getting to
the right one.
Two units with connecting doors served as our hospitality
area, can’t really call it a suite, but it was free. We had plenty of
room for the usual camaraderie, tall tales about pre-war
Shanghai, Manila and post WWII Lives.
We did purchase beverages, set-up a bar with different
people pitching in and mixing drinks as they were asked for.
David George escorted us to the AAFES PX and Pete and I
purchased needed beverages and other supplies.
The hotel ownership changeover eliminated our having an
open bar in the banquet area. A bartender was hired to tend an
open bar in our hospitality area during the hour before dinner
was served.
The Color Guard and Guest Speaker Sergeant Major
Gregory Leal are members of the Marine Aircraft Group-41
located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Using a computer and
projector, Sgt. Maj. Leal took the audience through the Marine
Task Force operation from entry into Iraq through their occupation of Baghdad. He received thunderous applause and many
questions.
Something new was added to our dinner entertainment, a
raffle. Ruth Johnson and June Warner sold tickets at the sign in
table. After the Guest Speaker had finished and the Colors were
retired, items purchased and wrapped by Ruth, June and the
Pete George ladies were raffled and a good time was enjoyed
by all.
Well, Pete and Juanita did it again. Their former record for
the George family and guests at our annual banquets was 22.
A new record of 53 family and guests was set. I seriously doubt
that it will be broken. A total of 116 meals were served at the
banquet. The largest attendance we have had in many years.
We will, as voted on at the 2005 reunion, join ADBC
National in Phoenix in the latter part of May, 2006. Information
on the site is the August 2005 Quan. I have touched base with
Joe Vater and suggested he increase the room reservations by
40-50.
Ernie Bell and I will be making a trip to Phoenix to firm up a
hospitality suite and an area for our dinner. It would be helpful if
I had a “guestimate” of the number of Marines, family members
and guests that plan on attending. A phone call (818-348-4492)
or e-mail ([email protected]) with a number would help.
Take care of yourself, you are important.
Semper Fidelis
Martin
————————
“God Bless You, Ruthie J.”
Searching for Book
Dear Mr. Vater,
I am looking for a book, “The Secret Camera” by Terance
Kirk. I saw something about this book on TV but neglected to
get the address as to how to order it. Mr. Kirk’s book has pictures of men he was with in a Japanese prison camp during
WWII. My deceased husband was in the same prison camp
and I would be interested to see if he mentions my husband in
his accounts.
Sincerely,
Barbara McKinley Collum
21 Resaca del Sol S. Drive
Los Fresnos, TX 78566
956-233-4974
e-mail: [email protected]
Over the past seven years many of you have logged onto
the ADBC Web Site to read about the people of the Philippine
Defense Campaign, the POW experiences of most of us and to
stay in touch with each other. The authoress of our Web Site
worked quietly at home to make it possible for us to enjoy that
experience. Her name is Ruth Jorgenson.
We have called her Ruthie and we have learned to treasure her and patient husband, Warren Jorgenson, 4th Marine
veteran from the Corregidor defenses. Recently she has had
health problems which dictated that she resign as “Web
Mistress” so she could recuperate and let “Jorgy” nurture her
back to good health.
You may remember the touching story about Jorgy and
Ruthie: they were childhood sweethearts back in Iowa, only to
have that romance disrupted by the War. Decades later when
both of them had been widowed, they “found” each other again
and were married; what a heart-warming story!
Seven years ago when it became clear that the ADBC
needed to have a web site, Ruthie stepped forward and volunteered to develop such a site and to maintain it for the ADBC.
She would do all the programming and other technical aspects
if we would furnish her with the information to post. She has
given freely of her time, talents and resources; we have come
to love her for doing so much for the ADBC. She has given
sacrificially to bring us all together in the electronic age. Words
cannot describe the benefits we have received from her work.
So, Ruthie J., we salute you again as you put all your
efforts into regaining your health and strength. We salute Jorgy
also for supporting his wife in this work and for protecting her
from overwork; he shared her with all of us.
May God bless you and Jorgy both now and unto the ages!
In His service,
Fr. Bob Phillips SSC
National Chaplain and Web Site Chairman
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.
————————
ADBC Web Site Changes
The ADBC Web Site is now under the skilled care of John
Lewis. We thank John for taking over the reins of the site. Of
necessity, the site has a new URL (Web Address) but retains
all of the look and feel of Ruthie’s site. The URL is:
http://www.west-point.org/family/adbc/
We invite you to visit our site at its new location, meet
some old friends, make some new ones, send us your biographical sketch (digital photos welcome). Read about future
conventions, reunions and meetings; find out how you can find
help with your VA claim and many more things. Go there for
names and addresses of all of your elected and appointed officers. Send us your e-mail address, etc. so we can post your
name on the Web Site.
For more information, e-mail me at [email protected]
or other Committee members; we will make sure that our Web
Master, John Lewis, receives the information.
Martin Christie: <[email protected]>
Warren Jorgenson: <[email protected]> or
Don Versaw: <[email protected]>
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 9
Christmas Wishes
Sincere “Holiday Greetings”
Agnes and Art Akullian
“Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Healthy New Year”
Our Sincere Wishes for
“A Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year”
Mrs. Betty Earhart and Family
Thelma Bensing
A Truly Blessed Christmas
and a Happy New Year
“Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All”
Hoping to See You in Phoenix in 2006
Martina Aldred
Commander Harold Bergbower
“Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year”
A Very Merry Christmas and
A Healthy and Happy New Year
“God Bless”
Ruth Castor and Family
Norma and P/N/C Joe Alexander
“Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year”
Mary Curley and Son
“Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year”
Rose Aquilian and Family
“Happy Christmas Wishes
to Old and Dear Friends”
Gerry Cantwell
“My Very Best Greetings to
All Quan Members”
Walter L. Bell
“Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year”
Mukden #687
[email protected]
Hersheal and Pat Bouskey
“Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year to All”
Annette Bloskis and Family
“Merry Christmas and
Best Wishes to All”
Phyllis Baltzer and Family
“Happy, Healthy Holidays”
Happy Holidays to All
“Best Wishes for a Happy,
Healthy Holiday Season”
A “Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Healthy New Year”
Our Best Wishes for “A Happy,
Healthy Holiday Season”
P/N/C John Emerick
Rose Bridges and Family
Mildred Arslanian and Family
Ceil Ayres
Merry Christmas and
a Joyous New Year
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Glenda Elliott and Family
May God Bless All
Our Friends in the ADBC
P/N/C Jim and Peggy Flaitz
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Joe Filko
Enjoy “The Christmas Season”
Keep Healthy
Love,
Peg Frantz and Family
Christmas Greetings and
New Year Wishes to All the
Surviving 19th Base Squadron Men
In Memory of My Husband Joseph
Eve Christ and Family
Risa Fragale and Family
Merry Christmas and
A Happy New Year to All
May “The True Spirit of Christmas”
Bring You “Peace and Happiness”
Teresa Copley
Helen Gease
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Healthy New Year
Tom and Rose Calderone
Enos Gould
I Wish Each of You
a Blessed Christmas Season and
a Happy, Healthy 2006
Love,
Best Wishes for a Blessed Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Lora Cummins
All Good Wishes for
The Holidays
Sue Gagnet
A Very Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All
The John Glusman Family
“Merry Christmas and
Best Wishes to All”
Charles and Ann Dragich
and Family
Grace Brehm and Family
“Season’s Greetings”
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to POWs
Port Area Detail
Clark Field Cab #3 — Hanawa, Japan
Have Many More
Ella Barna and Family
“From Every Branch of Our Family
Trees Go Our Best Wishes to All.
We Hope It is a Season of Merriment
and Good Tidings to All”
Gold Star Mother Brazeau’s Family
10 — THE QUAN
Anabel C. Dunigan
Hope You’re on Your Merry Way
to a Very Special Holiday
Floramund and Wally Difford
and Family
Al Goudge
k k k k
To All ADBC Members and
Their Families
“A Blessed Holiday Season and 2006”
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to All
Season’s Greetings and
Best Wishes to All
Georgia Jordan
Irene Minier
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to All
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Mary Jaggers and Family
Peg Miller
To All ADBC Members
a Thankful, Merry Christmas and
a Healthy, Happy New Year
Season’s Greetings to All
Shelby and Doris Johnson
17th Ord. Co. Bataan
Season’s Greetings to
Kentuckianna Chapter Members and
All ADBC Members
Arie Geurtz
To All the ADBC Troops
“Happy Holidays”
Dolly Goodrow
Season’s Greetings to
“All the Philippine Notebook People”
Virginia Gage
Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year
Mary Hank
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year
Darlene and Bryon Kearhy
Greetings to All
and to All Palawan Group
Yours in Faith
Bea Menozzi
Louise and Joe Mihok
Season’s Greetings to All
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to
All ADBC Members
Ed Kluemyser
Hilda Miller
Season’s Greetings and Good Health
to All Members of ADBC
Our Best Wishes for
a Merry Christmas and
a Healthy New Year
Jim and Barb Hammond, Sr.
May Your Heart Overflow With
Joy and Love This Christmas
Eileen and Jim Kneafsey
Dorothy Hassler
Norma Mascavage and Family
“Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All”
Merry Christmas and
All of God’s Blessings for
the New Year
Judith and Duane Heisinger
Merle and Frances Lype
“Season’s Greetings to All”
God Bless
Merry Christmas and
May the New Year Bring
Good Health and Peace to All
Elise Houser
Charlotte Long and Family
“Happy Holidays to All
of Our Friends of ADBC”
Nick and Ann Hionedes
Merry Christmas
Peace Throughout the World
in the New Year
Catherine Houser
A Blessed Christmas and
a Happy, Prosperous, Healthy
New Year to Our Fellow “Defenders”
and Their Families
Walter and Helen Helkowski
Season’s Greetings to All
Henrietta and P/N/C Edward
Jackfert
Wishing All My Dear Friends
a Merry Christmas and
a Healthy New Year
Love,
Rose Marangiello
Season’s Greetings and Good Health
to All Members of ADBC
Lucy and P/N/C Omar McGuire
Wishing You a
Happy, Prosperous New Year
Kathie and P/N/C Ralph
Levenberg
Very Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Prosperous New Year
Walter Lamm and Family
Season’s Greetings to All
P/N/C Andy Miller
Our Good Wishes to All
for a Happy Holiday Season
and a Healthy New Year
The John McCorts Family
It is Joy to Wish You
a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year
Love,
Joseph and Ruth Nespojohn
Glasgow, KY 42141-1404
Happy Holidays to All
Francis and Dorothy Mosher
“Mele Kalikimaka Hanoli
Makahihi Hou”
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All
Eva Neil
John Moyer
J J J J J J J J J J
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 11
God Bless Everyone with
a Blessed Christmas and
a Happy New Year
“Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All”
Happy Holiday Season to
“All My Friends”
Elizabeth and Robert D. Rosendahl
Janye Troy
“Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All”
Holiday Greetings to
All Our Friends and the
Canadian Hong Kong POW
Captain Mary J. Oberst — A.N.C.
Season’s Greetings and Good Health
to All of Our Friends in ADBC
Paul V. Rouse — Co. 803rd Eng.
Dorothy Oestreich
Pat Urban
Best Wishes for
a Happy Holiday Season
“Season’s Greetings”
Bertha Ray
Bob and Berni Vogler
Mary Oleksa and Family
Best Wishes and
God Bless Everyone
A Blessed Christmas and
A Peaceful, Healthy New Year to All
Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Healthy New Year
Nicki and Paul Reuter
Helen and P/N/C Joe Vater
Margaret Petak
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to 803rd
A Blessed Christmas and
Healthy New Year to All
Good Health and Happiness
in the Year “2006”
Meda Rutz
Irene Wonneman and Family
Ted and Marvella Provost
Wishing All the Members of ADBC
a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year
We Wish All a Blessed
Holiday Season
We Wish All Our Friends
A Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Healthy New Year
Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All
Mr. and Mrs. Leo J. Padilla
Love, Good Health and
“Season’s Greetings”
Brocky Wright and Family
Joyce and P/N/C Melvin Routt
Happy-Healthy
Holiday Season
Season’s Greetings and
Best Wishes for a Healthy New Year
Alice Ward and Family
Camille Romanzo
Peace and Joy to All
Doris Perez and Family
Season’s Greetings and
Best Wishes to All
We Wish All
a Very Merry Christmas and
the Happiest New Year
Jean Pruitt and Family
Anna and Carl Ray
Very Best — Holy and
Happy, Holiday Season
“Happy Holidays”
Helen and P/N/C Hank Wilayto
Happy Holidays to
All Our Friends in ADBC
Elsie Wheeler
Josie and Gil Soifer
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to All
My Prayer for All
“A Blessed Christmas and
Peace for the New Year”
Wesley and Irene Wells
A Blessed Christmas 2005
to You and Yours
Audrey and Fr. Bob Phillips
P/N/C Al Senna
“Christmas Blessings and
a Happy New Year”
In Memory of
John S. Matulewicz (803 Eng.)
To All Our Ex-POW Friends
a Blessed Christmas and Health and
Happiness Through the New Year
Holiday Greetings and
Best Wishes to All
Commander Agapito E. and
Socorro Silva
Stella and John Yale
Co. C 31st Inf.
Merry Christmas and
Healthful New Year
Merry Christmas and
Happy 2006 to All
Fern Theriac
Genevieve and Milton Young
Dorothy Patrizio
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to All
Dorothy Wells
Eleanor and Edward Pessolana
“Peace” and the Blessings of
“Good Health and Joy at this
Blessed Holy Season”
Elizabeth M. Peace
Widow of David Peace, Jr.
803rd Engineers Co. “C”
“Season’s Greetings and
May God Bless the New Year”
Marj Taylor (Ralph’s wife)
12 — THE QUAN
F
F
F
F
F
60 Years Later: World War II and
the “Ruptured Duck”
Telemedicine:
Bringing VA Health Care
Closer to the Veteran
By Major Micki Sotta
Advancements in technology have
brought many positive changes to health
care. One of these advancements is
telemedicine, which is now being used by
VA Stars & Stripes Healthcare Network
facilities to make health care more easily
available to veterans.
Telemedicine is simply “using electronics and technology to provide health
care,” according to Tom Patts, tele medicine and telehealth coordinator for
the VA medical center in Wilkes-Barre.
Here’s how it works: A health care
provider at one facility and a patient at
another talk with each other face-to-face
using video equipment. “It’s live, not
taped,” says Patts, “and it’s designed to
be confidential and secure.”
An example is the telesleep clinic at the
Erie VA Medical Center (VAMC). Erie
patients with sleep disorders have an
initial appointment with a health care
provider at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare
System. Follow-up visits are done at the
Erie VAMC using telemedicine. Jean
Spires, RN and team leader for specialty
clinics at the Erie VAMC, says that in
addition to the sleep disorders clinic,
telemedicine also plays a large part in
Erie’s behavioral health program.
“Telemedicine is a wonderful tool,” she
says. “Patients like it because of the easy
access.”
In addition to being used between medical centers, telemedicine is also a tool for
medical centers and their communitybased outpatient clinics (CBOCs). In the
area served by the Wilkes-Barre VAMC, for
instance, some patients live as far as a
three-hour-drive away from the medical
center, but only a few miles from a CBOC.
To save patients the time, distance, and
stress of excess travel, telemedicine is
used between the CBOCs and the medical
center in Wilkes-Barre, and even between
the CBOCs themselves.
There are several benefits to telemedicine. Veterans are able to reduce the
distance they drive to appointments, saving time and, during the winter months,
avoiding risky travel. It also allows health
care providers to see more patients,
reducing the time that a veteran must wait
to schedule an appointment. According to
Patts, telemedicine is also reducing the
number of “no shows” — appointments
missed by veterans, sometimes because
of travel difficulties.
While it has mainly been used in
specialty clinics, telemedicine has also
taken place in some other areas, such as
occupational therapy, nutrition, and pharmacy education.
To learn more about the availability of
telemedicine, talk to your VA primary care
provider.
In today’s world, a ruptured duck might sound like a broken cartoon character, but
World War II veterans and their families know the “Ruptured Duck” as a badge of
service and honor which represents a job well done.
The Honorable Service Lapel Pin, affectionately nicknamed by returning GI’s as the
“Ruptured Duck” pin, was issued to every World War II service member honorably
discharged between September 1939 and December 1946.
The small badge was earned by more than 12 million
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and
Merchant Mariners who returned to civilian life after WWII.
Young men and women who served during World
War II are now in their 80s and 90s. Accordingly, the
Department of Defense is hosting an event honoring all
World War II veterans, family members and homefront
workers for their outstanding service and sacrifice.
The ceremony was held on Friday evening, September 2 at 7 p.m. at the World
War II Memorial, located on the National Mall. 60 years prior, on September 2, 1945
Japan surrendered, bringing WWII to an end.
During the ceremony on September 2, all military services and the Merchant
Marines were represented and honored for their service. Former Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and WWII veteran, General John Vessey, shared his thoughts on the
“greatest generation”. There was music, fireworks and a live performance by the Liberty
Belles, a USO 1940s-style show. Seating, including disabled access, accommodated
more than 6,000 attendees. The event was free, open to the public and tickets or
advance reservations were not required.
Additionally, all WWII veterans attending were presented with an authentic
Honorable Service Lapel pin, or “Ruptured Duck” pin to thank them again for their
service to their country.
The origins of the term, “Ruptured Duck” are unknown, but the prevailing theory is
service personnel thought the eagle looked more like a duck and, because it meant
they were going home, the popular saying was, “They took off like a Ruptured Duck,”
hence the nickname.
The “Ruptured Duck” initially had to be made out of plastic because all brass
available in the country was restricted to war-time needs only. Unfortunately, the blue
plastic pin could not be seen against a blue suit jacket so it was adjusted to gold-plated
plastic. Later, when metal restrictions were lifted, the button was produced in goldplated brass.
As veterans earned their “Ruptured Duck” pin and returned home, they found
American textile manufacturing completely geared toward making uniforms and other
service-related items, causing a significant clothing shortage, which today is hard to
imagine.
The pin, when worn on uniforms above the right shirt pocket, allowed an honorably
discharged service person to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days in
recognition of this shortage. The badge also showed patrolling Military Police that the
individual was honorably discharged or in transit and not absent without leave (AWOL).
“Ruptured Ducks” can be found all over the world and, in 1998, a “Ruptured Duck”
took a trip to the heavens. On April 17, 1998, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched
from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with a ruptured duck pin owned by Mr. Wilfred
Kelly aboard. Mr. Kelly joined the United States Coast Guard in July of 1942 as an
Electrician's Mate Second Class and served aboard the USS Gloucester, until he was
honorably discharged in 1946. Space Shuttle Commander Richard Searfoss agreed to
carry the pin in his personal effects bag. Upon the shuttle’s return, the pin was given
back to Mr. Kelly’s family as a lasting memorial to Mr. Kelly’s World War II service.
The Department of Defense established the World War II 60th Anniversary
Commemoration Committee, headquartered in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the
service of veterans of World War II and the entire “greatest generation”. The
Committee has sponsored events throughout the United States in places such as
Tampa, San Antonio, San Diego, Boston, Chicago and Vancouver, Wash. Event
specifics and WWII educational information can be found at www.60wwii.mil or by calling the Committee at 877-868-2058.
Major Micki Sotta, United States Army, is a public affairs officer for the World War II
60th Anniversary Commemoration Committee, in Washington, D.C. You can reach her
at 703-588-7630 or at [email protected].
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 13
“Book of Honor”
Hellships Memorial
(Subic Bay, The Philippines)
DESCRIPTION and INTENT
A “BOOK OF HONOR” — dedicated to those who participated in defense of the
Philippines, Asia and South West Pacific in World War II — is a part of the Hellships
Memorial. The actual “BOOK OF HONOR”, with these tributes, will be accessible within
Hellships Memorial space in the nearby Museum. It honors whose who survived and
those who died aboard these ships. Tributes will include brief text tribute, picture(s) and
a personal web site if appropriate. There will be NO cost to participate.
WEB SITE
Each tribute will also be included in an internet web site for family and others to review,
both at the “BOOK OF HONOR” and over the internet. See below.
ACCESS TO “BOOK OF HONOR”
The “BOOK OF HONOR” with tributes will be created and placed on line in the
Hellships Memorial in the Philippines.
ACCESS TO INTERNET WEB SITES
This internet web site database will be accessible at these web sites:
—American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor web site at:
http://www.west-point.org/family/adbc/
—The Hellship Memorial web site at:
http://www.hellshipsmemorial.org./
Other websites as appropriate and as designated.
MANNER OF CREATING:
Create a brief document, with text and pictures, honoring a specific person. E-mail your
document, if possible, before January 2006 to:
John Neiger — “BOOK OF HONOR” Coordinator [email protected]
or mail to:
4011 Lakeview Parkway
Lake of the Woods, Virginia 22508
Any changes to existing tributes can be made using the same procedure as creating
the original tribute. No one will edit or change your tribute.
QUESTIONS — COMMENTS — SUGGESTIONS:
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions — please contact John Neiger
540-972-0612, e-mail, or mail to the above address.
————————
Memories of Kindness Bring Veteran
Back to Philippines
“They would fall by the side of the road, only to be shot, but more often bayoneted …
There was nothing, nothing we could do but to look straight ahead and keep on walking.”
By Grant Segall
Plain Dealer Reporter
Richard Francies couldn’t stand his first sergeant at Fort Monmouth, N.J.
“How far away from here can I get?” Francies asked in 1939.
“The Philippines,” he was told.
“Put me in for the Philippines!” he replied.
Francies liked the country, which seemed as different as possible from his native
Cleveland. Still, he was glad in December 1941, when he drew within a week of his
departure date for home.
Then the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and America was dragged into World
War II.
“Nobody went home,” Francies said.
The Philippines fell in April 1942. Over the next 31⁄2 years, Francies survived the
infamous Bataan Death March, a Japanese “hell ship” and slave labor camps at both
ends of the voyage.
Yet Francies has returned to the Philippines six times.
“I just enjoy the people,” the former technical sergeant said recently at his
Cleveland Heights apartment. “They were so good to us.”
(Continued on Page 26)
14 — THE QUAN
Western States Chapter
Commander’s
Farewell Address
Sparks, Nevada — March 17, 2005
First of all, on behalf of our Western
States Chapter, ADBC, I want to thank
Ralph and Kathie Levenberg for making all
these wonderful arrangements. The hotel
has been outstanding, the food excellent.
I personally thank all of you for attending. It has been suggested that our group
should encourage family members to join
our group as associate members. Membership would be open to descendants of
survivors of Bataan & Corregidor. Trudy
Real has agreed to be the representative
to accomplish this. She has the expertise
to get it done. I trust this will be done to
increase family participation and also to
ensure that our group will continue into
the future.
It has been my privilege to serve this
illustrious group for this second term as
your Commander. I wish to call upon my
good friend, our next Western States
Chapter Commander, Ralph Levenberg to
receive on behalf of himself and his wife
Kathie, our token of appreciation for the
services they have rendered to our group.
(Award presented and accepted by Ralph)
The next award will be presented to
Esther Jennings for her dedication to our
late Commander Clinton Jennings who
served our Chapter for two terms as
Commander. Esther is to be commended
also for her efforts on behalf of our Health
and Welfare Department, sending cards to
the sick and bereaved among us. She also
serves as our Associate Secretary. (Award
presented and accepted by Esther.) Other
awards presented to: William E. Braye for
Sea Lion Editor; Andrew Aquila for
Secretary; Peter & Audrey Locarnini for
Treasurer; Houston Turner for Chaplain.
Bernice and I wish you all God’s Speed
and a Safe Journey Home!
Cmdr. Everett D. Reamer
————————
Memorials
Over the years there have been various
memorials made to honor the men who
served in the Philippines.
Some are buildings, some parks, some
libraries, some items of interest such as
flag poles, monuments, plaques or other
memorabilia.
I would like to publish them in one issue.
Check those old pictures or write up a
story for any type of building. I would like to
have color. If you have any of the pictures,
send them to me for the next issue.
Joe Vater, Editor
Hoten POW Camp
Camp Hoten No. 1 — unofficial rough-draft chronology
11 November 1942 — 1188 U.S. enlisted men (ordinary soldiers) and 14 officers
arrived in Mukden (Shenyang) from Manila via Korean Peninsula as American POWs,
sent to POW Camp Hoten No. 1, then a group of old Chinese Army earth huts half
underground (an additional 60 English and 40 Australian and New Zealand troops have
joined them, live in Barracks No. 13; there are eventually 19 barracks in all)
March 1943 — burial of 176 POWs, most of whom died in the first 90 days at Camp
Hoten; by summer 1943, a total of 205 have died, more than 17% of the American
enlisted men in Camp Hoten
July 1943 — the camp is moved to a new location, two-story brick structures c. four
miles away, about half a mile from the Mitsubishi Ko-Kan Machine and Tool Factory, a
former Ford Co. factory where some of the camp inmates work under Chinese supervision, disassembling machinery so that Japanese technicians can make blueprints of it;
camp inmates also work as farm and construction labor; new camp is an improvement
on the old one, and rations are increased slightly, to above starvation level; at this point,
11 American and 2-3 British officers are still alive
June 1944 — c. 150 American POWs sent from Camp Hoten to Kamioka, Japan, to
work in the lead mines there, as punishment for sabotaging work at the Mitsubishi
Factory in Mukden (Linda Goetz Holmes, ‘Unjust Enrichment’)
7 December 1944 — Allied B-29 air raids on Shenyang factories and rail lines drop two
bombs within the Camp Hoten perimeter, killing 19 of the POWs, and injuring more
than 30
April 1945 — 316 senior officers, orderlies, and four civilians (mostly American, British,
and Dutch generals and colonels; senior officer is U.S. Maj. Gen. George M. Parker,
Jr.) are moved to Camp Hoten from Camp Chang Chia. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright,
highest-ranking American POW, and a few close aides and officers, is held elsewhere
in Liaoning, at Si’an (Japanese: Seihan), along with Britain’s highest-ranking POW,
Gen. A.E. Percival, former commander of Singapore
5 August 1945 — newly-appointed International Committee of the Red Cross head
delegate to Tokyo, Dr. Marcel Junod, visits Mukden en route to Tokyo, first visit to
Camp Hoten by an ICRC representative
6 August 1945 — Dr. Junod visits Gen. Wainwright at Si’an
8 August 1945 — Russia enters the Pacific War
17 August 1945 — four-man American OSS parachute group arrives in Shenyang
18 August 1945 — low-flying Allied plane scatters leaflets announcing that Japan has
surrendered
20 August 1945 — advance Soviet tank units enter Shenyang
9 September 1945 — American POWs leave Camp Hoten No. 1 to return home
————————
To ADBC Members and Descendants
Thank you so very much for your prayers, cards, emails and phone calls during
this time while Judith and I am fighting my lung cancer, diagnosed right after the
Cincinnati convention. The chemotherapy is doing its job and the cancer is currently
much reduced in size. The doctors are encouraging me to continue with my plans to
host the Valor Tours trip to the Philippines in January for the dedication of the Hellships
Memorial. My best to you all.
Duane Heisinger
Florida Chapter Closing
Mr. Joe Vater, PNC
Editor, The Quan
18 Warbler Drive
McKees Rocks, PA 16136
Dear Joe:
The time has come to close the Florida
Chapter of the American Defenders of
Bataan & Corregidor, Inc. This is a sad
duty to perform. Our shrinking numbers
and lack of attendance forces this action.
The members voted to donate what was
left in our treasury to the Andersonville
Trust, in the hope that the history of the
American Prisoners of War experience
will forever be available to the public.
We have closed our bank account, and
a check in the amount of $1,662.17 has
been sent to the Andersonville Trust.
The Florida Chapter of Defenderettes
also closed, and they too voted to donate
the remainder of their funds to the
Andersonville Trust. Their check in the
amount of $959.03 was mailed with ours.
The Ladies of the Defenderettes gave
their unconditional support to our chapter
for many years and we appreciate them
more than my words can express.
We hope to see our Florida members at
the National ADBC Convention in Phoenix,
AZ come May 2006.
The letterhead this letter is written on
has the remaining members in good
standing at the time of our closing.
Do you or anyone reading this know
where we can send our chapter historian’s records? We will pay the cost of
packaging and mailing.
Respectfully submitted by,
Byron Kearbey, Past Secretary
Florida Chapter ADBC
————————
Seeking Information
August 16, 2005
Dear Sir,
In 1955 I worked with a survivor of the
Bataan Death March. We were both
students in the maintenance school for
Gilfillan GCA Radar in Fontana,
California. I would like very much to find
this friend. His first name was Gene or
Eugene. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his last name. Gilfillan Human
Resources Dept. would not go back and
look in their records. Could you please
place this note in the next edition of The
Quan?
Sincerely,
Jerry Figgins
A404
300 Willow Valley Lakes Dr.
Willow Street, PA 17584
[email protected]
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 15
Florida Convention May 2004 — Memorial Service
Mary Kay Wallace, George Wallace, Abie Abrahams,
Ed Jackfert, and “Cookie” Jackfert
WWII Memorial
Hell Ships Memorial
Joseph E. Lopez
16 — THE QUAN
WWII Memorial
Iwo Jima Memorial — Joseph an
Joe and Norma Alexa
Bataan Memorial Library Exhibit — Brooke County Library
WWII Memorial
Hell Ships Memorial
Rear of M.K.K. Mukden
nd Helen Vater,
ander
WWII Memorial
Antonio Casanova of Springfield, left, and Domenic Pellegrino of Longmeadow
stand by a poster for “The Great Raid” at the Eastfield Mall Cinemas in
Springfield. Both were prisoners of war at the camp depicted in the film. See
Story Page 8.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 17
~ Deceased ~
Robert C. Allen
Sasoun Samuel Boghosian
Philip Brain, Jr.
Robert C. Allen, engaged in every facet
of Hawaii’s tourism industry for more than
35 years, died May 25 in the Center for the
Aging at Tripler Army Medical Center.
The 92-year-old Kaneohe resident, commonly referred to as “Bob,” was the president and director of various organizations
including the Hawaii Visitors Bureau,
Grayline Hawaii and the Hotel Operating Co.
He served as chairman of numerous
tourism committees and co-founded the
Hawaii Skal Club, which consisted of business leaders in the field.
Allen pioneered Hawaii’s marketing and
sales program by informing travel agents on
the mainland and in Southeast Asia about
the islands’ customs and attributes. He
worked with prominent individuals such as
premier industrialist, Henry J. Kaiser, and
hotel guru, Roy Kelley, to incorporate the
world’s largest catamaran into the Pearl
Harbor sightseeing tour.
His efforts created marketing conditions
that opened the door for future travel in both
directions. The number of Hawaii travel
agents grew from a few hundred directly
after the war to more than 25,000 by 1990.
Allen’s book, “Creating Hawaii Tourism,”
published in 2004, described the events and
people that contributed to the industry’s
dramatic growth and development.
“He was greatly respected within the
tourism industry and was often referred to as
‘Mr. Tourism,’ ” said Ernie Albrecht, former
Skal Club president and Pan American
Airways manager. “I have a tremendous
respect for his ability and what he was trying
to do for the state.”
Albrecht, who knew Allen for about 50
years and referred to him as a “brother,”
often ate lunch with him or watched him
play polo. Allen was a former Hawaii Polo
Club president and frequently played at
local parks.
Prior to Allen’s involvement with tourism
and polo, he attended Southwestern University School of Business Administration,
Los Angeles, and became the chief accountant for a mining company in the Philippines.
While in the Philippines, he served in the
U.S. Navy Reserve and was captured by the
Japanese during World War II. Allen spent
the next three years as a prisoner of war in
two Japanese camps where he met his
future wife, Helene, who is often referred to
as “Billie.” The couple would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
“He was a loving husband, caring father
and wonderful grandfather,” Helene Allen
said.
Robert Allen is also survived by
daughters Linda and Sherry, and two
grandchildren.
A private funeral service was held.
————————
Sasoun Samuel “Sam” Boghosian
passed away on Saturday, August 20,
2005 at the age of 84, of natural causes.
He was born on August 2, 1921. He was a
member of the “Greatest Generation”.
Boghosian enlisted in the U.S. Army Air
Corps at the age of 19, in April of 1941.
Shortly after the outbreak of the war, he
was captured and served three and a half
years as a prisoner of war on the Island of
Mindanao in the Philippines, two years of
which he was listed as missing in action.
Following Boghosian’s liberation in
September of 1945, he spent two years in
military hospitals slowly recovering from
the injuries and illnesses he had suffered
during the war.
He then met and married the love of his
life, his “sweetheart” Arpie “Penny”
Kavoukjian, and they had two sons Jeffrey
and Richard.
He was awarded the Purple Heart with
two Oak Leaf Clusters, and 16 other
American and Philippine military awards
and decorations, in addition to the Air
Combat Crewman’s Award for Aerial
Gunman Wings.
After military service, Boghosian was a
theatre projectionist for 34 years and
newsreel cameraman for Fox Movietone
News.
He loved his country and continued to
serve it all his life. He was nominated by
Governor George Deukmejian and appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve
on the Selective Service Board.
Boghosian was preceded in death by
Arpie “Penny” Boghosian, his loving wife
and “sweetheart” of over 50 years; his son
Jeffrey; his father and mother Ohannes
and Asdik; his sisters, Hasmig Boghosian
and Joan Haroutunian; and his nephew,
John Boghosian.
He is survived by his son Richard;
sisters, Shirley Paboojian of Fresno, and
Joyce Boghosian of Martinez; brothers,
Joe Boghosian of Fresno, Sirag Sam
Boghosian of Indian Wells, and Marty
Boghosian of Montclair, NJ; sisters-in-law,
Hasmig Aaronian and Queenie
Marsoobian; and 13 nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at Whitehurst,
Sullivan, Burns & Blair Chapel, 1525 E.
Saginaw Way on Thursday, August 25,
2005, from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m.
A funeral service was held at Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church, 2226 Ventura
Street on Friday, August 26, 2005, at 10:00
a.m. Interment followed at Ararat
Cemetery.
————————
By Trudi Hahn
Star Tribune Staff Writer
18 — THE QUAN
Philip Brain, Jr. found the purpose he
had promised himself during a grueling
segment of harsh captivity that followed his
capture by the Japanese on the Bataan
Peninsula of the Philippines during World
War II.
He decided to serve, spending 35 years
as an executive with the YMCA and
becoming active in the service group
Rotary International.
Services were held for Brain, of Bloomington. The longtime resident of Edina,
who suffered from dementia, died May 5 of
natural causes involving poor blood circulation, which may have stemmed from his
wartime deprivations, said his wife,
Deloris, of Golden Valley. He was 89.
Born in Libby, Mont., Brain moved as a
toddler with his family to Minneapolis,
where his father, Phil Brain, Sr., became a
tennis coach for the University of
Minnesota.
Brain, Jr. was a tennis player at Roosevelt High School and for the University of
Minnesota. He graduated in 1939.
He attended graduate school at George
Williams College in Chicago, and took his
first job with the YMCA at Camp Menogyn,
north of Grand Marais.
He was drafted in April 1941 and, as a
member of the 194th Tank Battalion, which
included many Minnesotans, was among
about 12,000 retreating troops captured a
year later on Bataan by the Japanese. Their
captors forced the troops into what became
known as the Bataan Death March — days
of starvation and fatal brutality for those
who couldn’t keep up.
That was followed by prison camps and
a trip to Japan on a “hell ship,” where prisoners could not sit or lie down until enough
men died to thin the numbers. In Japan
came the slave labor — for Brain, that
meant descending 478 steps daily into a
copper mine and climbing back out again
at workday’s end.
The Bataan experience “was something
so dreadful that living through it had to
shape a direction in my life,” he said in
1992. “On those prison ships, I decided
that I would try to find a purpose if I ever
got out of them. I think serving is the best
purpose.”
He worked for the YMCA as Camp
Menogyn director, branch executive secretary and associate general secretary in
personnel, programs, financial management and financial development.
After his retirement in 1980, he started a
consulting firm to help nonprofit groups
with fundraising. The longtime Mason also
(Continued on Page 19)
(Continued from Page 18)
worked as the financial-development
officer for the Masonic Homes in
Bloomington.
He spoke publicly about his Bataan
experience for the first time on April 9,
1965, the 23rd anniversary of the surrender. The talk, his first attempt to collect his
memories, “was an emotional ordeal,” he
wrote in “Soldier of Bataan,” a book of
three of his talks published by the
Rotarians in 1990. He spoke of rifle shots
and bayonets and dead prisoners left at
the side of the road, and of the two work
details in his first camp, named O’Donnell:
“[B]ury the dead and dig latrines. And
neither could be done fast enough.”
Brain was grateful for his 31⁄2 years as a
prisoner of war, he wrote, for the chance it
gave him to assess his values. One began
to realize the relationship he must have
with his God and the need of God to find
his way with men.”
In addition to his wife, Deloris, whom he
married in 1947, survivors include daughters Beth Moorhead and Sue McConville
of Plymouth and four grandchildren.
Services were held at the WashburnMcReavy Edina Chapel.
————————
Floyd O. Conn
Floyd was born November 12, 1917 and
passed away December 24, 1968. He was
captured on Corregidor May 6, 1942. He
survived 42 months in Japanese POW
Camp.
No other details were available.
————————
John A. Crago
John A. Crago, who survived the notorious Bataan Death March in World War II,
died at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2005
at the United Methodist Memorial Home in
Warren, where he was a resident. He was
84.
Mr. Crago was a former resident of
Huntington. He graduated from Lancaster
High School, Wells County, in 1940, and
joined the Army in 1941. He was a member of the 38th Infantry Division and
attained the rank of staff sergeant.
He was captured in April, 1942 by the
Japanese and survived the Bataan Death
March, a 60-mile forced march, with little
food or water, from the Bataan Peninsula
on Manila Bay to an inland prison camp.
Crago was a prisoner of war for 31⁄2 years,
was liberated in Japan in 1945. He was
awarded several decorations, including the
World War II Victory Medal, the American
Defense Service Medal, the Philippines
Independence Ribbon, the Prisoner of War
Medal, the Philippines Liberation Medal,
and the Bronze Star.
He was a production controller for Dana in
Marion, retiring in February 1977. He held
memberships at St. Peter’s First United
Church of Christ, 32nd Degree Mason of
Amity Lodge 483, York Rite Lodge, Scottish
Rite Lodge, Shrine, Hapzim Shrine, Order of
the Eastern Star 75, American Legion Post
7, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He
served as a national commander of the
American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor from 1983 to 1984, and he was
in the National Guard until 1952.
He enjoyed woodworking and had a particular interest in clockmaking.
Mr. Crago was born April 3, 1921, in
Huntington County to Charles O. and
Mabel V. Sharp Crago. He married
Florence Walters on April 19, 1947. She
survives in Warren.
Other survivors include four daughters,
Mary Ann Thomas, Kathy Shockley,
Martha Forst and Kay Lynn Bradley; a
brother, Kenneth Crago; eight grand children; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four
sisters, Dora Hite, Rosella Miller, Stella
Eppard, and Edna Paul.
Calling, with Mizpah Rites services, was
at the McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715
N. Jefferson St. There was also one hour
of calling prior to the funeral service at the
United Methodist Memorial Home
Applegate Chapel in Warren, with Rev.
Brian Damrow officiating.
Burial was at Gardens of Memory
Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to the Shrine
Crippled Children’s Hospital in care of
McElhaney-Hart Funeral Home, 715 N.
Jefferson St., Huntington, IN 46750.
Online condolences:
www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com.
————————
Joseph Emile Dupont, Jr.
Joseph Emile “Mr. J.E.” Dupont, Jr., a resident and native of Plaquemine, died
Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at 11:25 a.m. at his
home. He was 83 and a retired Iberville
Parish veterans service officer. He was a
U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Japanese
prisoner of war in the Philippines during
World War II. Visitation was at St. John the
Evangelist Catholic Church, Plaquemine, on
Thursday, July 7, from 9 a.m. until religious
service at noon, conducted by the Rev.
Dave Capucao and the Rev. Jerome Dugas.
Interment was in St. John the Evangelist
Church Cemetery, Plaquemine.
He is survived by his four daughters and
three sons-in-law, Kathy Fulton, Teal and
Dan Wintz, Angela and Mike Watts and
Andrea and Terrell Robinson; three sons
and two daughters-in-law, Joseph E. “Pat”
Dupont III, David and Ruthie Dupont and
Adrian and Marsha Dupont; two sisters and
a brother-in-law, Barbara Burgeois, and
Adrienne “Willie” and Don Milliken; 19
grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
Joseph Emile and Vera Landry Dupont;
wife, Angela Hannon Dupont; daughter,
Margaret Elizabeth Dupont; brother,
Thomas Dalton Dupont; granddaughter,
Trista Parro; and brother-in-law, Alfred
“Buddy” Bourgeois. Pallbearers were his
grandsons.
He was very active in his church and was
a member of Knights of Columbus Council
970 and St. John Father’s Club. He
coached football at St. John Elementary
School for 19 years, served as Scoutmaster
of Troop 23 and was a member of the
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.
Please make memorial donations to St.
John School. Wilbert Funeral Home,
Plaquemine, was in charge of
arrangements.
————————
George Verl Edwards
George Verl Edwards, 84, passed away
on Saturday, August 13, 2005.
Mr. Edwards was born on July 4, 1921
in Crellin, MD. He lived in Fairfield for 33
years.
Mr. Edwards was a member of Fairfield,
BPOE #1976 since 1947; AF&AM Mountain
Lodge #99 in Frostburg, Maryland; 32
Scottish Rite in Cumberland, MD; Ali Ghan
Shrine Temple in Cumberland, MD;
Aahmes Shrine Temple in Oakland;
Montezuma Shrine Club; American Legion;
VFW Simmons Sheldon Post 2333 in
Suisun City and Air Force Sergeants
Association. He was a lifetime member of
American XPOW and also American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. He
was a Prisoner of War in both the
Philippines and Manchuria, China.
Mr. Edwards owned and operated
Silverado Tax Service in Napa since 1973.
He worked six years with an automobile
dealership. He was also an enrolled agent
to practice before the IRS.
He served eight years in the U.S. Navy
and a total of 18 years with the Air Force
before retiring from Travis Air Force Base.
He was a World War II veteran.
George Edwards is survived by his wife
of 63 years, Caroline Edwards of Fairfield;
son, Coit and Linda Edwards; two granddaughters, Chera Demarest and Crista
Doughtery; and two great grandchildren,
Angel Doughtery and John Patrick
Doughtery.
Services for George V. Edwards were
private.
————————
Arthur Jones
Arthur W. Jones (Art), 85, of Del City,
passed away September 13, 2005. He
was born July 26, 1920 in Rush Springs,
OK to William Arthur & Bettie (Gunn)
Jones. On July 14, 1946, Art married
Dorothy J. Longstreet and in 1950 they
moved to the Del City area.
Art served in the F Co., 2nd BN 4th
U.S.M.C. December 1939 to February 1946
serving in WWII; POW during the Pacific
Theater; Battling Bastards of Bataan.
Among numerous military decorations and
honors, Art was awarded the Bronze Star
with V device for Valor and the Purple
Heart. He retired from Civil Service at
Tinker AFB and was a Past Master of Del
(Continued on Page 20)
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 19
(Contiued from Page 19)
City Masonic Lodge #536, life member of
the American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, life member of DAV, former service officer of Mid-Del DAV Chapter #39,
member of the National Chapter of POW
and Central Okla. Chapter of POW. He
enjoyed fishing, hunting, helping veterans,
family, and friends.
Art is survived by his wife Dorothy;
daughters Marilyn Smith, Stella Fouche
and Anita Buchanan; son Marvin Jones;
sister Stella Coffee; step-brother Bill
Joyce; grandchildren Tanya Fouche,
Kimberly Norman, Melissa Wright, Darron
Buchanan; four great-grandchildren,
numerous nieces and a nephew. He was
preceded in death by his daughter Janice
Rhinehart; father W.A. Jones; mother
Bettie and stepmother Elsie.
————————
Frank Kazerski
By Jack Williams
Staff Writer
Frank A. Kazerski couldn’t have picked
a worse time to be treated for yellow jaundice in a Manila, Philippines, hospital.
It was Christmas Eve 1943. The
Japanese were on the defensive, and the
hospital’s staff, including the doctors and
nurses assigned to his care, hastily
evacuated.
For Mr. Kazerski, a sergeant in the
Army’s military police, it only would get
worse.
He managed to escape the abandoned
hospital and reunite with troops in Bataan.
But on April 9, 1942. He was among
25,000 undernourished and woefully
outmanned Americans and Filipinos who
surrendered to the Japanese.
For the next several days, he was subjected to the infamous Bataan Death
March that left up to 10,000 dead. Then he
spent three days and four months in
Japanese prison camps, enduring malaria
and dysentery as his 165-pound body
withered to 118 pounds.
More than 30 years after being liberated,
he chronicled his World War II memories
in a term paper that led to a bachelor’s
degree in creative writing at San Diego
State University.
Mr. Kazerski, who retired from the Army
as a chief warrant officer in 1960, died in
his sleep August 24 at his Imperial Beach
home. He was 90.
He had become increasingly frail and
suffered from an irregular heartbeat, said
his son, Francois.
At the end of World War II, Mr. Kazerski
was liberated from a prison camp in
Mukden, Manchuria, by the Russian Army
and celebrated with a Russian pilot.
Proficient in foreign languages, he had
learned enough Japanese in captivity to
act as a liaison between fellow prisoners
and his captors.
20 — THE QUAN
“A Japanese guard gave him a
Japanese/English dictionary, and he was
one of two or three Americans in the camp
who could speak Japanese,” his son said.
“He had studied Spanish and German as a
kid at Boston Latin School. The Army rated
him as a linguist.”
Mr. Kazerski underwent postwar training
in counterintelligence. While assigned to
Germany, he met his future wife, Margo
Kuerten, whose father had been a political
prisoner of the Nazi regime. Their marriage ended in divorce after 13 years.
When Mr. Kazerski left the Army, he
began a civilian career in security for
Lockheed Aircraft Co. in the Bay area. In
1972, he retired and pursued a college
degree, a quest that started at the
University of the Americas in Mexico and
continued at San Jose State University,
and SDSU. He graduated in 1976.
Inspired by his father’s patriotic spirit
and heroism, Mr. Kazerski’s son, Francois,
wrote a song, “Red, White and Blue —
God Bless You” and led “Save the Cross”
prayer vigils atop Mount Soledad. The
song was registered with the Library of
Congress and has been played on radio
and TV stations.
Frank A. Kazerski was born September
8, 1914, in Needham, Mass. He graduated
in 1932 from Boston Latin School, where
he studied Spanish and German.
During the Depression, he found work as
a night manager for a Boston restaurant.
After being injured in an automobile
accident, he received a $300 insurance
claim and rode a freighter to Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Employed at an Armour meatpacking plant, he rose to sales inspector
and broadened his mastery of the Spanish
language.
Mr. Kazerski returned to the United
States in 1940 and enlisted in the Army. He
rose from private to operations sergeant
and was assigned to a provost marshal in
the Philippines.
After his imprisonment, he regained his
health and eventually returned to his
normal weight. While in his 40s, he began
suffering what his son described as heart
palpitations, a condition that — with a
physician’s advice — led to a marked
change in his lifestyle.
“He gave up smoking and reduced his
drinking to an occasional glass of wine,”
his son said. “He had a midlife crisis.”
Inspired by the writings of natural foods
advocate Adele Davis, Mr. Kazerski modified his diet, restricting his salt intake, and
took copious vitamins.
His health began to decline in 2001 after
his son, Steven, was shot by a sheriff’s
deputy in Imperial Beach. Steven Kazerski
died two months later. Mr. Kazerski filed a
wrongful-death suit that has not been
resolved, Francois Kazerski said.
Mr. Kazerski suffered another setback in
June when a fall resulted in a compression
fracture in his spine.
“He was never outwardly religious, but
he made his peace with God five days
before he died,” Francois Kazerski said.
His son, Francois of Imperial Beach, is
his lone survivor.
Services were September 8 at First
Baptist Church, Imperial Beach. Donations
are suggested to The Salvation Army.
————————
Doris A. Kehoe
Col. Doris A. Kehoe passed away June
22, 2004. She entered the service on
October 9, 1935 and served until
December 31, 1963.
————————
Jack Weldon King
Jack Weldon King, age 94, went on to
his heavenly home on June 6, 2005, due
to complications from Alzheimer’s
Disease. Weldon was born January 19,
1911, in Springfield, MO., to Clyde King
and Blanche Murphy King. An accomplished musician, Weldon graduated from
Drury College in 1934, with a degree in
music. One of his earliest jobs was accompanying silent movies on a theatre pipe
organ. Weldon loved the music of the pipe
organ so much he had a room in his home
made especially for his pipe organ. It was
in the organ room that Weldon charmed,
entertained and so graciously hosted
many friends.
A sergeant in the Army, he was captured during World War II in Corregidor.
Weldon was a Prisoner of War for three
years, four months and eight days in
Mukden, Manchuria. After the war, he
began touring the world as a photographer. For 30 years Weldon was the primary
photographer for GAF Viewmaster Slide
Series, as well as a set photographer in
Hollywood. His talent as a photographer
garnered him one of the first color covers
of “Life” magazine in the 50’s.
Perhaps his most important work was
photographer for the Gatti Expeditions to
Africa. Weldon spent four years photo graphing his beloved Africa, and it was his
photography that opened the eyes of the
world to what was at the time considered a
dark and unknown continent.
Weldon King was a gentleman. He was
a man of dignity, honor, hospitality, and
courtesy; even during the final stage of his
life as he fought his battle with
Alzheimer’s, his gracious and caring spirit
was a comfort and joy to all who knew and
loved him. Weldon King will be greatly
missed. We will miss his stories and the
hours of listening to him play his pipe
organ. But mostly, we will miss this true
hero and gentleman we loved.
Services were held on Friday, June 10
at 1 p.m. in Greenlawn Funeral Home
South, with interment in St. Mary’s
Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to
the Gillioz Theatre for the installation of
Weldon’s pipe organ.
————————
Karl King
Karl King, 80, a news journalist, Marine
hero, former prisoner of war, author and
loving husband and father, passed away
Monday, July 25, 2005. The funeral was
held in Forest Ridge Funeral Home Chapel
in Hurs. Interment was in the Dallas-Fort
Worth National Cemetery with full military
honors. Visitation was at the Forest Ridge
Funeral Home.
Karl was born December 5, 1924, in
Dallas. He attended Adamson High School
in Dallas for one year, in 1939. In October
1939 he enlisted in the Texas National
Guard in Dallas at the age of 14. The battery commander entered his date of birth
on his enlistment papers as 5 December
1920. Karl enlisted in the U.S. Marine
Corps in San Francisco, Calif., on
November 29, 1939, still at the age of 14.
The recruiting officer requested “senior
service priority discharge” from the Texas
National Guard. He attended boot camp in
San Diego, Calif. His first duty assignment
was prison chaser, Naval prison, Mare
Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif., from
March 1940 to June 1940.
In November 1941, orders were cut for
stateside on the first available transportation, USS Chaumont, due in Manila Bay,
Philippines, on December 10, 1941. On
December 8, 1941, at 2:58 a.m. (Manila
time), ONI received word of the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor. Sgt. King was on
the switchboard at Cavite Marine
Barracks, and received a message for OD
to a hands. He was on assignment from
Manila when Japanese planes bombed the
Navy Yard and part of Manila on
December 10.
Isaac C. Williams, Jr. and Sgt. King
swam 21⁄2 miles to Corregidor from Bataan.
He was assigned to Company L, 3rd
Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. At age 17,
he was the youngest man in the 4th
Regiment. He was wounded by enemy fire
April 14, 1942. He shot down an enemy
plane over Corregidor with a .50 caliber
machine gun. Sgt. King was taken as a
prisoner of war May 6, 1942, and was held
as a prisoner of war until August 29, 1945.
He was honorably discharged March 27,
1947, with 80 percent disability. His disability was changed to 100 percent due to
residual effects of the POW experience.
Some of his combat experience included
engaging the enemy in three major battles
during the Philippine campaign: Battle of
Longoskawayan Point, Battle of Big
Pocket and Beach Defense Corregidor.
Some of his decorations include a
Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart with two
Oak Leaf Clusters, Naval Presidential
Citation, two Army Presidential Unit
Citations, POW Medal, Marine Corps
Good Conduct Medal with Star, Philippine
Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine
Defense Medal with three battle stars,
K’ang Chan-nien Chang (Chinese War
Memorial Medal for Service in China),
Asiatic Theater, China Service, American
Defense U.S. Combat and victory medals;
the Armed Forces Expeditionary Ribbon
and the American Campaign Ribbon; and
Sharpshooter for Rifle and Pistol.
After his military service, Sgt. King
attended Texas Christian University in Fort
Worth and obtained a B.A. in journalism.
He was a member of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, American Defenders of
Bataan and Corregidor, Marine Corps
League, Veterans of the OSS, Military
Order of the Purple Heart, Society of
Professional Journalists and friends in high
places club.
He was a broadcast journalist for 25
years. Some of the major stories he covered was the airline hijacking at El Paso in
1960, the Kennedy assassination and Jack
Ruby’s shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald
and subsequent trial. He also wrote the
book “Alamo of the Pacific,” which tells the
story of the famed “China Marines” on
Bataan and Corregidor and what they did
to the enemy as POWs.
Survivors are: Loving wife of 35 years,
Peggy King; daughter, Karen S. Noah;
grandsons, James A. Noah and Thomas
B. Noah; great-granddaughter, Myranda
Thi Newman-Noah; and a host of friends
and extended family members who will all
miss him dearly.
————————
John Miehel
Captain John Miehel, USNR, USNA ’39,
died May 26, 2004. He was buried in
Arlington National Cemetery June 22,
2004.
————————
John Tillman Nelson
John Tillman Nelson, 82, beloved husband, father, and brother died at his home
in Indialantic, Florida, on June 23, 2005.
John was born on January 23, 1923, in
Jacksonville, Florida, to John Henry and
Caroline “Lessie” Nelson and grew up in
the Titusville area. At the age of sixteen he
joined the Army in December 1941. He
served with distinction as an anti-aircraft
gunner in Battery M of the 60th Coast
Artillery and was twice wounded in action.
Taken prisoner by the Japanese on
Corregidor Island when they overran the
Philippines in May of 1942, he remained a
Prisoner of War for three and a half years.
During those years he suffered from
malnutrition, disease, and beatings. In
addition, as a slave laborer in a Mitsubishi
copper mine in Hanawa, Japan, he was
forced to weld without eye protection. As a
result, he lost total vision in both eyes. He
never complained about his fate and had
the courage to forgive his torturers. John
was liberated in August of 1945 and was
awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the
Purple Heart for wounds, the Prisoner of
War, Good Conduct and eight other
victory and campaign medals from the
United States and Philippine Govern ments. In 1946 he married Marjorie Mary
Wallace, originally from Connecticut,
where he met her while undergoing rehabilitation. They have one son, James of
Burlingame, Kansas, and three daughters,
Austin and Marjorie Nelson of Melbourne,
Florida, and Susanne Andrews of Burlington, Conn., all of whom survive him.
John worked for the Fuller Brush
Company in Hartford, Connecticut, for 27
years and retired to Indialantic, Florida in
1978. Although sightless, among many
other things, he was a great cook, car
mechanic, bowler, guitarist, and for many
years could mow his lawn without missing
a beat. John was a true American hero to
both his family and to his many friends.
Any ADBC members who knew John
and are willing to share stories of their time
with him are encouraged to contact his
son: E-mail: [email protected].
————————
Owen B. Pickle
Owen B. Pickle, of Florissant, MO, died
Thursday, July 28. He was born August 25,
1922 in LaFollette, Tennessee. He left high
school in 1940 to enlist in the Army Air
Corps to serve in World War II. His unit,
27th Bomb Group, fell in the infamous
American loss of the Philippines at Bataan
Peninsula. The unit was transformed from
an aviation support group to light infantry,
but had little supplies or equipment.
Starvation rations caused Mr. Pickle’s
weight to drop from 115 to 70 pounds.
Equipment provided included 1916 British
Enfield Models with worn out barrels for
their large guns which did not have sufficient range. Injured and captured during
the defense of Bataan, Mr. Pickle was hospitalized in Cabcabin Hospital, which was
surrounded by Japanese guns firing at
Corregidor. He survived the defense of
Bataan, survived the transport to Fukuoka,
Japan by “Hell Ship” Nissyo Maru, and survived slavery in a Japanese steel mill. He
was a Japanese Prisoner of War for forty
months. After WWII, Mr. Pickle attended
business college and reentered the Army
with a commission in January 1949. He
subsequently served in the Korean War,
was active duty during the Vietnam Era,
and retired as a Major in 1963.
During his service career, he received
many awards and commendations, including: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart, POW Medal, Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal,
Army Occupation Medal — Japan, Korean
Service Medal with one silver and one
bronze star, Philippine Defense Ribbon,
Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Philippine
Independence Ribbon, United Nations
Service Medal, bars representing five
years and six months overseas wartime
service.
Mr. Pickle lived an active life in
LaFollette and Florissant until his death.
He regularly attended reunions of the 27th
(Continued on Page 22)
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 21
(Continued from Page 21)
Bomb Group. He was a lifetime member of
the American Defenders of Bataan &
Corregidor, member of VFW #4105,
LaFollette Lodge #623 F&AM, Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry — St. Louis, Moolah
Shriners — St. Louis, and the Greater St.
Louis Chapter, Missouri American
Ex-POWs (Past Commander).
Survivors include his wife of 56 years,
Thelma Louise Shrum Pickle; daughters
Judy Stewart and Linda Jablonski; sons
Frank and Stephen Pickle; brother Roy
Pickle; sisters Delphia Ann Moore,
Barbara Jo Carroll, Elizabeth Dake; 14
grandchildren and three great grand children. He was preceded in death by one
son, Carl Owen Pickle; one grand daughter, Amanda Marie Jablonski; sisters
Frankie June Pickle and Katherine Parrott,
and brothers Gordon and John Pickle.
————————
Robert Ping
Robert Ping, 83, of Fort Wayne, died
Monday, July 11, 2005 at Lutheran
Hospital. Born in Malden, MO., he joined
the Navy in 1940 and received the Bronze
Star and two Purple Heart Medals for his
service in the Pacific. He spent three years
and nine months as a Japanese Prisoner
of War. After World War II, he continued
his Naval service in the Naval Reserves
for a total of 42 years. A Journeyman
Bookbinder by trade, he worked in the
management level in Fort Wayne, Chicago
and St. Louis. He was a member of
Aldersgate United Methodist Church. He
was also a member of Masonic Summit
City Lodge, Mizpah Shrine, IOOF
Harmony Lodge, Old Fort Chapter
American Ex-Prisoners of War, the
American Legion, and the Disabled
American Veterans.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife,
Elaine; five children, Myra Ping Williams,
Marshall Ping, Marva Moore, Marian Ping
and Michael Ping; and four grandchildren.
Services were held at 11 a.m. at
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 2417
Getz Road, with calling one hour before
the service. Memorials may be directed to
the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
————————
Robert L. Renfro
Robert L. Renfro, 84, a retired U.S. Air
Force chief master sergeant, passed away
Saturday, July 2, 2005, in Fort Worth.
The funeral was at Altamesa Church of
Christ. Burial was at Laurel Land Memorial
Park.
Memorial donations may be made to the
church to the Senior Citizens Group, in
care of Jim Robertson.
Robert was born July 21, 1920, near
Atoka, Okla. His family moved to Texas
when he was 2 years old and he grew up
in Henrietta.
22 — THE QUAN
He graduated from high school in 1938
and joined the Army Air Corps in 1939.
Robert went to the Philippines in 1940
and was captured May 10, 1942, on the
island of Mindanao by the Japanese. As a
POW, he spent three and a half years as a
slave laborer in Japan.
After he returned, he married Eloise
Hefley of Henrietta May 30, 1946.
They celebrated their 59th wedding
anniversary during his hospital stay.
He served during World War II and the
Korean War. Robert received the American
Soldiers’ Medal, Bronze Star, two Purple
Hearts, plus many other distinctions.
Robert was truly a patriotic American.
He loved his Lord, family and his country.
He had been a member of Altamesa
Church of Christ since 1974, when he and
Eloise moved to Fort Worth to spend their
retirement years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Eloise
Renfro; son, Mark Renfro; brother,
Raymond Renfro; sister, Billie Lou
Gillespie; four cousins; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
————————
Ruth M. Stoltz
Retired Army Lt. Col. Ruth M. Stoltz, 90,
Tampa, and formerly of Bradenton, died
June 22, 2005, at Brighton Gardens of
Tampa Nursing Home.
She was born October 13, 1914, in
Dayton, Ohio, and came to Bradenton
from there in 1962. She retired after 22
years in the Army and had been a nurse
who spent three years as a prisoner of war
in the Philippines during World War II. She
was a member of Christ Episcopal Church,
Bradenton.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at Christ
Episcopal Church, Bradenton. Toale
Brothers Funeral Home, Bradenton
Chapel, was in charge.
————————
Juan A. Trujillo
With his loving family surrounding him,
Juan A. Trujillo, 88, of Las Vegas passed
away Saturday, May 7, 2005, and has
gone home to be with the Lord. A beloved
husband, dad, grandfather and friend,
Trujillo was born in Trujillo, NM on June
16, 1916 to the union of Santigo Trujillo
and Anna Sena Trujillo who also precede
him in death.
Trujillo left his home at a young age in
response to the call and need of his country, which resulted in his capture and participation in the Bataan Death March. As a
prisoner of the Japanese Imperial Army,
he survived unspoken atrocities, pain and
suffering for over four years. After his liberation, he returned to New Mexico, met and
married his surviving spouse of 59 years,
Helen Baca Trujillo of the family home; his
children Viola Trujillo, Chris Trujillo, and
Edwina.
Trujillo will surely be missed. A true gentleman, his acknowledgement of meeting
someone always commenced with either a
tip or complete removal of his hat. His
availability, concern, love, and respect for
his comrades of the Bataan Death March
was never ending.
Honorably discharged as a Corporal in
the U.S. Army, he was taken as a Prisoner
of War by the Japanese Army on April 9,
1942, and was liberated on August 18,
1946. For his service, he was awarded the
following honors: Purple Heart, Asiatic
Pacific Campaign Ribbon with one bronze
star, Philippine Defense Ribbon with one
bronze star, Distinguished Unit Badge,
Victory Ribbon, one Service Stripe, eight
overseas Service Bars and a Good
Conduct Medal.
————————
Rev. Odis E. Vinesett
Rev. Odis Everett Vinesett, 85, of 1840
N. Limestone St., loving father, devoted
grandfather and great-grandfather, went
home to be with his Lord on Thursday,
August 4, 2005.
A native of Cherokee County, Rev.
Vinesett was the son of the late Oren and
Dollie Vinesett. He was the widower of
Virginia (Ginny) Pritchard Vinesett.
A veteran of World War II, he was captured by the Japanese on May 6, 1942,
and held a Prisoner of War from
September 6, 1942-1945, being forced to
work as a slave laborer for three years and
four months in Kawaski Steel Mill. Finally
being liberated on September 6, 1945, he
re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1946.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force on
August 1, 1966, and began work as a
Juvenile Detention Officer in Savannah,
Ga. He was a lifetime member of Disabled
Veterans Jack E. Daniel Chapter 54, serving as chaplain, and Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 3447. On May 30, 1991, he
was inducted into the Cherokee County
Hall of Bravery.
Rev. Vinesett’s service in the Lord’s
army began as a graduate of Fruitland
Bible Institute. He became licensed to
preach at Victory Drive Baptist Church in
Savannah on June 15, 1961. He was
ordained as pastor for Montgomery Bonna
Bella Baptist Church on August 27, 1967.
He was then called as associate pastor for
Northside Baptist Church in Gaffney on
July 4, 1972. He retired on December 31,
1995, due to health reasons but remained
a faithful servant and dedicated church
member.
He is survived by two sons, Jack
Vinesett of Fisher, Minn., and Jerry
Vinesett of Lakeland, Fla.; three daughters, Deborah Ellis, Connie Hardison and
son-in-law, John Hardison, and Carol
Vinesett, all of Gaffney; stepmother, Mary
W. Vinesett of Gaffney; six grandchildren
and seven great-grandchildren.
(Continued on Page 23)
(Continued from Page 22)
In addition to his wife, mother and father,
he was preceded in death by a son, James
Vinesett; a daughter, Dolly Thompson; and
a granddaughter, Dede Ellis.
God and Country Services were held
Sunday, August 7, at Northside Baptist
Church conducted by Dr. Edward McAbee
and the Rev. Vernon Mullinax. Interment
followed in Frederick Memorial Gardens
with full military rites conducted by the
South Carolina State Guard.
Honorary pallbearers will be Disabled
Veterans Chapter 54 and Veteran of foreign Wars Post 3447.
Visitation was held at Shuford-Hatcher
Funeral Home, 211 E. Frederick St.
————————
Donald Thomas
Donald H. Thomas, 83, of Winterset
died July 8, 2005, at Madison County
Memorial Hospital in Winterset.
Funeral services were held Tuesday,
July 12 at the First United Methodist
Church in Winterset with pastor Bobb
Barrick officiating. Burial was at Winterset
Cemetery with military rites performed by
American Legion Post 184 and V.F.W.
Post 8142, both of Winterset.
Don Thomas was born September 19,
1921, to Harry M. and Alice, M.
(McKeever) Thomas of Macksburg. He
was a graduate of Macksburg High School
and Central College and received his master’s degree from Drake University. On
August 8, 1947, he married M. Jean
Dingeman at Central College in Pella.
Don, a lifetime Madison County resident,
had been an art teacher in the Winterset
Community School District from 1950 until
his retirement in 1983. Active in the community, he was a founder and past chairperson for the Winterset Art Center and
helped form and serve on the George
Washington Carver Memorial Corporation,
which raised money and developed the
Carver Park. He also designed the large
stone Winterset sign located on the north
edge of town. Don was a member of
American Legion Post 184, V.F.W. Post
Deceased —
No Details
8142, American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, Friends of the Winterset Public
Library, Winterset Alumni Association and
the Winterset First United Methodist
Church. A Marine Corps veteran, he was a
POW for three and one-half years during
World War II.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, of
Winterset; one daughter, DeLynn Thomas;
one son, Craig Thomas; two sisters, Doris
Blank and Shirlee Harris; and three grandchildren and one great-grandson.
————————
Norman P. Ward
Norman “Pat” P. Ward, 85, of Enfield,
formerly of Manchester of 33 years,
beloved husband of Leslie (Lougee) Ward,
passed away peacefully on Friday, May
27, 2005 at Manchester Memorial
Hospital. Pat was born March 20, 1920 in
Cambridge, MA the son of the late Richard
and Elsie (Patten) Ward.
Pat was raised in Plainfield. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Army Signal
Corps (228th Signal Operations) and was
stationed in the Philippines as a radio
transmitter attendant, attached directly to
General MacArthur on Corregidor at the
onset of World War II in the Pacific. After
surviving the fall of Bataan & Corregidor,
he was held as a Prisoner of War by the
Japanese for 42 months in the Philippines
and Japan. Among his many awards were
two Bronze Stars and three Presidential
Unit Citations.
Returning to Connecticut after the war,
Norman worked for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.
He attained his BS degree in Engineering
from the University of Hartford and an MBA
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Pat
retired from Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in 1987
after 38 years as a Senior Technical Writer
having written maintenance and repair
manuals for the engines of the SR-71
Blackbird. Pat was a life member of the
Disabled American Veterans, a member of
the ARRL (American Radio Relay League),
American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor
and the American Ex-POWs.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 34
years, Leslie (Lougee) Ward; his son,
Mrs. Bruce Harcus
3840 Pinewood Terrace
Falls Church, VA 22041-1215
Robert C. Allen
45-201 Nohonani
Kaneohe, HI 96744-5327
Mrs. Elinore Kleeman
615 Walnut St.
Ashland, PA 17921
Mrs. Maxine Farmer
3301 South Halderman
Artesia, NM 88210
Col. Doris A. Kehoe, USAF, Ret.
3827 Linkwood Dr.
Houston, TX 77025-3519
Angel Florentino
129 Guadalupe MB SUB
Caloocan City 1400
Leonard L. Merchant
13610 McDonnell
Moreno Valley, CA 92553-8469
Roy L. Goettle
103 14th Street
Wheeling, WV 26003-3401
Velma Neighbors
925 Woldfield St.
Lancaster, CA 93534-3422
Christopher R. Ward and his wife, Jennifer
of Manchester; his grandchildren, Kayla
and Dylan Ward; a sister, Elsie M. Dodge
of Plainfield; sisters-in-law, Gertrude Ward,
Candice (Lougee) Bell and her husband,
Dr. Jerold Bell, Karyl Lougee; his faithful
companion, “Katie” his dog; several loving
nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by a brother, George William “Bill”
Ward.
A funeral service celebrating Pat’s life
was held on Tuesday, May 31, at 6 p.m. at
the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61
South Rd., Enfield. A military service was
rendered immediately following the funeral
service at the funeral home. The burial
was at the convenience of the family. Pat’s
family received relatives and friends during
visiting hours on Tuesday, May 31, at the
Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels. Memorial
donations in Norman’s memory may be
made to the charity of one’s choice. For
expressions
of
sympathy
visit
www.leetestevens.com.
————————
George L. Yakopcic
George L. Yakopcic, age 85, of
Whitehall, passed away on September 16,
2005. He was the husband of Mildred P.
(Plevel) Yakopcic of 56 years; father of
George K. (Rose) Yakopcic, Karla (Jeff)
Blunier; grandfather of Christopher
Yakopcic, Nicholas and Alexander Blunier.
Visitation was at the Jefferson Memorial
Funeral Home, Inc., 301 Curry Hollow Rd.,
Pleasant Hills. Mass of Christian Burial
was celebrated at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Church. Interment was at Jefferson
Memorial Park.
————————
Elsie Ann Winter
Elsie Ann Winter, 79, of San Diego, died
May 23. She was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa
on May 31, 1926, and was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Richard
Winter; daughter, Joan Grauerholz; sons,
Richard Winter, Jr. and Theodore Winter;
four grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.
Harold Newton
Rt. #2 Box 3040B
21305 Old Town Road
Tehachapi, CA 93561-8838
Orval L. Simpson
1319 Lanse Aux Pailles Rd.
Ville Platte, LA 70586-6815
Albert M. Shuman
64 High St.
Woodbridge, NJ 07095-3018
Joseph P. Warren
27 N. Michigan Street
Redlands, CA 92373-4629
Richard E. Paget
820 N. 72nd Place
Scottsdale, AZ 85257-4205
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 23
Quans Returned —
Bad Addresses
Mrs. Eleanor Amoroso
101 S. Hills Drive
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-9551
Myles Abad Cables
10804 Lakeview Ave., S.W.
Tacoma, WA 98499-4225
Robert Dertz
6655 Robinwood Drive
Franklin, WI 53132
Benjamin S. Escano
221 18th Ave., South #214
Seattle, WA 98144-2140
Mrs. Verna Ferrari
9053 Lone pine
Shelby Township, MI 48317-1445
Capt. Florentino L. Galang, Ret.
105 E T St.
LFO Don Senior Apt. 206
Wilmington, CA 90744
Benjamin S. Gill
209 Burns Street
Charlevoix, MI 49720
Mrs. Jennie Johannsen
28570 Thone Road
Rock Falls, IL 61071-9234
Mrs. Theresa Johnson
1327 State Rt. 8
West Edmeston, NY 13485-9668
Fred E. Koenig
4064 Linda Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056-4349
Arthur L. Laffoon
15 Pearl St.
Denver, CO 80203-4108
Mr. Frank G. Martin
Rt. #5 Box 216DD
Santa Fe, NM 87501
John MacAdoff, Capt. USA Ret.
P.O. Box 956
Barboursville, WV 25504-2956
Bob Paradise
24 Las Posas Rd., Apt. 231
Camarillo, CA 93010-2789
Stan Patrick
16455 E. Ave. of the Fountains
#A107
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268-8466
Jean Roster
417 Scott Avenue
Jacksonville, NC 28546-7247
Ms. Linda Ruszczyk
126 Waite Street
Howell, NJ 07731-1229
Mrs. Meda Rutz
1393 Clinton Street
Aurora, CO 80010-3114
Kenneth B. Thomson
101 Southall Lane, Ste. 400
Maitland, FL 32751
24 — THE QUAN
Tentative Schedule
Phoenix, Arizona
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
7:00 PM-11:00 PM
Hospitality Host Bar
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
8:00 AM
9:00 AM- 3:00 PM
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
2:00 PM- 4:00 PM
7:00 PM-11:00 PM
Church Service
Registration
Executive Board Meeting
Membership Meeting
Hospitality Host Bar
Thursday, May 18, 2006
8:00 AM
9:00 AM- 3:00 PM
7:00 PM-11:00 PM
Church Service
Registration
Hospitality Host Bar
Friday, May 19, 2006
8:00 AM
9:00 AM- 3:00 PM
12:00 PM
7:00 PM-11:00 PM
Church Service
Registration
Widows Luncheon
Quan Party & Dance Host Bar
Saturday, May 20, 2006
8:00 AM
10:00 AM-11:30 AM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM
Church Service
Memorial Service
Head Table Reception
Banquet
You need a seat assignment when you register so we know how many dinners to order.
There will be some unit activities we will publish when arrangements are made.
————————
Navy and Marine Corps WWII POWs
May be Eligible for Back Pay
The window for applications has been extended until January 10, 2007
A number of Sailors and Marines who were held as prisoners of war (POW) during
World War II (WWII) are authorized to receive promotion back pay under the provisions
of the fiscal year 2001 (FY ’01) Floyd D. Spence Defense Authorization Act. The act
provides for those who were selected for promotion but not available to accept the
promotion because of their internment. The authorization enacted in FY ’01 will expire
January 10, 2007.
Only Navy and Marine Corps POWs held during WWII, December 7, 1941 to
December 31, 1946, are eligible. If the service member is deceased, the surviving
spouse is entitled to the back pay. The amount of back pay will be determined using
the amount the member would have been paid, calculated using WWII pay rates and
not adjusted for inflation.
Department of the Navy will determine eligibility for back pay by researching each
individual’s request. This will include obtaining and reviewing the member’s archived
personnel and pay records.
Applications postmarked before January 10, 2007 will be processed. Navy
personnel should send applications to:
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Attn: World War II POW Back Pay (PERS-675)
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-6200
Marine applications should be sent to:
Headquarters, USMC
2 Navy Annex, RFL-F7
Washington, DC 20380-1775
Additional information regarding the program and application procedures may be
obtained by calling (866) 827-5672 ext. 4410. USMC point of contact can be reached at
(866) 472-7139. An application can be downloaded from Shift Colors website at
www.npc.navy.mil/Reference Library/Publications/ShiftColors, look for the link ‘WWII
POW Back Pay Application’.
“Goin’ Back: Bataan and Corregidor”
(to benefit the HELL SHIP MEMORIAL)
Copies of the Discovery Channel film, “Goin’ Back: Bataan and Corregidor” are now available for purchase. The film, presented by
Dark Horse Media International, and shown on Discovery Channel’s Military Channel in May 2005, is 50 minutes long and is an
excellent summary of the Bataan and Corregidor combat as well as the WWII POW experience in the Philippines from 1941-1945. In
this it features both surviving POW’s as well as several descendants who made the return trip in January 2004.
“Goin” Back: Bataan and Corregidor”
DVD
“Goin Back: Bataan and Corregidor”
VHS tape
$30.00
Father Found book by Duane Heisinger and
DVD
50.00
Father Found book by Duane Heisinger and
VHS tape
50.00
30.00
Please circle your preference and return this form with your payment. Make checks payable to: Duane Heisinger
Mail all orders to:
Pat Henderson
1729 NW Greenbrier Way
Seattle, WA 98177
206-782-1651
[email protected]
Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone number or e-mail address: ______________________________________________________________________________
Above prices include postage via media mail. All monies, less mail and the minimum DVD/VHS reproduction costs (through Dark
Horse Media International) will benefit the HELL SHIPS MEMORIAL project which will be dedicated in Subic Bay in January 2006.
The War Years — World War II
December 8, 1941! We were told Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese
around one o’clock in the morning. There was much excitement — our planes taking
off, men reporting to duty stations, and preparations for war. The radio said that Clark
Field was bombed, but we had not seen any Japanese yet. I was having dinner when
the Japanese planes did come, the time 12:50. I ran outside, looked up at the formation
of bombers and saw the first bomb land on the officers’ quarters. Then darkness.
I awoke in the morgue at Fort Stotsenberg! Going back to my duty station I saw
Robert Endres and he turned as white as a sheet. He said, “Bergbower, you’re dead!”.
He had taken me to the hospital where I was pronounced dead. I had a very sore head
for several days from shrapnel.
During the week that followed, I made three flights in a Martin B-19, a two engine
aircraft. We did not see any enemy aircraft on the first two flights, but on the third
mission we dropped a bomb close to a Japanese war ship, but no hit.
I received permission to go back to Rosales to gather my possessions. I hitched a
ride on an Army truck. The truck driver said he would pick me up on his way back from
Baguio. After waiting three days, I became very concerned. A troop of the 26th cavalry
came by and seeing me told me I had better leave Rosales. The Japanese were just a
few miles behind them. He offered me one of their extra horses. So, I fought with the
cavalry from Rosales to Bataan. Food was so scarce that they used our horses and
mules for food.
I found out that my squadron was on Mindanao. There were three Filipino scouts
going back home to Mindanao. They asked me to go along. Our boat was a native
outrigger, one sail and oars. I was very scary to be so close to the water and often
times not able to see land. We made Mindanao and I rejoined my squadron on infantry
duty on the Pulangi river.
So now I have served in the Army Air Corp, the 26th Cavalry, and the Infantry.
Next, I was asked to be a messenger carrier between headquarters at Del Monte
and the Davao front. They had an Army Harley motorcycle 45 for me to use. The roads
were mostly dirt, some gravel but full of holes. I made four trips as a carrier.
On another trip into the interior of Mindanao I came across a Japanese patrol. The
officer spoke English and told me my General had surrendered all the troops in the
islands. I stayed with the Japanese patrol until we reached Malaybalay, a prison camp.
My squadron was already there.
Next issue will be the POW Years.
Harold A. Bergbower
Many Thanks
American Defenders of Bataan &
Corregidor Inc. — Thank you very much
for all you have done to insure our
freedom here in the United States.
I’m looking for George Kaiser who lived
across the street from me and my 4 brothers and 3 sisters. George was an orphan
who lived at 288 or 286 East 43rd Street,
Brooklyn, NY. George lived with Matty
Murphy (my godfather) and enlisted prior
to the start of WWII. George was stationed in the Philippines when the Japs
attacked.
When he returned, George said that he
fought in Bataan and later swam across
to Corregidor where they eventually surrendered. George said he was in a
Japanese prison near Nagasaki.
We called George “Georgie Kosher” but
I believe his real last name was Kaiser.
My brother, Joe, and I who are still living
from our family, would very much like to
contact him if he is still living or send a
mass card and pray for him if he is
deceased.
I am a totally disabled Army veteran
from the Korean War and attend PTSD
sessions at Ft. Dix with Tom Calderone
who is a Bataan & Corregidor survivor.
Tom suggested I write to you.
Thank you very much.
Jim Williams
108 Berwick St.
Whiting, NJ 08759
Tel. # (732) 350-3250
Editor’s Note: Please call this man if you
can help.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 25
Memories of Kindness
(Continued from Page 14)
The Filipinos risked their lives to save the prisoners and
defeat the Japanese.
Francies, 87, took his latest trip recently, attending a ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the Philippines liberation.
The slim, blue-eyed vet marches yearly in Memorial Day
parades and gives a slide show about his ordeal to students
and civic groups. He also spoke twice daily during last year’s
opening of the U.S. World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The death-march survivors are making a last stand. An
estimated 60,000 of the 70,000 American and Filipino troops
survived the ordeal, but only 200 were still alive last year,
according to the military newspaper Stars & Stripes.
Francies enlisted in the Army in 1937 and was assigned to
fix radios and telephones with the 228th Signal Operations
Corps. After Pearl Harbor, Washington sent few supplies or reinforcements to the Philippines, which fell to Japanese invaders
after a retreat to the Bataan peninsula.
During the march, already undernourished prisoners were
held in a camp for three days and marched for 11, in brutal
sunshine with little water and no food. Locals tried to throw
them food wrapped in banana leaves. The Japanese ordered
them to stop — and killed some who continued.
Many soldiers grew too weak to walk. The rest were too
weak to carry them.
“They would fall by the side of the road, only to be shot, but
more often bayoneted,” Francies said. “There was nothing, nothing we could do but to look straight ahead and keep on walking.”
Francies finally sneaked into bushes and collapsed. A
Japanese medic secretly gave him a shot that revived him.
The prisoners walked about 55 miles, rode awhile in airless
railroad cattle cars, then marched a few more miles. Francies
was too weak to remember the second walk.
The prisoners finally reached Camp O’Donnell. The
commandant said, “Forget you have names, forget you have
parents, wives and children. Your loved ones no longer care,”
Francies recalled.
The prisoners finally got a little food — wormy, watery rice
referred to as wallpaper paste. Many were tortured. Some
were beaten or stuck in tiny cages. Others, including Francies,
had to bury comrades who were unconscious but not yet dead.
When some prisoners escaped, Francies and others were
interrogated and threatened on a firing line for six hours.
Soon he got better work fixing radios — or mostly sabotaging them and smuggling parts to the Philippine resistance.
Francies endured dysentery, malaria and two cases of
appendicitis, only one of them treated by a POW medic. He
lost about a third of his 160 pounds.
He eventually survived a crammed voyage to Japan and
worked at a copper mine that was hidden in the hills.
When the commander finally announced the war’s end, the
prisoners quickly painted “500 POWs” in yellow on the camp
roof. Then they experienced a little of what they had missed in
three years — a B-29 Superfortress swooped overhead and
dropped something called penicillin.
“Penicillin?” the prisoners painted on the roof. A plane
dropped off instructions the next day.
After the war, Francies spent several months in veterans
hospitals. He said many of his countrymen refused to believe
stories of Japanese torture.
No group of men could have been treated that badly, they
scoffed.
Francies eventually recovered his health and used his electronic skills for 35 years installing telephones.
He first returned to the Philippines in 1982, during the 40th
anniversary of the nation’s fall. He went again in 1997 and in
each of the past four years, sometimes with his two daughters
or with friends. He travels with Valor Tours, a San Francisco
business.
26 — THE QUAN
The company’s Vicki Middagh says he is her last customer
from among death-march survivors.
“They’re just getting too old to travel,” Middagh said. “But
the sons and daughters and now the grandkids are taking over
for them.”
Francies plans to keep going “as long as my health holds
up and my cash holds up.”
At home, he keeps busy with the Kiwanis and veterans
groups. He walks regularly and audits classes at Cleveland
State University.
Francies hates how the United States has turned the tables
lately, holding untold numbers of prisoners indefinitely and
apparently torturing some.
“It just bring us down to Japan’s level,” he said.
Many elderly veterans warn youngsters to be prepared for
war. Francies wants them to be open to peace.
“Nobody wins a war,” he said.
————————
Conduct Under Fire: Four American
Doctors and Their Fight for Life as
Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945
By John Glusman
Reviewer: Jeffrey T. Munson (Dixon, IL)
Author John A. Glusman has written a masterful book
about the horrible conditions Allied POWs faced as prisoners
of the Japanese. In particular, this book concentrates on the
lives of four American doctors; Lt. George Ferguson, Lt. Fred
Berley, Lt. John Jacob Bookman, and Lt. Murray Glusman. All
were stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked
shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
After enduring the defeat of Bataan, and later Corregidor,
some 78,000 American and Filipino POWs were forced to
march over seventy miles in what became known as the
Bataan Death March. For the next three and a half years,
Ferguson, Berley, Bookman, and Glusman were at the mercy
of their Japanese captors. Food and water rations were virtually nonexistent, beatings were barbaric, and the doctors did the
best they could to help the sick and wounded with virtually no
medical supplies at all.
Eventually, the doctors were loaded aboard Japanese “Hell
Ships”; overcrowded freighters converted into ships to carry
POWs to mainland Japan. The conditions on the ships were
worse than in the camps. Men were placed in vastly overcrowded and stifling holds, given virtually no food or water, and
were unable to even lie down due to the crowding. But the
greatest fear faced by the POWs was attack by American
submarines. Once torpedoed, the Japanese were known to
machine gun the surviving POWs in the water. Indeed, George
Ferguson died when the ship he was on was torpedoed.
Once in Japan, the remaining three doctors were once
again placed in concentration camps where they tended the
wounded and sick. But as time wore on, they soon began to
see hundreds of American B-29 bombers winging above them.
They surmised that the Americans must be close to winning
the war. However, they still had to endure the firebomb raids of
Kobe and Osaka that virtually destroyed cities. However, after
the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of
1945, the Japanese finally surrendered, and John, Murray, and
Fred were finally able to return home.
This is a spectacular book. John Glusman does an excellent
job of describing the fall of the Philippines, the Bataan Death
March, and the atrocities that the POWs faced at the hands of
the Japanese. My favorite part of the book was the extremely
vivid description of the firebombing raids on Japan in the spring
of 1945. I give this book my highest recommendation. Read and
see how four ordinary men from the heartland of the United
States managed to survive against a brutal and unforgiving
enemy.
Pre-Convention Registration
Please read:
For the ADBC National Convention in Phoenix during May 16-20, 2006, we must have advance information concerning
each person that will attend. NOTE: At the last two ADBC National Conventions many people arrived at the convention
without having pre-registered. This causes severe problems as we plan for the convention. Please submit the requested
Pre-Convention Registration Forms so that we can reserve meeting and banquet rooms of adequate size, order the correct
number of banquet meals and print name tags in advance of the convention. Completed pre-registration forms should be
submitted NO LATER THAN three weeks prior to the convention. Your cooperation will greatly assist in making the Phoenix
Convention a happy occasion for all.
The top form is for ADBC Members and their guests. All others use the second form.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ADBC MEMBER — REGISTRATION CARD
(Please Print Legibly)
First Name: _________________________________ M.I.: ____ Last Name: _________________________________
Nickname: (Submit if you want it on Name Tag) _________________________________________________________
Street (or P.O. Box): ______________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________________ State: ________________ ZIP: _________________
Phone #: ( _____ ) _______________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
Your Unit in the P.I.: ______________________________________________________________________________
Name of one POW Camp to go on Name Tag: __________________________________________________________
List of persons attending with the member:
Full Name
Relationship
Attend Banquet Saturday night?
(Yes or No)
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Non-Member — REGISTRATION CARD
(Please Print Legibly)
(For use by Widows, Descendants and Others)
First Name: _________________________________ M.I.: ____ Last Name: _________________________________
Street (or P.O. Box): ______________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________________ State: ________________ ZIP: _________________
Phone #: ( _____ ) _______________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
Full Name of former POW Relative/Friend: _____________________________________________________________
Your relationship to the former POW: _________________________________________________________________
The former POW’s Unit in the P.I.: ___________________________________________________________________
List of persons attending with you:
Full Name
Relationship
Attend Banquet Saturday night?
(Yes or No)
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
_____________________________________________
_________________
____________________________
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Return to:
John B. Lewis
16415 Jersey Dr.
Houston, TX 77040
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 27
28 — THE QUAN
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
2006 Convention
May 17 - May 21, 2006
$79/Night plus tax
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availability basis only and may not be eligible for the special group
rate.
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Rates are subject to current occupancy tax (12.07%).
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processed and confirmed. Or a deposit of one night’s room and tax
may be made by check or money order and must accompany this
reservation form.
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PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM BY Friday, April 21, 2006 to:
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Fax: 602-375-4012
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 29
Display Honors
WWII Chaplain
By Chris Crytzer
Correspondent
At the Diocesan Pastoral Center in
Downtown Pittsburgh, visitors can view
two display cases that feature a World
War II chaplain’s Mass kit.
According to Ken White, director of the
Diocesan Archives and Records Center,
this Mass kit belonged to Father Herman
Baumann, who was a military chaplain
and prisoner of war during World War II.
He was born in Etna on November 30,
1908, and died May 25, 1990.
“We don’t know if it was the actual kit
he had in the prison camp or if it was a kit
issued to him after his release. Either
way, it shows the contents of the Mass
kits carried by priests during World War
II,” White said.
The display cases are in the first-floor
waiting room of the Pastoral Center, 111
Boulevard of the Allies. About the display,
Bishop Donald Wuerl said, “I am pleased
to see that Father Baumann is given welldeserved recognition for his ministry,
particularly as a chaplain during World
War II.”
When the diocese decided to establish
a waiting room at the Pastoral Center,
White said, “It was also decided to have
some display cases to exhibit items
reflecting the history of the diocese for
these visitors to look at while they were
waiting. There are five display cases, two
of which contain Father Baumann’s Mass
kit and supplies.”
Retired Aux. Bishop John McDowell
knew Father Baumann, saying, “He went
through terrible suffering as a captive of
the Japanese. He used to talk about it,
but not much … He preferred not to talk
about it. You could tell it had a very deep
impression in his life.”
Bishop McDowell said he never brought
up the war — out of respect — unless
Father Baumann did first.
The bishop recalled a time when he
told Father Baumann he was hungry. In
response, Father Baumann told him
about the incredible hunger pains he
experienced while in captivity, saying,
“You don’t know what hunger means.”
Bishop McDowell also remembered a
touching story Father Baumann told him.
“He befriended a Japanese guard and
they became very close. A lot of them did
it (served as guards) because they were
afraid of what would happen to them.
Every once in a while, this guard would
get them a piece of bread and some wine
to say Mass.”
In a speech Father Baumann delivered
on the “Way of Life” program that was
broadcast on WCAE, he was quoted as
saying, “I will never forget how interested
the Japanese guards were as we set up
the makeshift altar.”
30 — THE QUAN
Bishop McDowell said Father Baumann
was a wonderful person.
“I respected him so much. He was a
close friend.”
Prior to his death, Father Baumann was
pastor emeritus of St. Conrad in Meridian.
He became pastor at St. Conrad in 1961.
Father Baumann died at Vincentian Home
in McCandless Township following an
illness.
He was assigned to the U.S. forces in
Corregidor in the Philippines during World
War II, where he ministered to soldiers
while the island was under siege. Father
Baumann was captured by the Japanese
on May 6, 1942, when Corregidor surrendered. He was held prisoner for 40
months in the Philippines.
Father Baumann was awarded the
Silver Star, the Bronze Star,
Distinguished Achievement Award, the
Presidential Unit Citation and the Prisoner
of War Medal.
He attended All Saints School in Etna,
Duquesne Prep School, Duquesne
University and St. Vincent Seminary. He
was ordained a priest on June 16, 1935,
at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe by
Bishop Hugh Boyle.
Father Baumann served as assistant
pastor of St. Patrick in Pittsburgh’s Strip
District from 1935 until March 4, 1941,
when he left for active duty as an Army
chaplain.
After the war, he returned to serve at
St. Patrick until 1950. Father Baumann
then became assistant pastor at St.
Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in
Whitehall, where he stayed until 1953.
Then he became pastor of St. James in
New Bedford, where he served until 1955.
Father Baumann was assigned as
pastor of St. Joseph in Carnegie from 1955
until 1961. After his retirement from St.
Conrad, he lived in Meridian until 1988,
when he moved to St. John Vianney
Manor in Crafton, followed by Vincentian
Home.
See Picture Page 32
Protect Yourself with
a Flu Shot
By now, you’re probably aware of our
position on flu shots. Each year, we tell
about the importance of a flu shot, and we
encourage you to have one.
But last year, many of you were unable
to have a flu shot because of national
shortages of the vaccine. As a result, you
may be wondering if we’ve changed our
position on the flu shot.
Absolutely not. We still believe that the
flu shot is the best way to protect you
from a deadly virus.
Every year, the flu causes millions of
people to get sick. Some become very ill
and may even require emergency care.
The flu vaccine can help you avoid many
days of misery and can also help prevent
serious illness, such as pneumonia.
Getting a flu shot can also help you avoid
passing the flu on to someone else.
You can get a flu shot at either your
doctor’s office or one of the flu shot clinics
in the community. Ideally, we’d like you to
be vaccinated in October. But if you’re
unable to have the shot until November or
December, don’t worry. The shot will still
protect you during the months that the flu
is most prevalent.
If you received a flu shot last year, you
should receive a shot again this year
because the flu viruses change each
year. Also, ask your doctor if you should
receive the pneumonia shot. Most people
need to receive this shot only one time.
————————
Seeking Information
Dear Sir,
I was referred to you by Kelly M.
McGrath, daughter of James Merrill
McGrath. I am in search of three gentlemen that James McGrath referred to you
in a journal of his, regarding his experience as a POW in WWII from the
Philippines.
The names of the men I am trying to
get an address and/or phone number for
are: Hubert (Hugh) McGowen, Clyde
Huddelson and Al Gorsky.
Any help you may be able to give would
be much appreciated. If you have questions regarding this request, please call
Jonathan Smith at 360-598-4438.
Sincerely,
Jonathan O. Smith
6785 NE Madison Street
Suquamish, WA 98392
360-598-4438
By George …
“I’m no hero … I’m just an ordinary
man who tried to do his duty”
Those were the words of Wellsburg’s
Ed Jackfert as he spoke recently at the
celebration of the 60th anniversary of the
end of World War II.
The gathering of more than 100 people
at the Brooke County Library also were
celebrating “Edward Jackfert Day”.
Among those present were fellow POW’s
Joe Vater of McKees Rocks, PA, and
Abie Abraham of Butler, PA.
In today’s world anyone who can put a
basketball through a hoop or carry the
football better than others is called a
“hero”.
They’re not.
If Ed Jackfert, is not a hero then the
word has no meaning. I believe it should
be reserved for those who demonstrate
courage and fortitude; for those who
survive unimaginable physical and
emotional trauma in serving their fellow
man.
These men were among those taken
prisoner in 1941 as the Japanese Army
invaded the Philippine Islands. At the
time, the United States was totally committed to the war in Europe and was completely unprepared to fight on two fronts.
Tremendously outnumbered and lacking
adequate weapons, supplies, food and
medicines, the Allies were surrendered to
the invaders.
The Japanese came from a culture
where surrender was the ultimate humiliation; suicide by ‘hari-kari’ was far to be
preferred.
On the other hand, the upstart
Americans had a different approach to life
— when beaten down the goal is to
survive at all costs.
The American attitude toward captors
was “Take your best shot now, because
I’m gonna survive to fight another day and
I’m coming after you!”
General George S. Patton, Jr., was the
one who said, “No one ever won a war by
dying for his country. He won it by making
the other poor dumb bastard die for his
country.”
Surviving was the ultimate victory and
when “another day” came, the hammers
of hell fell on the Japanese and the rest is
history.
Sadly, the survivors of the “hell ships”
and Bataan “Death March” have been
abandoned again.
The treaty signed following the war
assured no apology nor compensation
would be sought by the Americans, even
through the legal system. This supposedly was to keep Japan from becoming a
communist state of the USSR and China.
School text books gloss over the
atrocities and few people today have
knowledge of the horrible treatment our
heroes endured. A recent discussion with
a local history teacher revealed to me that
even those who are educated are generally ignorant of the horrors.
Jackfert has been active in the American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, an
organization dedicated to seeking justice,
as two-time national commander.
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.
Video Available
(including any unit of force of the Asiatic Fleet,
Philippine Archipelago, Wake Island, Mariana Islands,
Midway Islands and Dutch East Indies. 12/7/41-5/10/42.
Secret War in the Pacific, the video that
tells the story of how one man helped organize and supply Philippine guerrillas
through submarine special missions.
Interesting Submarine, Bataan, Corregidor,
PT Boat and other WWII footage, plus
many interviews. Biography of Cmdr. Chick
Parsons by his son Peter; 53 minutes;
special section on the making of the video,
48 minutes.
$24.00 (includes postage and handling)
for either DVD or VHS (same content).
Check made out to Peter Parsons;
mail to:
Attention Dolores
6960 Magnolia Ave.; Suite 200
Riverside, CA 92506
[Also visit web site:chickparsons.com]
————————
For Dues:
Edward Jackfert, PNS
Nat’l. Treasurer
201 Hillcrest Dr.
Wellsburg, W.VA. 26070
304-737-1496
Life Membership — $25.00
Subscription — Quan — $25.00 Yr.
Fill in all Blanks
For Merchandise Sales:
Mrs. Jean Pruitt
109 Young Dr.
Sweetwater, TN 37874
Name (Please Print) _______________________________ Highest Rank _________________
Address __________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________ State __________ Zip Code ___________
Organization Complete Unit ________________________ Ser. No. ______________________
SS No. ____________________ Wife’s Name ___________ Tel. __________________________
Life ____ Pt. Life ____ Subscription ____ Last POW Camp ____________________________
Bo-Lo-Ties — W/Logo......................... 12.00 Tie Tacks............................................... 7.00
Belt Buckle Decal ................................. 4.00 Tie Bar .................................................. 7.00
License Plates....................................... 4.00 Decal — Window .................................. 2.00
Pins 3” X 2” ........................................... 6.00 Decal — W/Logo ................................... 2.00
Overseas Caps only sizes 67⁄8, 7.......... 28.00.....Caps, White W/Logo............................. 8.00
All items shipped require 15% postage
Information
Sorry to inform you of our Mother’s
death. Delphine (Dilly) David, widow of
Roy L. Davis (deceased 1996) passed
away on September 14, 2005 at her
home in Eugene, OR. She was born on
March 16, 1915 in Fowler, KS.
She is survived by 3 sons, 2 sisters, 9
grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren,
many nieces and nephews and many
close friends.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 2005 — 31
MOVING SOON?
Please let us know six weeks before you
move what your new address will be. Be
sure to supply us with both your old and
new address, including the address label
from your current issue. Copies we mail to
your old address will not be delivered by
the Post Office and we must pay 70 cents
for each returned Quan.
ATTACH OLD ADDRESS LABEL HERE
American Defenders of
Bataan & Corregidor, Inc.
18 Warbler Dr.
McKees Rocks, Pa. 15136
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Mail to:
JOSEPH A. VATER
Editor, the Quan
18 Warbler Drive
McKees Rocks, Pa. 15136
Please Identify
Can anyone who may have served with Fr. Baumann identify if this may be the Mass kit he had in POW Camp? See story on
Page 30.
The dipslay in the waiting room of the Diocesan Pastoral Center contains items that belonged to Father Herman Baumann,
who was a military chaplain and prisoner of war during World War II.
32 — THE QUAN