Packet 10 - The Japanese Story

91 Pages·2015·12.16 MB·English

ERICAN EX-POW
IONAL MEDICAL
1
ABOUTTH EC OMPILOEFTR H IPSA CKET
Stan Sommers, Nat'l Sr. Vice Commander and MedSearch Chairman of the American Ex­
Prisoners of War, Inc., is a survivor of Bataan and Corregidor during World War II.
He enlisted in the Navy in November, 1937, and was reported missing in action
aboard the minesweeper Finch, which was sunk off Corregidor in the Philippines early
in 1942 and he spent 3½ years in Japanese prison camps - 2½ years in the Philippines
and a year in Japan.
Stan served with the Naval Battalion on Bataan. The night Bataan surrendered he
escaped to Corregidor and fought with the 4th Marines.
His long Navy career ended with his retirement as chief-aviation-structural­
mechanic in 1958. His Navy service included assignments in Korea, the Berlin airlift,
the Suez Canal and Cuba.
While stationed at Alameda, Calif. he founded and was chairman of the first Sea
Scout unit there, and also coached national swimming teams for several year�. His
teams took second and third places in national competition in 1954 and 195�
During his final Navy tour he was leading chief of Fighter Squadron 43 and office
manager for Charles Conrad, N.A.S.A. Astronaut.
He married the former Margaret Nealis March 2, 1946.
MAPS & FOOD RATIONS BY FRANCE$ WORTHINGTON LIPE, MEDSEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBER
Mrs. Lipe, born 1929, daughter 0£ a regular army officer who served in the Orient
in both World War I and World War II. She is married to George Lipe and has four
children.
Trances received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Texas,
1951, in Horne Economics and Pre-School Education. She is the accountant of their
family business, Lipe Exxon.
Her devotion to historical studies led her to intensive study of her father's
writings from his experiences in World War II.
Frances accompanied her parents and brothers to the Philippine Islands in 1941, at
age 12. They were evacuated three months after arrival. Her father knew exactly what
would eventually take place and spent those three months taking his family over the
island of Luzon, explaining where and what would happen.
She returned to the Philippines for the 35th Bataan Day for a two week tour, met
old associates of her father and many new ex-POW friends who have inspired her re­
cent reading and research of conditions then.
©S taSno mmeJrus1l 9y8 0
141A0d lRedr
MarshWfiIe5 l4d4,4 9
J A CA
TEI IPANfES ST OR1SY V EVIT EVT O
NATIOSNEARLV IOCFEF ICER
AMERIECXA-NP RISOOFWN AERR
WHOG AVSEO M UCTHO H ELSPO M ANY
ANVT O
HEROCIHCA PLOAFIT NH E
PRISHOENL LSNHI1SPS MYAOR V
- A -
BATAAN CARA VAN
Ouolf B ataaanntd h jeu nHgellel , Thibse arwdreedtt chhef now ra tcerri ed,
Throcurgihm -fsioenwl hdescr oem rfaedlel A glistbeanyiopnnigee tr hcisesid d e!
Alotnhgde a rrlolas dt,a iwnietrdhe d It urnemdyh eafdr otmhb el oosdcye ne,
Lifbel'osfo rdo omu src attdeeraedd, BuIl ookbeadco kn cmeo roenh ifsa sceer ene,
Whofo ughatn sdt artvohe odlB da taan, Whedreea hdel aiynt hsec orcshainndg,
Movecda ptniovwie ncs a ravan. Thuc;a ptsilvaieinc n a ravan.
A carabvyFa ant per epared, Ouotf t hnei gwhitth ha untwianigl ,
Onj ourndeayrb hyf iednedcsl ared Hesro nigng riseofmn,ei tgihgn a le
Focra ptumreenwd h oDme ahlahsd p ared, SanignB alabnagtat,te orwend,
Tof etehlke n uckolfhe ebsro nhya nd, Nows ilbeunftto ,tr h eiesr sioeu nd;
Wheyne lltoywp horoancskB eadt aan, Whebrlea ckreunihenedsl e dm pthayn d,
Andc aptniovwie ncs a ravan. Focra ptsitvaerisvnc e adr avan.
Throwuignhd blmoowunn tadiener'pas v ine,S omseh elclhtuorricnnsh h adonwiegdh t,
Whelraely h sel anionyt,e s te rene, Besiwdheow sael tloas w atihtle i ght
Thabta yodnieidtnh atiem pale Oft hter odpaiwcon fa notdhaeyr,
Alosnogm dei spwuitneddti rnagi l, Menl adiodw tnh epiarc tkoss ,l eoerpp r ay;
Thanto we ndlseesesmi enbd u rnsianngd , Nows taravnetddh irswteianbryga ,n d,
'J'coa pthievrieencs a ravan. Thecsaep thievrieencs a ravan.
AtM arivwehleetrshe,re i vrearn , Int hmeo onloingt hhtha atu nstceedn e,
Thejroei ntehdaf tor ltoartnt,be arnedd Iw epftot rh set ragnagueanrnt,ld e an,
A bearsdterda hnigesey red,se spair, Andw itthhicenh urtcomh o uronul ro ss,
WnoImh asde ebnu,Gt o dk nowwsh ere. Ib ehetlhSdet raonngt ehCrer oss!
Ilaln sdt artvhiwinrsge tcmhaend, Themreyb, e arsdterda onfBg aetra an,
Toj oicnal pi vheesri enc aravan. Thcea ptsilvaieinc n a ravan.
A briwdagcser osisnte hdat to rHreildl , Sinogn cmeo rteh nei ghtingales,
Andt hesyt rhuictmkh ebrueat,sh ef ell Thesiorn ngoswl ovoenlm yo ontlriati ls;
Hiasr mosu tstraenthdce hc eldu,tt chhreea di l;A ndy eaprasos nsb ,u eta cnhi gihstte ems
OhG,o dh,ie sy easn,sd od eatphallye , Ir ettuornB ataiantn o rtudrrienagm s,
Asb leetdhienhrgeet ,r iteosd t and, Whetrhesi tsr asnmgiealrne tdsa kmey sh and,
Thicsal pi fveefl rlo cma ravan. Ai-Im arccahp ttihveiernc e a ravan.
by Charles Brown, M.D., Death March Physician.
Dr. Brown has since the ending of World War 11
helped hundreds of former prisoners of war with
their health and V.A. claim problems.
- B -
P.o.CwH.A PLAINS byS taSno mmers
Nog rouopfm ena rem orweo rtohfyp raiasnedh onofro rt heihre roidseme,fp a ith
andt heicro ncefronrt heifre llmoewnt hatnh eC haplawihnoss e rvweidt uhs i nt he
Pacifdiucr iWnogr lWda rI Ia ndw erien carcerbaytt heJeda paneLseetm. et elylo u
abouFta thSetranleRyeJi.l lCyh,a ploanit nh eH elSlh ip",M issMyaor ut"r,a nsporting
frotmh eP hilipptionJ easp an.
Ourj ournbeeyg ionnsa hotd ayJ,u ly4 ,1 944M,a nilPa.,I .w,h e9n0 0P .O.sW a.r'e
forciendt oon ec arghoo loef t hissh ipI.nt hissm alslp acwee& rel iteraclrluys jh ed
mansyu ffocaftriontmgh el acokf o xygeTnh.eJ apanaerseef inalkliyn adn dd iviudse
inttow og rouposn,eg rouipnt hef orwahrodl aen dt heo theirnt hea fth oleW.ea re
stilsloc rowdtehda mta nwyo ulndo tb ea blteo l ayd owfno r3 2d ayt rip.
Int hicso nditwieos nai flo Jra panO.n cae d ayw ea reg ivean c upo fc ookreidc e
witah f ewp otavtion easn d3 /4c anteceunpo fw ateOrn.e m ano nt hivso yaagcet ually
turnceadn niabnadld rantkh eb looodfh isv ictim.
Passitnhgr outghheF orn1Sotsraa iotusrc onviosya ttacbkyeA dm eriscuabnm arines.
Pictu4r5e0m eni no ned arhko l-e- thet opc overweidt who odpelna nwkist jhu setn ough
ofa no penitnhga wte c oulsde et hes kyr edf rotmh eb urnisnhgi pWse.h eatro rpedoes
hittitnhge itra rgeatnsde xplod-i-nwgew ond-e-rw ilwle b en ext?
Panitca keosv earn dt heriess houtainndgs cream-i-nsgo mgeo inogu t.o ft heir
mindwsi tfhe ar!
ThJea panegsuea rsdhso udto wtno u s- -ify oud on'cta ldmo wwne w ilcll osteh e
hatccho mplet-e-ilfyt hedyi dt hawte w oulsdu ffocfaotrse u reH.y stecroinat inues
thJea pg uarndoswt eluls - -quiedto wonr t hewyi luls eh angdr enaadnedsm achignuen
usl ikrea tsT.h iosn lmya dues w orse.
CHAPLSATIANN LJE.RY E ILrLoYs aen ds aiad p ray-e-rw ew ercea lm-e-rh et herne ­
citetsh er osa-r-yn owy ouc oulhde aar p ind rowph erjeu sbte fowraes p andemonium.
YesI, b eliewveeo weh imo url ives.
ChaplJaoihnKn . B ornemiann" ,F roBma taTahnr ouCgahb anat(uAapnr"1i 9l4 6w)r,i Les:
"Chaploafit nhseU nitSetda tAersm ayn dN avwyh op articipiantt heeds urrenod[ eoru r
forciensA prialn dM ayo f1 942 mighwte lhla vveo ictehde w ordosf S t.P auwlh icahr e
recoridneh di sS ecoLnedt tteort heC orinthiCahnasp,tI e,rv ers8e:' Fowre w ould
notb,r ethj rheanvyeo ui gnoroafno tu rt roubwlhei ccha mteo u si nA siat,h awte w ere
pressoeudto fm easuarbeo,v set rengitnhs,o mtuhcahwt e d espaierveedon f l ife'.
Thirty-tAhrrmaeyne d f ouNra vCyh aplawienrsae m ontgh osseu rrendteort ehdJe a pan
eseo;f t hes2�1w erReo maCna thoalnidc1 6P rotestaOnuttos ft. h itso taolf3 7, 20
havmea dteh es upresmaec rifice."
ChaplBaoirnn elmiasnt tehde n ameso[ 31 oft he3 7h er efertroe.dT heayr e:
REV, HERiC\.fB AANU MA,N·N, REVJ.O HKN. B ORNEMAN
REV. ALBEWR,TB RAU�N• .-Jr REVR.A LPWH. DB.R OWN
REV. RICHAER.CD A RBERRY REVA.R THVU.RC LEVELAND
REVW,I LLITA.CM U MMINGS REVJ.O HLN. C URRAN
REVM.O RREI.SD AY REVW.I LLIDAANW SON
SAMUAL E.
REV. DONALD REVC.A RWL. H AUSMAN
REVF.R EDERHIOCWKD EN REVH.U GFH. K ENNEDY
NAGEL
REVE.D WAJR.D REVJ.O SEVP.HL OFLEUR
REVM.c DONNEL REVF.R ANCMIcSM ANUS
REVE.U GEJN.E0 1KEEFE REVJ.A MESW .0 ' BRIEN
*'"*
REVA.L FRCE.DO LIVER REVS.T ANLJE.YR EILLY
REVT.H OMJA. SS CECINA REVAL.D ERT D, TALBOT
REVH.E RBETRRTU MP REVJ.O SEGP.HV ANDERHEIDEN
REVP.E RROY.W ILC-1O:X*i :-!r REVM.A THIE.A ZSE RFAS
REV. TIFFAi'lY
LESLEI.EZ IMMERMAN REV,
*�·***
REV. ROBEPR.TT AYLOR
Chaploafit nh eA meriDceafne ndoefrB sa ta&a Cno rregidor
HonorCahrayp loafit nh eA meriEcxa-nP risoonfWe arrs
WasC hieoffC haplaiPnhsil,i ppDienpea rtment.
WasC hieCfh aploaniCn o rregidor
RetirMeadj G.e n.f,o rmeCrhliye offC haplaiUn.sSA,.i rF orce.
- C -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to:
The Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield Wisconsin, who contributed the front cover and to
their artist, Mrs. Shirley Thompson, who illustrated the front cover showing her great
talent.
To my friend, Mr. Albert J. Zimmerman, Head Medical Librarian, Marshfield Cline, who
has directed me in my research and tolerated my constant inquiries.
To the Lower Rio Grande Chapter, .o\rnerican Ex-Prisoners of War, who contributed one
thousand dollars to the research of "The Japanese Story11 resulting in the POW Pacific
maps created by Mrs. Frances Lipe and "Food Rations During Combat & Captivity".
To PNC Harold and Virginia Page, International Coordinator, who have travelled
throughout the world gathering and exchanging POW research and are valued advisors.
To Nat'l Cmdr. Ralph Levenberg, .American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, and .Qf_.
Hark G. Herbst, Surgeon, both o[ whom gave of their knowledge.
To PNC Art Bressi, A�erican De(enders of Bataan & Corregidor, and his wife, Ann,
both of whom have given so much of themselves to help all cx-pow's and have sent me
invaluable research.
To Dr. Alvin C. Poweleit, MedSearch Medical Advisor, and to all Physicians who have
guided me through the years.
To ex-POW friends, all who contributed to "The Japanese Story": Bill Morton, Earl
Johnson, Hubert Hough, Gerald Willadsen, Jack Brady, Stan Willner & Ed Richwalski.
Last, but most important, I am grateful to my wife, Peggy, who over the years gave
me the courage and confidence to continue in my research. Her assistance through the
years is invaluable.
INTRODUCTION TO THE JAPANESE STORY
This packet is based upon a personal experience as a guest of the Imperial Emperor
of Japan, "The Son of Heaven".
It might be said that it is a true and factual report as t.he material is frorn over
1
600 pages of research from the Nat l Archives and from volumes of books and medical
papers from a ten year search.
As you read through the pages on the despair, anxiety, and agony we suffered from,
beginning 1-1ith the battles in the Philippines at the start of World War II and contin­
uing through imprisonment and liberation, you will feel you are living a ghastly night­
mare and you are!
Would you believe that 650 .Americans and 10,000 Filipinos died on the Death March
(Gen. King's estimate). The march was from 70 to 140 miles depending on where you
started from, it lasted for more than a week. Those who fell from exhaustion or ill­
ness were bayoneted, beheaded or shot. At the end of the march 1500 �wricans and 2700
Filipinos died during the first 60 days in Ca�p O'Donnell, at Cabanatuan 2100 Americans
died. All these deaths can be ascribed to the exertions of the death march, leaving a
total of 16,950 deaths as a result of the march.
The average length of imprisonment was 39 months. Mortality during imprisonment in
Pacific POW's was 37.2%, the expected mortality in this age group would be less than 1%.
This startling death rate was the result of a cold blooded plan on the part of the Jap­
anese of bruality and extermination.
During the first 2 years after repatriation the death rate for Pacific POW's was 50%
higher than the non-prisoners and though diminishing with time, persited for nine years,
at present there is an excess of deaths due to cirrhosis o[ the liver according to Mr.
R.J. Keehn,Medical Follow-up Agency, Nat'l Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 1/1 /79.
I leave you with these words by Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, Jr., Commanding General
on Bataan: "COURAGE IS A QUALITY GOD HAS SEEN FIT TO DISPENSE WITH UTMOST CARE. THE
MEN OF BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR WERE HIS CHOSEN FAVORITES."
�rs,
HedSearch Chainnan
- D -
CONTENTS
Illustrations:
The Valiant Nurses of Bataan-------------------------------------------------27
Sketches of POW's in Japanese Prison Camps-----------------------------------44
Bataan Defenders, Surrendering O((icers--------------------------------------47
Death March, Camp O'Donnell------------- ------------------------------------48
POW s About To Embark (Beriberi, wet and dry)--------------------------------54
Execution Cabanatuan, Released POW's, Bilibid---------------------------------55
Dry Beriberi-----------------------------------------------------------------78
Rescued From Cabanatuan, First A�erican Meal---------------------------------79
Dedication---------------------------------------------------------------------- A
Bataan Caravan---------------------------------------- ------------------------- B
P.O.W. Chaplains---------------------------------------------------------------- c
Acknowlegements, Introduction--------------------------------------------------- o
Contents------------------------------------------------------------------------ E
The LosL Battalion-------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Don't Forget How They Starved Us------------------------------------------------ 2
The Fall of the Fortress, Bataan------------------------------------------------ J
The Voice of Bataan------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Corregidor---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Japanese Prisoner of War Camps in the Philippines------------------------------- 7
Camp O'Donnell, Tarlac, Baguio-------------------------------------------------- 8
Corregidor, The 92nd Garage Area------------------------------------------------ 9
March Through Manila------------------------------------------------------------10
Malinta Tunnel Hospital Group, Fort Drum----------------------------------------10
Fort Frank, American Civilian Internees-----------------------------------------11
Bataan Death March--------------------------------------------------------------12
Camp O'Donnell------------------------------------------------------------------13
1
Hospital at Camp 0 Donnel.l------------------------------------------------------14
Cabanatuan----------------------------------------------------------------------15
&
Brutalities Atrocities, Cabanatuan--------------------------------------------16
Bilibid Prison------------------------------------------------------------------17
Hell Ships----------------------------------------------------------------------19
Palawan Barracks----------------------------------------------------------------20
Brutalities & Atrocities, Palawan-----------------------------------------------21
Marine Tells of Escape From Palwan Massacre-------------------------------------22
Davoa Penal Colony, lasang Mindanao---------------------------------------------24
Civilian Internment Camps-------------------------------------------------------25
Angels of Bataan-- -------------------------------------------------------------26
Morbidity & Mortality in Santo Tomas Internment Cmnp---· ------------------------27
Hell Ships----------------------------------------------------------------------34
Would You Believe, Hell Ship Arisan Maru----------------------------------------35
Fukuoka Camp No. 1, Japan-------------------------------------------------------36
Woosung, China------------------------------------------------------------------39
Experiences of a Medical Officer in a Japanese Prison---------------------------40
Battle of Sunda Strait, U.S.S. Houston, HMAS Perth------------------------------43
The Lost Battalion--------------------------------------------------------------45
Marines & Civilians on Wake lsland----------------------------------------------46
Food Rations During Combat & Captivity------------------------------------------49
Replies from Physicians formerly Prisoners 0£ the Japanese----------------------56
Opinions of Medical Experts, not formerly Prisoners of War----------------------59
The Japanese POW SynUrome, Malnulrition in the Far East-------------------------60
Prisoners of War, V.F.W.--------------------------------------------------------62
Status of 30 Survivors of the Bataan Death March--------------------------------65
Morbidity & Mortality in WW II & Korean Prisoners of War------------------------67
Three Decades Later: Residuals of Japanese Prisoner of War----------------------69
Affidavit by H. Hekking, M.D.---------------------------------------------------71
To All Who Should Be Concerned With Our Ex-POW's--------------------------------73
DiJu Nana Bunshyo - Nightmare Revisited-----------------------------------------74
Epilogue--------------------------------------------- ---------------------------80
POW' s First Day of Release ROKU ROSHI POW Camp, Japan----------------------------83
- E -
i\!1t.U.. o!JVd. ( ttl..eLJ....ea6. -HuVt viov/t0 6,t heU.. S.SH.o tt.6,ton.
and6 pnet. 40m ontah66a POW0 6t heJ apane.L6teo.y.d
wou.£L.id. Ic.te..o1 ilitah1.t-ipe.o.).)e. wml. -ttjho ui nh ono0J6tt he.
on
U.S.SH.o tt,c61t.rom.nee m..bwe .a.,n'd1t 16 11e.t161 1tbhee..1 311.t
A1tt.i...lf..ce..au1.1rt.p.lj.,e. tldJrt a .avnad.6 01tct.owe o.tzd. olntz. h e.
Bu.,Rta.mLal?. .w/amuo,wa n- .6t h"eR.a ,U.ow6 a Vye a.th".
THEL OSBTA TTALION
The".L o.B6att, atl.Lmoadne".t. he.ill.,6tnnd,
On thel.1 .ila0n6dJ ava-;a 601t.lea.nJ.d.,. gn.
WctJ...t6i0n1t9l te.:tlhpa .d-ti. n.o.dct o me,
Volnagl lt ha.c..to ubledd. o n.e .
...
-
.. Whitie.n S undSa.t Jta.,il.:tano v ,a if...a6n.,,-ti ,. gh:t
.,
Then.H ou6.tovna"n,!i lhei.ndt he.n ight,
Ca1t.1tm.oy6l.0nt6gh e.cIttte wt oa wate1gtit..yav e,
Alhto nctic1e1..d6y 0p1:tt1h..e L .i .v,ut hgea.vtje ..
Thellmee...n 6 ,i,mMe,.at.e tpi '1.. J...J.ion.e/t.6-o5,-watt..,
Notk nowiwnhga .F.attwe o ulhda vien.6 toJte.,
Be.a.atned& nt aJt.tvoeJ.rd.,.a tnudit ltle,d
�l.otnltb-0e .c.yae1.1c1veio..u �llu .J oJ1r.,.o,ldtd �o ti.U.
a.6
.
11Het..l.6.h1i:u.11 a.njdu .n.:tgfrlte"e.R.,a.e w ,aiy.0 .6V e.ath",
Fo1t..ct.oe .d't .ll ou/dty inbg1t .e.ath.,
WO/tk
Thec.. ee.mtttJ...ee6;.J...,l let.hde,J. t .abiol1oor n.,e .
Stll6la. ltJht el.nm.aweh.edn 6 t'1..neg.twha 6g one...
S..i.x;t.,htoe..LUie..a.n.nm de n-; Eiig.lA-clu-161.ihV.,ui..,t .ec1,J, c tnYda nko,
Vl.edw a,l,t6l0n1g6lt t J..i..,ap n1.pdl a.n.aen.d6. ,t anko,
Nowt he.t.-yl ien p eac'e.n eatEha o-t6e..0�.n.i .l,
Ft1e.6e1 to6mat 1tv.a.tid.loeni,e. .aan6dte.. o,l l.
Thoug,ht hebioJd.ti..e1 .16. em-aitnh;e, .soudle .pctJLt/2,
The.nlaitm e.e.h6e.. 1t.6l0-01h1e..iednv o eu/t.h Je..ta.. Jt.to,
OnG od'g.61e t..,ta. e.o..ry..:otu.he' . He.ve,e'tn. ,i. .nd,
Bettem�e.. nt h�nt ho6wee l.e.. 6tb ehlnd.
- 1 -
DON'T FORGET HOW THEY STARVED US!
by MAJ. LIVINGSTON P. NOELL, JR., Medical Corps, Army Air Forces
As one of the 2 American medical officers who experienced conditions in both the
military and the civilian prison camps on Luzon, I am anxious to have the American peo­
ple understand, and never forget, that the Japanese applied a premeditated and systema­
tic program of starving .American prisoners to death. During 34 ghastly months 1 saw
every manifestation of dietary deficiency merely by looking at people around me- the
terrible pain and toe-dragging gait of beriberi, the hemorrhages from scurvy, the men­
tal stupor and hardened skin of pellagra, the barrel-leg bloat and withered muscles of
hypoproteinemia.
The first application of mass extermination began with the Death March afler the fall
of Bataan in April 1942, and continued with horrible results until Dec. of that year,
when the Nips increased our rations a little and let Red Cross packages through, having
decided to fatten us up to use as prison labor in work projects. For 14 months after
witnessing this bald admission that our diet was inadequate to keep us alive for long,
I served on a Bataan labor detail, in Bilibid Prison hospital and at Cabanatuan. After­
ward I spent the last 11 months in the Santo Tomas internment. camp, where I saw a new
system of starvation applied.
At first, malaria and dysentery plagues slaughtered our people. Quinine would have
prevented the malaria deaths; sanitation alone, if we had been permitted to enforce iL,
would have wiped out the dysentery. With dietary deficiences and beatings contributing,
1475 Americans and 23,000 Filipinos died in 51 days in Camp O'Donnell, where we were
herded after the Death March.
Then the starvation program began its awful execution with the diseases of prolonged
food deficiency. There was dry beriberi, bringing its burning, stinging and crawling
sensations of the skin on legs and feet, its terribly painful neuritis, its paralysis
of the muscles, which lifts the foot and made it necessary for those walking skeleLons
in our camp to take high steps to keep their toes drom dragging. Also prevalent was the
wet type of beriberi, bringing its dropsy, which waterlogs bulging legs, balloons ab­
domens and faces, and, befoce death, effects a bloating of the entire body- excruciat­
ing penalties for lack of vitamin B, or thiamine chloride.
SICKNESS & DEATH, & NOT EVEN A DECENT BURIAL: In due course, pellagra & ariboflavinosis
set in. The symptoms were dermatitis, a coloring and thickening of the skin,swelling of
the tongue, diarrhea, mental confusion and, at the end, usually severe dementia. Ribo­
flavin, or vitamin B2, deficiency, commonly accompained pellagra- cracking lips, sores
of the nose, burning eyes, ulcers of the legs as large as half collars.
Vitamin C Deficiency caught up with us. Scurvy, with its breaking blood vessels in
the skin, muscles and bones, The men's gums bled and their teeth loosened and [ell ouL.
Vitamin A deficiency, too- ulcering and scarring of the eyes; in some of the cases to­
tol blindness. And in the early days at Camp "oDonnell there was always the lack of
water, resulting in severe cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder. One day I stood in
line at a faucet for 9 hours, only to see it turned off for the night when 1 was 4 men
away.
In Cabanatuan alone, 2300 Americans had died by the end of 1942. One day 60 died,
The emaciated cadavers were borne to the cemetery by prisoners almost equally cadaver­
ous. The living lined the road, saluting the dead, dully contemplating when their turns
would come. Out where the bodies were deposited en rnasse in graves that filled wiLh wa­
ter before they could be completely dug, gaunc arms, legs and torsos habitually pro­
truded from the mud.
Of course, we complained to our jailers. A typical result was the time I tried to
requisition vitamin ll for the Bataan labor detail. 1 -was given '-! bottles of Lydia E.
Pinkham' s compound, which according to the label, included "1 milligram of crystalline
thiamine chloride"- the daily requirement of a child. Also I was given a supply of Dr.
Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. At Santo Tomas truckloads of food donated by neu­
tral agencies we.re turned away at the gate. Meanwhile, inside, we dragged about on
bloated legs, shriveling away to skin, bones & hair. We ate the cats, dogs, pigeons &
the vegetation- hibiscus, canna lilies and bananas trees.
These stark facts about Japanese mass murder I have set down because l've noliced a
tendency here at home to [orget, even almost to forgive. the enormicy of Japan's war
crimes, I do not want tbe A�erican people to forget.
- 2 -
FALL OF THE FORTRESS (BATAAN)
by FRANCISCO A. QUERUBIN, Variety, Manila Philippine Island, April 9, 1967
"Men fighting under the banner of an unshakable faith are made of something more than
flesh, but they are not made of impervious steel. The flesh must yield at last, endur­
ance melt away, and the end of the battle must come. Bataan has fallen. •."
Thus, the Voice of Freedom, the radio at Bataan, on April 9, 1942, exactly 25 years
ago today, announced to the world the capitulation of the heterogeneous USAFFE forces
of Filipinos and Americans.
DOGGED FIGHT: Fighting with their back against the sea, facing a foe greatly super­
ior in number, arms, equipment and supply, besieged from land, air and sea, weakened
and dying from djsease, starvation and the wounds of battle, the heroic defenders dog­
gedly fought on.
As the whole world watched in solemn admiration the gallant stand at Bataan, mess­
ages of great leaders from across the ocean poured into Gen. MacArthur' s headquarters.
Aside from Pres. Roosevelt, U.S. Secretary of War Stimson, Gen. Pershing, Prime Minister
Churchill, Life and Time magazines, Gen. Marshall, US Army Chief of Staff, sent the typi­
cal message:
"The magnificent fight of American and Filipino soldiers under your dynamic leader­
ship already has become an epic of this war and an inspiration to the nation. The suc­
cesses of your troops and your name headline the news of the day. You are rendering a
service of incalculable value to the country. The Japanese Army you are holding in check
is prevented from reinforcing the enemy's attacks to the southwar-d which gives us the
fighting chance to build up the concentrations necessary to break through his widely ev­
erextended operations."
From across the Atlantic the King of England paid his own tribute:
"The magnificent resistance of the forces under your command to the heavy and repeat­
ed attacks of an enemy much superior in numbers has filled your Allies in the British Em­
pre with profound admiration. Your countrymen must indeed be proud of the United States
and Phippine troops who are fighting with sich dauntless her-oism.11
Long before the outbreak of World War II, Japan's aggrandizing designs in the Pacific
marked as its strategic objectives the immediate conquest of Lhe Philippines pinpointed
by military experts as the "key that unlocks the door to the Pacific," and the capture
of the immense natural resources of the Netherlands East Indies and Malaya. By 1941, the
10-year plan of preparation for the defense o( Lhc Philippines drawn by Gen. Nae.Arthur,
who became F'ield Marshal of the Phllippine,Arrny at the birth of the Commonwealth upon
invitation of Pres. Quezon, was already in its sixth year and constituted a menace to
it
Japan' s ambitions in Southeast Asia. Japan deemed it necessary to intervene before
was too late.
Thus, after destroying che U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, in or­
der to isolate Southeast Asia from help from the United States, and then crippling the
Philippine Air Force after 14 air raids on the 8th, Japan invaded the Philippines on the
10th, with Japanese troops landing at Aparri and Vigan, and then at Lingayen.
The defenders' only chance of survival was to retire to the protective terrain of the
peninsula of Bataan where they would make their last stand, in accordance with previous
Army plans cognizant of the inadequacy of the Philippines' defenses. Accordingly, Gen.
MacArthur made a skillful withdrawal of his forces by fighting a series of delaying ac­
tions to cover the coordinated withdrawal of his Southern & Northern Luzon forces to
Bataan, a brilliant retreating manuever l ater to become known in military annals as the
famous "Side-slip" to Bataan • • • • • •
The epic battle of Bataan commenced on the 9th of Jan. 1942, with the Japanese sub­
jecting the defenders to artillery bombardment. Then on the 11th & 12th, they attacked
in full force and with relentless fury on a 20-mile front from Abucay to Morong, but the
numerous assaults were repulsed at bloody cost to the enemy by the defenders' determined
counterattack and effective artillery firing from concealed positions, despite Japanese
superiority in numbers, arms, equipment and undisputed mastery o( the air. The bloodiest
h·and-to-hand combat was to take place a week later when the Japanese attacked still fur­
ther to the western shore of Bataan, simultanwous with their assault on Morong. Attack
and counterattack became the order of the day between the opposing lines.
By Jan. 18, 19+2, the defense of Bataan had become so critical that it would have
- J -