Fred's 1942 Day Book - "Never Losing Hope"
"1942 - One of the War Years. Anxious and Uncertain, but never losing Hope."
January 1- "Fight at Manila Continues"
(transcribed underneath)
January 1: Fight at Manila continues. Bolsbys here in PM. At 4 we went to Case's with Louise. Stayed until 8:30 pm - Bobbie had cut eye, lights out, old lady on rampage.
January 2: Manila (in the Philippines)taken by the Japs but our boys are still fighting. God bless them.
January 2: Manila (in the Philippines)taken by the Japs but our boys are still fighting. God bless them.
January 13
January 13 - Connie's 41st birthday. Bun warmer for present. We drove to Aurora to see Dr. Meister about nose operation. Louise D. quit her job with Lindy. Tonight Connie to high school to hear lecture. News of a game fight in Philippines but looks hopeless. God take care of my dear boy.
January 24
Mild weather - Connie and I alone all evening, listening to radio. The gallant fight on Luzon cannot keep up if help does not come soon. Where is my boy tonight?
February 15
10th week since Pearl Harbor. Japs still on offensive on all fronts. Singapore falls. Churchill speech at 3 PM. This is a blue Sunday for us all, but surely the sun will shine again.
February 17
10 degrees above this morning but sunshine so we decided to drive to Oglesby. Dinner in LaSalle. Stopped to see Helen in Ottawa, (Ill.). Home about 3:30 PM and went to office. (Stepson) Dave enlisted in Navy Aviation at Grosse Isle, Mich.
February 24
10 AM appointment with Dr. Day. He will help all he can to get me into army. Says I am doing OK. We stopped at Hickers but Louis is in Texas visiting his kids. Back at office about 2 PM. Snowing all PM and evening.
March 2
Some sunshine and some snow but mild. Connie to Vesta Junior tonight, leaving Stubby (the dog) and I alone. Some hope in Java battle account of air superiority. McArthur and men still holding on Bataan.
March 8-9
March 8 - 13 weeks since Pearl Harbor. McArthur fights on. Connie to church. Snowing all PM. Case and Fiola families here for our monthly supper and cards.
March 9 - Snow covered the ground this morning but largely gone tonight. Ed Otto came back from New Mexico this AM. Here for dinner with us. 3 years ago today, I went down. (Heart attack.)
March 9 - Snow covered the ground this morning but largely gone tonight. Ed Otto came back from New Mexico this AM. Here for dinner with us. 3 years ago today, I went down. (Heart attack.)
March 17
Word received of General McArthur (has) been assigned command of entire Allied Armies in Far East. This should be the beginning of the victory march to free our boy and U.S. To Kairis home to see John who came home Sunday from Saint Lucia. Taylor's there too.
April 5-7
Easter - A fair day but a cold wind and bright clouds. Repaired west porch roof. Connie and I raked up the back lawn. The Stars and Stripes still flying in the Pacific Islands. Thank God. 17th week since Japs struck.
Papers this morning say Japs have gained some ground on Bataan. Blue news tonight that American losses are heavy. After supper we drove to see Drake's new house on Elen St. Over there until 8:45. John and Zo Clifton there.
Myrons's Words - "Up the Wrong Tree"
“General Douglas MacArthur was in charge of things. His plan was that if anyone attacked the Philippines, we’d stop them on the beaches. He had all the food and ammunition spread around, so it would be available for the soldiers who were trying to keep the Japanese off the beaches.
Well, when the Japanese landed, they landed in considerable force and just ran over the guys who were there. We kept back up until we got to Bataan. As soldiers, the Japanese were certainly superior to the untrained Philippine army, but they met their match with the Philippine Scouts (the 45th and 51st Infantry, 24th Field Artillery and 26the Calvary regiments).
My job was to act as intermediary between the infantry and the artillery. One day I climbed a tree about 100 feet to direct artillery fire in to some 500 or so Japanese who were dug into a bamboo thicket. Getting up into the tree permitted me to see where the shells hit so we could adjust the artillery fire. I had a telephone with me, so I could talk to my battery.
It got dark, so we finally quit shooting because I couldn’t see anymore. I started to climb down and found it pretty slow going. Coming down, I got confused. You see, Bataan has big trees with vines all around. The trees would rot out and leave cylinders ten feet in diameter of these big vines. If you got on one of these things, you couldn’t tell it from a tree. That’s what happened to me. I thought I was on a brach of the tree. So I came down a different tree from the one I went up. When I got down to the ground, I was lost. The Japanese were shooting periodically through the night, so I thought the best thing to do was to stay quiet. The tree where I’d left my stuff was only about ten feet away, but I didn’t know that until morning. I was all very confusing.
One of our troubles in Bataan was that we ran out of food and ammunition. We had to be careful with both during the war. We were on two meals a day. I’m pretty sure everyone lost weight - at least it seemed we were always hungry. The artillery ammunition was form World War I, which was twenty years before. It didn’t always go off, which made it kind of useless. People were getting sick. I had malaria and was getting attacks every three or four months. There was a lack of the drug quinine to treat malaria.”
Well, when the Japanese landed, they landed in considerable force and just ran over the guys who were there. We kept back up until we got to Bataan. As soldiers, the Japanese were certainly superior to the untrained Philippine army, but they met their match with the Philippine Scouts (the 45th and 51st Infantry, 24th Field Artillery and 26the Calvary regiments).
My job was to act as intermediary between the infantry and the artillery. One day I climbed a tree about 100 feet to direct artillery fire in to some 500 or so Japanese who were dug into a bamboo thicket. Getting up into the tree permitted me to see where the shells hit so we could adjust the artillery fire. I had a telephone with me, so I could talk to my battery.
It got dark, so we finally quit shooting because I couldn’t see anymore. I started to climb down and found it pretty slow going. Coming down, I got confused. You see, Bataan has big trees with vines all around. The trees would rot out and leave cylinders ten feet in diameter of these big vines. If you got on one of these things, you couldn’t tell it from a tree. That’s what happened to me. I thought I was on a brach of the tree. So I came down a different tree from the one I went up. When I got down to the ground, I was lost. The Japanese were shooting periodically through the night, so I thought the best thing to do was to stay quiet. The tree where I’d left my stuff was only about ten feet away, but I didn’t know that until morning. I was all very confusing.
One of our troubles in Bataan was that we ran out of food and ammunition. We had to be careful with both during the war. We were on two meals a day. I’m pretty sure everyone lost weight - at least it seemed we were always hungry. The artillery ammunition was form World War I, which was twenty years before. It didn’t always go off, which made it kind of useless. People were getting sick. I had malaria and was getting attacks every three or four months. There was a lack of the drug quinine to treat malaria.”
April 9
A blue, cold, and cloudy day. Bataan has broken and our dear boy may be a prisoner tonight if he is alive. May God take care of him.
April 11
Busy day at office. Ed gave one new setup on drawing account and share in profit effective 1-1-42. Ed here for supper and played 3 hand pinocle in evening. No news from Battered Bataan.
April 19
Beautiful day but cold wind. Took down storm windows on south side. 2nd letter of war to Myron. Reg Miller here, also Barnes family. Dave came home from Detroit about 9 PM. 19th week since Pearl Harbor.
April 20
6th Corp Area again disapproved my request to serve. (Stepson) Dave and (wife) Connie left in Dave's car for Galesburg this PM. Supper at Godings this evening. Drove to Glenn E. and Warrenhurst jobs this morning.
Fred's Letter is "Return to Sender"
(Transcribed Below)
My dear Boy - You may be fighting now or be a prisoner of war, but where-ever you are, your Dad's thoughts and prayers are with you always.
You are doing your duty and fighting a man's fight and although the agony of it all is hard we are proud of you. It will always be an honor to be your father.
I wrote a letter some time back to see if it would be returned to me but it has not so may be it will reach you someday, somewhere.
There is so much to tell you but I can not write it especially when I don't know if this will ever reach you. So much is happening all over the world. We listen to the radio morning, noon and night trying to learn something of the brave US soldiers on Bataan for the last we heard you were there in the thick of the fight.
No word from you since your letter of 26, October 1941, almost 6 months. You will never know what that means to a father, at least I hope you never will. I know you will write when you can. Don't let this bother you if you ever receive this letter. We should not complain, sitting here in safety here at home, when every hour for 19 weeks you have been facing death. I wish I could help you, my dear boy, but all I can do is pray that God will take care of you and spare your dear life. That I do.
Have been trying to get into the army again, but I have been unsuccessful account of my heart condition. However, I am still trying.
Dave has finally received his orders to join the Naval Aviation. He is to report to New Orleans on April 27th, I believe. We expect him to come home from Detroit tonight.
Anything I could write seems so "small potatoes." Only one thing counts now and that is if you are safe.
God bless you always, dear son. Keep up the fight for your country and "Old Glory." You are helping to make history, no man has ever done more. Goodbye dear son. Your Dad.
You are doing your duty and fighting a man's fight and although the agony of it all is hard we are proud of you. It will always be an honor to be your father.
I wrote a letter some time back to see if it would be returned to me but it has not so may be it will reach you someday, somewhere.
There is so much to tell you but I can not write it especially when I don't know if this will ever reach you. So much is happening all over the world. We listen to the radio morning, noon and night trying to learn something of the brave US soldiers on Bataan for the last we heard you were there in the thick of the fight.
No word from you since your letter of 26, October 1941, almost 6 months. You will never know what that means to a father, at least I hope you never will. I know you will write when you can. Don't let this bother you if you ever receive this letter. We should not complain, sitting here in safety here at home, when every hour for 19 weeks you have been facing death. I wish I could help you, my dear boy, but all I can do is pray that God will take care of you and spare your dear life. That I do.
Have been trying to get into the army again, but I have been unsuccessful account of my heart condition. However, I am still trying.
Dave has finally received his orders to join the Naval Aviation. He is to report to New Orleans on April 27th, I believe. We expect him to come home from Detroit tonight.
Anything I could write seems so "small potatoes." Only one thing counts now and that is if you are safe.
God bless you always, dear son. Keep up the fight for your country and "Old Glory." You are helping to make history, no man has ever done more. Goodbye dear son. Your Dad.
Myron's Words - "I Wanted to Live"
“It was just instinctive in me to want to live. One of our lieutenants was probably one of the smartest of the bunch. But he said, “We don’t have a chance. We’re going to get beat. We can’t win this war.” He was completely useless. He would just lie on this back, even though there wasn’t anything wrong with him, at least that I could tell. I don’t know when he disappeared or died. It was his attitude. He just faded away. But I didn’t feel the way he did. If you have your faith - if you think that something might happen for the best and you’re going to give it your best shot - I think that makes a big difference.”
In April, Battery F received orders to destroy our artillery and surrender. At that time, I didn’t know where we were. We’d moved around in the dark so much, I was completely lost. The guns were still working, but we didn’t have ammunition, so it didn’t make much difference. We destroyed them the best we could. The breech - that is the part you put the shell in and then close - we took off and hid or buried it. A gun isn’t much good without a breech mechanism.
I went to look for a boat, hoping to escape with another officer, who had food. We found one small boat on the beach, but a Filipino came and claimed it, saying he wanted to leave with his family. So we gave him the boat and I decided to surrender.
Soon I heard a command car coming, and I quickly threw away my .45 revolver. It was a group of eight Japanese in a command car, jabbering among themselves. They grabbed my arm and studied my wristwatch. One of them decided he wanted it, so he took it. (Before leaving for the war, Fred had suggested to Myron that they trade watches as a memory of each other while separated, so it was actually Fred’s watch that was taken from him.) Then they went back to the car and left. I went back toward camp.”
In April, Battery F received orders to destroy our artillery and surrender. At that time, I didn’t know where we were. We’d moved around in the dark so much, I was completely lost. The guns were still working, but we didn’t have ammunition, so it didn’t make much difference. We destroyed them the best we could. The breech - that is the part you put the shell in and then close - we took off and hid or buried it. A gun isn’t much good without a breech mechanism.
I went to look for a boat, hoping to escape with another officer, who had food. We found one small boat on the beach, but a Filipino came and claimed it, saying he wanted to leave with his family. So we gave him the boat and I decided to surrender.
Soon I heard a command car coming, and I quickly threw away my .45 revolver. It was a group of eight Japanese in a command car, jabbering among themselves. They grabbed my arm and studied my wristwatch. One of them decided he wanted it, so he took it. (Before leaving for the war, Fred had suggested to Myron that they trade watches as a memory of each other while separated, so it was actually Fred’s watch that was taken from him.) Then they went back to the car and left. I went back toward camp.”
May 5
Cold - Fire in furnace. Slept on couch all evening. Corregidor has fallen to Japs.
May 7
Paper says 53,000 plus casualties to American forces in war with Japan.
35,000 Killed, wounded and missing in Philippine Islands
5,500 Left sick and wounded on Bataan
7,000 Captured on Bataan
6,373 Navy
53,893 Somebody blundered
35,000 Killed, wounded and missing in Philippine Islands
5,500 Left sick and wounded on Bataan
7,000 Captured on Bataan
6,373 Navy
53,893 Somebody blundered
The Bataan Death March
From Wikipedia: The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 76,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three month battle of Bataan in the Philippines at the start of WWII, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.
The 80 mile march was characterized by wide-ranging abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon prisoners and civilians alike by the Japanese Army, and was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime.
The 80 mile march was characterized by wide-ranging abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted upon prisoners and civilians alike by the Japanese Army, and was later judged by an Allied military commission to be a Japanese war crime.
Myron's Words -
"It was like driving cattle"
"This Death March, as they call it, went from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell. This was probably 75 miles from the beginning to the end. The forced march was kind of a loosely organized thing. There would be a Japanese soldier walking along with us, and then he would disappear. Then another soldier would show up, or we’d go for hours and there wouldn’t be any soldier at all. We were just plodding along, following the road. We would walk for maybe a day or two, then we wouldn’t walk for a couple days. It took three to four weeks to walk that distance. But I really don’t know how long it took. Some of us were irrational by the time we reached O’Donnell.
The problem was, where we had been in the mountains, it was cool and there was no sunshine, because the trees were about 300 feet high and thick. Now we made a sudden change to sunshine and no shade. Anyway, we started in Bataan with just watery rice for food at times, no water, no planning. The Japanese were as bewildered as we were. They didn’t expect to find so many people coming ot of the wood. They expected to shoot everyone on Bataan, and they had no accommodations at all. That was the thing that was bad about it. You can’t all of sudden come into the sunshine and start walking without water. That’s what we did. Some of the people were drinking water in the ditches that had come off the rice paddies. Of course, they were getting sick and dying.
The Japanese didn’t have much compassion. It was a matter of kicking and whacking us with one thing or another to keep us moving. It was just like driving cattle. We kept thinking that sooner or later, there would be some food or water. If there was any water, if would be a little spigot someplace and we’d stand in line all night trying to get a drink. There’d be 500 guys and one faucet with a stream of water the size of a pencil coming out. That wouldn’t do any good. I was half out of it - most people were.
We were not thinking clearly. Just follow the leader, that’s what we were doing."
The problem was, where we had been in the mountains, it was cool and there was no sunshine, because the trees were about 300 feet high and thick. Now we made a sudden change to sunshine and no shade. Anyway, we started in Bataan with just watery rice for food at times, no water, no planning. The Japanese were as bewildered as we were. They didn’t expect to find so many people coming ot of the wood. They expected to shoot everyone on Bataan, and they had no accommodations at all. That was the thing that was bad about it. You can’t all of sudden come into the sunshine and start walking without water. That’s what we did. Some of the people were drinking water in the ditches that had come off the rice paddies. Of course, they were getting sick and dying.
The Japanese didn’t have much compassion. It was a matter of kicking and whacking us with one thing or another to keep us moving. It was just like driving cattle. We kept thinking that sooner or later, there would be some food or water. If there was any water, if would be a little spigot someplace and we’d stand in line all night trying to get a drink. There’d be 500 guys and one faucet with a stream of water the size of a pencil coming out. That wouldn’t do any good. I was half out of it - most people were.
We were not thinking clearly. Just follow the leader, that’s what we were doing."
Myron's Words - "Warm Coke and Brown Sugar"
I’ll tell you one incident to show that the Japanese could be reasonable. There were houses built right down by the road - little bamboo shacks with bamboo flooring, grass roofs. I saw a bunch of Japanese in one of these houses, drinking warm Coke and brown sugar. They mixed up the brown sugar with the warm Coke and drank it. I left the road to see if I could get a drink. I didn’t know any Japanese words and they didn’t know English. No problem. While the guys behind me were getting bayoneted and slapped and kicked, I went over and had a drink!
That lasted five minutes, I think. Then their sergeant came in, and he was completely mad. He was unbelievable. Those guys just scattered. He started kicking and hollering at them, cuffing them. But he never touched me. I took off back to the road and kept walking. The last thing I knew, there were Japanese going every place. I can’t understand it. I’m surprised he didn’t cut my throat. Sometimes when I think back on it and wonder if I dreamed it. But I’m sure I didn’t.
Mostly, I avoided the Japanese. I never walked at the end of the line; if I could help it. We were in groups, and I tried to stay in the middle of the group as much as possible. I had dysentery, so I had to stop and go to the toilet now and then. That slowed me down.
I was wearing some homemade Japanese shoes that weren’t fit for hiking. They were thin soled, not the thing to wear on a graveled road. I didn’t take my shoes off, because I knew that if I took them off, I’d never get them back on again. When we ended the march at Camp O’Donnell, I got my shoes off and found my feet were infected and full of pus. I didn’t get my shoes back on. I didn’t want to. I exposed my feet to the sun, and they healed up.”
That lasted five minutes, I think. Then their sergeant came in, and he was completely mad. He was unbelievable. Those guys just scattered. He started kicking and hollering at them, cuffing them. But he never touched me. I took off back to the road and kept walking. The last thing I knew, there were Japanese going every place. I can’t understand it. I’m surprised he didn’t cut my throat. Sometimes when I think back on it and wonder if I dreamed it. But I’m sure I didn’t.
Mostly, I avoided the Japanese. I never walked at the end of the line; if I could help it. We were in groups, and I tried to stay in the middle of the group as much as possible. I had dysentery, so I had to stop and go to the toilet now and then. That slowed me down.
I was wearing some homemade Japanese shoes that weren’t fit for hiking. They were thin soled, not the thing to wear on a graveled road. I didn’t take my shoes off, because I knew that if I took them off, I’d never get them back on again. When we ended the march at Camp O’Donnell, I got my shoes off and found my feet were infected and full of pus. I didn’t get my shoes back on. I didn’t want to. I exposed my feet to the sun, and they healed up.”
This picture, taken by the Japanese and released by the US Government in 1945 was originally thought to be of POWs carrying their injured. It wasn't until 2010 that the Associated Press corrected the caption based on the recollection of the POWS that it was actually a burial detail at Camp O'Donnell.
May 16
Busy day at office. Connie and Bobbie moved East lawn and Bobbie the North lawn. Don came home from Galisburg in evening to get his Navy aviation enlistment papers signed up. Weather getting warmer and sunshine.
May 28
To Glen Ellyn in AM to get roller for Baylor. Letter at noon from Adjutant General Office that Myron, now a 1st Lt., is carried as "Missing in Action" until further information is received. Very warm and not very happy.
Letter to Janet in Terre Haute, Indiana
(Transcribed Below)
Dear Miss Swearingen, 29, May 1942
In one of Myron last letters dated August 16, 41, he gae me your name and address and requested that if I hear of anything wrong with him to drop you a line. Hence this letter to carry out his wishes.
We have not heard from him since about a month before the Jpas struck at which time he was at Fort Stotsenburg in Pampango province, Pilippine Islands. A letter this week from the Adj. Generals Office at Washington stated that 1st Let. Myron F. Wildish was seving in the P.I. at the time of final surrender and that in the last days before the surrender of Bataan there were casualties which were not reported to the War Dept. That a list of prisoners would be furnished later the the Japs thru Geneva, but until then there is no information as to his whereabouts and if he is alive or dead. The War Dept is now carrying him as "missing in action."
This is all we know but we hope and pray that God will bring him home safe some day.
Mrs. W. joins me in sendin gyou are kindest regards. If you are interested we will keep you advised if any news comes.
Sincerely, FN Wildish
In one of Myron last letters dated August 16, 41, he gae me your name and address and requested that if I hear of anything wrong with him to drop you a line. Hence this letter to carry out his wishes.
We have not heard from him since about a month before the Jpas struck at which time he was at Fort Stotsenburg in Pampango province, Pilippine Islands. A letter this week from the Adj. Generals Office at Washington stated that 1st Let. Myron F. Wildish was seving in the P.I. at the time of final surrender and that in the last days before the surrender of Bataan there were casualties which were not reported to the War Dept. That a list of prisoners would be furnished later the the Japs thru Geneva, but until then there is no information as to his whereabouts and if he is alive or dead. The War Dept is now carrying him as "missing in action."
This is all we know but we hope and pray that God will bring him home safe some day.
Mrs. W. joins me in sendin gyou are kindest regards. If you are interested we will keep you advised if any news comes.
Sincerely, FN Wildish
June 19 - Letter from Myron's best friend
June 24
11th Wedding Anniversary. One year ago today, we bid Myron goodbye. Nice day, but cool. Home all PM and evening edged flower beds and worked in garage. Connie away all PM to card party.
July 1
Army turned me down again for service. Auditors at office checking into Otto's affairs. Spent most of the day taking inventory in the (work) yard. Pefer putting asphalt on ??? Plant roof.
July 4
A quiet Fourth - No firecrackers allowed account of war. Rain and cloudy in AM but sunshine and warm in PM. Fixed front porch - jacked up ??? corner. In PM we drove to Harry Slicks to see about Oltawa sanitarium for rheumatism. Drove to see Heidlers. Sent Nell (widow of Fred's brother Reg) $500 plus interest, closing forever a sad affair.
July 12
Very warm. To Cases's at 1 PM to play pinocle with Fiala's. there all PM and evening. Bailey's came here in PM but did not stay as Jim and I went back at once to Cases's. German drive into Russian gaining ground. 31 weeks since Pearl Harbor.
August 4
Rather chilly this A.M. In office all day - Connie to Red Cross. Ed Otto here for supper. Mowed east lawn tonight. Drove to Thompson's store to (see) pictures of boys in the Services. Lawson came here home in evening from ???
August 25
Louie came in and met Lynch, Purchasing Agents for Austin Company. Drove out to job site this P.M. for first time, At Mannheim and Higgins Roads. John Bolsby's daughter died last night, also Dwight Boal. Big naval fight with Japs in progress near the Solomon Isles. Brother of England's king killed in plane.
August 28
Myron's 25th Birthday. Thot of him many many times. May God keep him safe if he is still alive.
August 31
Decent day at office. Omand and I alone. To lunch at noon with Ray Hazekemp and Lt?. Rain in PM. Fialas came in evening. Connie drove to C.A.A.P. site to apply for job. (Step son) Donnie left on early train to join Coast Guard. We think he went to Maryland.
September 17
Connie and I mowed east lawn. Horace Coffee here to borrow my brace and quarter bit. Wrote a message to Myron thru International Red Cross.
Rough draft of early post card sent to, but never received by Myron. Typed, and then sent through the Red Cross, postcards were limited to 25 words.
"Dear Son: Hoping and praying you return when the job is done. Until then chin up and may God protect you. Love you always. Dad"
"Dear Son: Hoping and praying you return when the job is done. Until then chin up and may God protect you. Love you always. Dad"
September 20
Sunshine but down to 46 degrees this A.M. Built fire in furnace, first time this fall. Nailed in west window on south side of sunparlor. Wrote Army Nurse in Milwaukee regarding Myron. She came from Bataan. Louise and kids came for hair wash, football fix, 2 hair cuts, supper and apples. Picked one bushel of grapes. 41 weeks since Pearl Harbor.
October 10
Worked at office as usual. Lunch with Lt. ???. Connie wen to Glen Ellyn with Marie. Letter from Red Cross Nurse on Bataan who said she knew Capt. Wildish.
October 12
Drove to Maywood to meet Col. Carlos Romulo who fought thru Bataan on MacArthur's staff. He recognized Myron's picture at once at Capt. "Feltish" said he talked with him in battle in March of this year.
October 17
Sent clipping about Myron to Janet, Winnie (foster daughter) and Laura (sister). Worked as usual.
October 20
Beautiful day. Connie spent day at Red Cross. Called on Col. Kellogg to see Major Johnson about Specialist Corps. We took short walk and to bed early.
Fred Writes Letter Trying to Enlist in
Specialist Corps.
November 2
All good news tonight from the battle fronts. Looks like Guadalcanal will hold. Also Stalingrad. Cold this evening.
November 20
Dreamed of Myron again last night.
November 29
Heavy snow last night. We took down front porch screen and put up front storm door. Good talk by Churchill in England at 3 PM. Told of good news of war in November. Will stick together in Pacific when Schicklgruber (original name of Hitler's father) is done. Took car to Sams for max gas, tire check etc.
December 7
One year of war anxiety for my dear boy. Went to Loop with Georgen to see Chas Burney about Controlled ???. Connie took car and went to Vesta Juniors at Prichett's tonight. Maybe will get dope (information) on Jap prisoners.
December 31 - "Goodbye 1942"
Fine weather - Hall home sick so I drove alone today via Fairview Avenue. Letter tonight about US Civil Service job in Detroit. Well, Goodbye 1942 - May God take care of Myron if he is still on earth.
Myron's Words - "I was in very bad shape."
"I was at Camp O'Donnell about three or four months. Then I went over to Cabanatuan, and from there back down to Manila. I was in very bad shape. One reason I'm alive is that I was placed in the doctors' mess at this camp in the Philippines. I'm not proud of myself for that, as the doctors were issued food and were eating all they wanted. They were prisoners, too, but they even had a refrigerator running an were exercising to keep their weight down. And just a hundred feet away men were starving to death. One doctor said to me, "What if we get sick? Who would take care of you?"
There was an American nurse in Manila at the time of the war, Margaret Utinsky. She helped a lot of us survive. After her husband was killed, she thought the best thing she could do was to take care of the fellows who were prisoners. I never met her, but she saved my life, you might say. She got me a can of sardines.
She often fooled the Japanese by having native women smuggle in food. In my case, she took an imitation check I wrote on my savings account in a Manila bank, bought food and had it delivered! She was aided in this by a Catholic chaplain in camp, Chaplain Tiffany.
Some of the women were killed after being caught. "Miss U" (her spy name) was caught and tortured, but they let her go eventually. Chaplain Tiffany was also tortured and eventually died aboard a prison ship which our forces actually bombed."
There was an American nurse in Manila at the time of the war, Margaret Utinsky. She helped a lot of us survive. After her husband was killed, she thought the best thing she could do was to take care of the fellows who were prisoners. I never met her, but she saved my life, you might say. She got me a can of sardines.
She often fooled the Japanese by having native women smuggle in food. In my case, she took an imitation check I wrote on my savings account in a Manila bank, bought food and had it delivered! She was aided in this by a Catholic chaplain in camp, Chaplain Tiffany.
Some of the women were killed after being caught. "Miss U" (her spy name) was caught and tortured, but they let her go eventually. Chaplain Tiffany was also tortured and eventually died aboard a prison ship which our forces actually bombed."
"There weren't a lot of guards at the camps. Prisoners were so weak that we couldn't escape, and anyway if we did, we would stick out like a sore thumb and be recaptured.
I was still having malaria attacks, so I thought the best thing I could do was get out of the Philippines, where there was no medicine. The Japanese barely had enough wood, oil or food for themselves, and there was nothing to give the POWs. I was in one of the first boats ("Hell Ships") to get out of there and go to a POW camp in Osaka, on the island of Honshu. Once I reached there the malaria began to clear up, and I haven't been troubled with it since.
But by the time I reached Osaka, I couldn't even swallow water. I guess it was the lack of Vitamin C. I hadn't had any fruit for a year. Another POW had a couple of small limes, and he gave them to me. I don't know how he got them. They were hard to get down, but they did the trick.
The food at Osaka was lousy. They had these Red Cross boxes stacked up for the prisoners, but the Japanese were eating them. Every now and then they'd give us a little dab of butter - one can for ten people.
It was cold. The barracks were new buildings that looked good when we first saw them, but the wind blew right through. Brand new blankets, but we could see through them too. There was an outdoor bathtub, and we were told to get bathed. We could hardly get warm in the barracks, and could barely walk, much less go outside in the cold weather with the wind blowing. The guards couldn't catch on that what they were asking was ridiculous. About half of our men died during that winter, leaving around 250. Another winter in Osaka and all of us would have been dead."
I was still having malaria attacks, so I thought the best thing I could do was get out of the Philippines, where there was no medicine. The Japanese barely had enough wood, oil or food for themselves, and there was nothing to give the POWs. I was in one of the first boats ("Hell Ships") to get out of there and go to a POW camp in Osaka, on the island of Honshu. Once I reached there the malaria began to clear up, and I haven't been troubled with it since.
But by the time I reached Osaka, I couldn't even swallow water. I guess it was the lack of Vitamin C. I hadn't had any fruit for a year. Another POW had a couple of small limes, and he gave them to me. I don't know how he got them. They were hard to get down, but they did the trick.
The food at Osaka was lousy. They had these Red Cross boxes stacked up for the prisoners, but the Japanese were eating them. Every now and then they'd give us a little dab of butter - one can for ten people.
It was cold. The barracks were new buildings that looked good when we first saw them, but the wind blew right through. Brand new blankets, but we could see through them too. There was an outdoor bathtub, and we were told to get bathed. We could hardly get warm in the barracks, and could barely walk, much less go outside in the cold weather with the wind blowing. The guards couldn't catch on that what they were asking was ridiculous. About half of our men died during that winter, leaving around 250. Another winter in Osaka and all of us would have been dead."
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