EX-POW BULLETIN the official voice of the American Ex-Prisoners of War 501(c)3 Veterans Service Organization Volume 76 www .axpo w .or g Number 4/5/6 April/May/June 2019

We exist to help those who cannot help themselves

~ Memorial Day 2019 ~

table of contents April/May/June 2019

officers/directors 4 Happy Birthday, AXPOW! ceo 5 medsearch 6 April 9, 1942 legislative 8 In the Philippines... American General King surrenders 75,000 men andersonville 11 (12,000 Americans) to the Japanese. A death march begins for the namPOW 13 prisoners as they are taken to San Fernado, 100 miles away. Many pow/mia 15 thousands of them die on the march. Resistance continues in iso- civilian 17 lated areas of Luzon and other islands. General Wainwright and his events/news 18 troops continue to hold out on Corregidor Island. hands across america 20 k-9s for warriors 21 At home… Information was leaking out about the atrocities and sub- your stories 22 human treatment that American prisoners of war were receiving in captured at anzio 24 Japanese prison camps in the Pacific. When wives and mothers heard the ride home 26 about their sons and husbands who had been taken prisoner, they contributions 28 started calling and writing their congressmen in an effort to find help new members 29 or get assistance for their loved ones. Finally, two mothers, whose taps/chaplain 30 sons were members of the 200th Coast Artillery and had been cap- voluntary funding 34 tured by the Japanese, came up with an idea. It was Mrs. Charles W. Bickford and Mrs. Fred E. Landon who, on April 10, 1942, persuaded other parents and relatives to hold a mass meeting. They formed an organization to get relief to the captured boys on Bataan. On April 14th, the Bataan Relief Organization began with Dr. V. H. Spensley, as Chairman.

AXPOW Challenge Coins - featured on the back cover: Publisher History of the Challenge Coin PNC Milton M Moore Jr During WWI, in one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medal- 2965 Sierra Bermeja lions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. It became Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at (520) 459-7295 all times. This was accomplished through challenge in the following [email protected] manner - a challenger would ask to see the medallion. If the chal- lenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the chal- Editor lenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member Cheryl Cerbone was required to pay for the drink. This tradition continued on through- 23 Cove View Drive out the war and for many years after the war while surviving mem- South Yarmouth, MA 02664 bers of the squadron were still alive. (508) 394-5250 [email protected] From WWI through today, the challenge coin tradition has spread throughout military units, in all branches of service, and even to non- Deadline for the July-Sept military organizations as well as the United States Congress, which 2019 issue is June 1, 2019. produces challenge coins for members of Congress to give to con- Please send all materials to stituents. Today, challenge coins are given to members upon joining the editor at the above an organization, as an award to improve morale, and sold to com- address. memorate special occasions or as fundraisers.

EX-POW Bulletin (ISSN 0161-7451) is published quarterly (four times annually) by the American Ex-Prisoners of War, PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, TX and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to EX-POW Bulletin, AXPOW Headquarters, PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007- 3445. Founded April 14, 1942, in Albuquerque, NM, then known as Bataan Relief Organization, Washington State non- profit corporation, “American Ex-Prisoners of War”, October 11, 1949, recorded as Document No. 133762, Roll 1, Page 386-392. NONPROFIT CORPORATION. Nationally Chartered August 10, 1982. Appearance in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the American Ex-Prisoners of War of the product or service advertised. The publisher reserves the right to decline or discontinue any such advertisement. Ex-POW Bulletin © 2019 April-June 2019 American Ex-Prisoners of War 3 axpow board of directors

National Headquarters PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445 (817) 649-2979 [email protected]

operations officers & directors

Honorary National Commander Chief Executive Officer PNC Jack Warner David Eberly PO Box 117 205 Roger Webster Hammon, OK 73650 Williamsburg VA 23185 (580) 821-1526 (757) 253-9553 – Home (757) 508-8453 - Cell [email protected] Senior Vice Commander Edward “Ted” Cadwallader Chief Operations Officer 9501 Nut Tree Court Clydie J Morgan Elk Grove, CA 95624 PO Box 3445 (916) 685-5369 Arlington TX 76007-3445 [email protected] (817) 649-2979 – Office (817) 300-2840 - Cell [email protected] Cheryl Cerbone Milton ‘Skip’ Moore 23 Cove View Drive 2965 Sierra Bermeja Chief Financial Officer South Yarmouth, MA 02664 Sierra Vista AZ 85650 Marsha M Coke (508)394-5250 - Home (520) 459-7295 – Home 2710 Charon Court (508) 360-4090 - Cell (520) 249-7122 – Cell Grand Prairie TX 75052 [email protected] [email protected] (817) 649-2979 – Office (817) 723-3996 – Cell [email protected] Pam Warner Eslinger Charles A. Susino PO Box 117 951 Gates Ave. Hammon, OK 73650 Piscataway, NJ 08854 (580) 821-1526 (732)463-8355 [email protected] (732)221-0073-Cell [email protected]

Ben Garrido 6813 W 60th Street Jan Williams Tulsa OK 74107 4353 Bending Point (951) 313-9838 Guthrie, Ok 73040 [email protected] (580) 821-2376 [email protected] from the CEO Television also took us along Route Our freedom is only as certain 66 with two guys in a Corvette as our moral and military ca- and introduced us to the chal- pacity to preserve it. lenges of Gilligan’s Island while Hogan’s Heroes painted a grossly And, our faith is only enduring distorted, comical picture of The as our trust in God. Stalags. Some men still dream of free- In the 60s, Johnson quit and Nixon dom, came back. We got zip codes and mini skirts. The Civil Rights Act Others have never forgotten was signed; yet we are still trying the price of freedom. for Equal Rights. The families of those, whose names are long forgotten, still Some fans went to Super Bowl I, suffer the frustration of the un- David Eberly some others who characterized known. Their hearts are im- the love generation went to prisoned; an ancient enemy 205 Roger Webster Woodstock, and too many went holds their dream captive. Williamsburg VA 23185 to Vietnam. Rolling Thunder be- (757) 253-9553 – Home gan; today, others ride in their They will suffer a lifetime with (757) 508-8453 - Cell honor. For Sky, Viking, Dog, and the torment of not knowing.” [email protected] all the others in The Fourth, who suffered the brutality and trauma, From Psalms to songs, we recall “Come Together…” that experience marked another the tunes of our times. One mu- lifetime. They gave us, who would sic reprise that still echoes from This year we remember the end of follow, the strength and courage the sixties comes from The Beatles’ the era fifty years ago that molded to return with honor. our values and defined our baby song “Come Together” originally written for a political campaign in boom generation—the sixties. Later this month our AXPOW or- California: IMUS, often recanted on his morn- ganization will meet in annual con- ing radio show, “if you remember vention at Arlington, Texas, and I “Oh! the 60s, you didn’t live it”. will pass this position as CEO to a Come together new and vibrant officer. In this, Yeah my last article I want to offer some The 1960s began when Nixon Come together final thoughts from Faith Beyond ended. It ushered in Camelot, yet Yeah Belief: took us to the brink of war during Come together…” the Cuban missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs. The US went to the “For most, the trials of the War Moon and then around the world with Iraq are long forgotten. I encourage you to join us later as The Peace Corp. We listened this month for our annual meet- to the tribute of Abraham, Martin For others, the loss of a ing. And if you are unable, please and John and then Bobby. spouse, a son or daughter, a consider other ways to lend your Motown, R&B, and Rock’n’Roll flour- mom or dad, a brother or sis- support. This organization exists ished, and then “the music died”. ter, or a close friend serves to help those who cannot help as a painful reminder of the themselves and to bolster the In Austin, shots rang out from the reality of war. legacy of the POW experience. clock tower and stunned the Na- tion—our first mass shooting. Yet these trails hold lessons of God Bless. Marilyn apparently took her own eternal value. life—no more Happy Birthday. Wal-Mart opened; a new wall Our nation is only as great as closed off the East. We learned the character and convictions about the U-2, watched the trial of her people. of Francis Gary Powers, and waited on the bridge. Another bridge, the Ex-POW Bulletin David Edmund Pettus, updated the his- toric shots at Concord. Apr-June 2019 5 pow medsearch nso Marsha Coke, Chairman Ruth Powell, Director e-mail: [email protected] 665 NC Hwy 121 PO Box 3445 Greenville, NC 27834 Arlington, TX 76007-3445 781-296-6307 cell (817) 649-2979 [email protected]

spreads through the bloodstream. Such antibiotic-resistant Sepsis Invasive medical procedures such infections can lead to sepsis. as inserting a tube into a vein can introduce bacteria into the What is sepsis? · Medical advances have made bloodstream and bring on the organ transplant operations more condition. But sepsis can also come common. People are at higher risk Sepsis is a serious medical from an infection confined to one for sepsis if they have had an organ condition. It is caused by an part of the body, such as the transplant or have undergone any overwhelming immune response lungs, urinary tract, skin, or other procedure that requires the to infection. The body releases abdomen (including the appendix). use of medications to suppress the immune chemicals into the blood immune system. to combat the infection. Those Who gets sepsis? chemicals trigger widespread inflammation, which leads to blood What are the symptoms clots and leaky blood vessels. As Anyone can get sepsis. The people of sepsis? a result, blood flow is impaired, at highest risk are infants, children, the elderly, and people who have and that deprives organs of Common symptoms of sepsis are serious injuries or medical problems nutrients and oxygen and leads to fever, chills, rapid breathing and such as diabetes, AIDS, cancer, organ damage. heart rate, rash, confusion, and or liver disease. disorientation. Many of these In severe cases, one or more symptoms are also common in organs fail. In the worst cases, How many people other conditions, making sepsis blood pressure drops, the heart get sepsis? difficult to diagnose, especially in weakens, and the patient spirals its early stages. toward septic shock. Once this Severe sepsis strikes more than a happens, multiple organs—lungs, million Americans every year,1 and How is sepsis diagnosed? kidneys, liver—may quickly fail, and 15 to 30 percent of those people the patient can die. die. The number of sepsis cases Doctors will start by checking for per year has been on the rise in the symptoms mentioned above. Sepsis is a major challenge in 2 the United States. This is likely They may also test the person’s hospitals, where it’s one of the due to several factors: blood for an abnormal number of leading causes of death. It is also white blood cells or the presence a main reason why people are · There is increased awareness of bacteria or other infectious readmitted to the hospital. Sepsis and tracking of sepsis. agents. Doctors may also use a occurs unpredictably and can chest X-ray or a CT scan to locate progress rapidly. · People with chronic diseases are an infection. living longer, and the average age What causes sepsis? in the United States is increasing. How is sepsis treated? Sepsis is more common and more Many types of microbes can cause dangerous in the elderly and in Doctors typically treat people with sepsis, including bacteria, fungi, those with chronic diseases. sepsis in hospital intensive care and viruses. However, bacteria are units. Doctors try to stop the the most common cause. In many · Some infections can no longer infection, protect the vital organs, cases, doctors cannot identify the be cured with antibiotic drugs. and prevent a drop in blood source of infection. pressure. This almost always Ex-POW Bulletin includes the use of antibiotic Severe cases of sepsis often result Apr-June 2019 medications and fluids. More from a body-wide infection that 6 seriously affected patients might medsearch, cont’d...

need a breathing tube, kidney dialysis, or surgery to remove an infection. Despite years of research, scientists have not yet developed a medicine that specifically targets the aggressive immune response seen with sepsis.

More information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and hospital as people with many other NIGMS is a part of the National treatment of sepsis is available conditions, including heart failure, Institutes of Health that supports from the Centers for Disease pneumonia, and chronic obstructive basic research to increase our Control and Prevention (CDC) at pulmonary disease.4 Readmissions understanding of biological https://www.cdc.gov/sepsis due to sepsis are also more processes and lay the foundation expensive than readmissions due for advances in disease diagnosis, to any of these other conditions. Are there any long-term treatment, and prevention. For more information on the Institute’s effects of sepsis? What research is being research and training programs, done on sepsis? see https://www.nigms.nih.gov. Many people who survive severe sepsis recover completely, and 1. Hershey TB, Kahn JM. State their lives return to normal. But The National Institutes of Health sepsis mandates—a new era for some people, especially those with supports many studies focused on regulation of hospital quality. N pre-existing chronic diseases, may sepsis (see the NIH RePORTER Engl J Med [Internet]. 2017 May have permanent organ damage. database), some of which are 21 [cited 2017 June 15]; For example, in someone who clinical trials (see https:// 376:2311-2313. Available from: already has impaired kidneys, clinicaltrials.gov). Some of these https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/ sepsis can lead to kidney failure studies evaluate the effectiveness 10.1056/NEJMp1611928 that requires lifelong dialysis. of potential treatments. Others 2. Gaieski DF, Edwards JM, Kallan seek molecular clues in patients’ MJ, Carr BG. Benchmarking the in- blood that could diagnose sepsis There is also some evidence that cidence and mortality of severe early, allowing doctors to treat the severe sepsis disrupts a person’s sepsis in the United States. Crit condition before it is too late. Still immune system, making him or her Care Med [Internet]. 2013 May; others examine sepsis in specific more at risk for future infections. 41(5):1167-74. Available from: populations, such as premature Studies have shown that people https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ babies, people with traumatic who have experienced sepsis have pubmed/23442987 injuries, or long-term survivors. a higher risk of various medical 3. Agency for Healthcare Research conditions and death, even several and Quality Healthcare Cost and years after the episode. Articles, videos, images, and more Utilization Project Statistical Brief about physical trauma and sepsis No. 204; May 2016. National in- can be found on the NIGMS What is the economic patient hospital costs: the most Science Education page. expensive conditions by payer, cost of sepsis? 2013. NIGMS does not provide specific 4. Mayr FB, Talisa VB, Balakumar Sepsis treatment is expensive. It medical advice, but rather provides V, Chang C-C H, Fine M, Yende S. often involves a prolonged stay users with information to help them Proportion and cost of unplanned in the intensive care unit and better understand health and 30-day readmissions after sepsis complex therapies with high costs. disease. Please consult with a compared with other medical con- The Agency for Healthcare qualified health care professional ditions. JAMA [Internet]. 2017 Jan Research and Quality lists sepsis for answers to personal medical 22 [cited 2017 Jan. 25]; as the most expensive condition questions. 317(5):530-31. Available from: treated in U.S. hospitals, costing https://jamanetwork.com/jour- 3 nearly $24 billion in 2013. People Ex-POW Bulletin nals/jama/fullarticle/2598785 with sepsis are two to three times more likely to be readmitted to the Apr-June 2019 7 day. This past July, my family and government to acknowledge and legislative I, and the veteran community as act. There is a long track record a whole, lost the strongest advo- with Agent Orange and other cate on behalf of those who can- chemicals, yet exposure, treat- not speak to you directly. Many ment, and compensation from 50+ of you knew my dad from his years years ago is still being debated. of testifying. He professed to me Fortunately the courts have and others, “it’s about the deserv- agreed with the navy servicemen ing veterans receiving want they who were located within the wa- earned”. ters of affected southeast Asia country that certain diseases So it is on that theme that I pro- should be a presumptive. ceed. · The previous Bill S 1990, ND Charles Anthony Susino Dependency and Indemnity Com- First, we wish to acknowledge the pensation Improvement Act must 951 Gates Ave. be reintroduced. Its purpose was Piscataway, NJ 08854 passing of a great American, the 41st President of the United to amend Title 38, United States (732)463-8355 States, George H. W. Bush this Code, to increase amounts pay- (732)221-0073-Cell past November who proudly able by the Department of Veter- [email protected] served this country both in the ans Affairs for dependency and in- military and in public office. demnity compensation, to modify the requirements for dependency STATEMENT OF We are grateful for your efforts and indemnity compensation for CHARLES A. SUSINO over this past year. This Congress survivors of certain veterans rated has stepped up and passed sev- totally disabled at the time of NATIONAL DIRECTOR/ death, and for other purposes. For LEGISLATIVE OFFICER eral key pieces of legislation in support of our veterans with re- many of our veteran’s spouses, AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS spect to health care, compensa- DIC is the only source of income OF WAR tion, and public awareness. We and critical to their quality of life. BEFORE THE look forward to a productive 2019- We need to do better by them. COMMITTEES ON 2020 as the 116th Congress works on our behalf. · We must reintroduce the VETERANS’ AFFAIRS National POW/MIA Flag Act to U.S. SENATE/ If you disagree with us – either amend Title 36, United States U.S. HOUSE here today in testimony – or as Code, to require that the POW/ OF REPRESENTATIVES we work for our fellow veterans – MIA flag be displayed on all days that the flag of the United States WASHINGTON, D.C. please say so and we will respect your position. Otherwise we ask is displayed on certain Federal for your unwavering advocacy on property. We must honor those MARCH 7, 2019 these issues. who have served our nation cou- rageously, including those who Chairmen and members of the We draw your attention to sev- have not made it home. House and Senate Veteran’s Af- eral bills which we believe have fairs Committee and guests, my special merit and request your ac- · Full Military Honors Bill has name is Charles A. Susino, National tive support. been reintroduced in this session Director/Legislative Officer of the and needs to be quickly passed. American Ex-Prisoners of War. · The Blue Water Navy Viet- The Bills, in both the House and nam Veterans Act HR 299 & 203 Senate, would provide full military I thank you for the opportunity to needs to be passed. It is beyond honors for the funeral of an eli- express our concerns today. Many reasonable when the exposures gible veteran who: of you knew my father, Charles endured by servicemen and Susino, Jr., National Commander of women to dangerous chemicals 1. is first interred or inurned in Ar- our organization for many years. and toxics takes decades for the lington National Cemetery on or It was his voice that urged many after enactment of this bill, of you to do the right thing on Ex-POW Bulletin behalf of all veterans. I will at- 2. was awarded the medal of honor tempt to channel that voice to- Apr-June 2019 8 or the prisoner-of-war medal, and legislative, cont’d... · It is not modern for veterans to Secretary Wilkie be denied multiple medications be- cause the physician explains, testifies that VA will 3. is not currently entitled to full “that is the VA policy”. accelerate disability military honors because of such benefits claims veteran’s grade. · It is not modern for a veteran to wait weeks for an appointment processing for Purple We understand that Arlington with their primary physician for a Heart Medal recipi- Cemetery has quietly adopted the routine illness. Does the public ents. provisions of these Bills for Medal wait weeks to see their physician of Honor recipients; however, they for routine illnesses such as an ear are using the excuse of long wait- ache or a sinus infection? Of On Feb. 26, 2019, at a con- ing periods to deny expansion to course not and neither should the gressional hearing, VA Secre- former POWs. We feel it should be veteran. tary Robert Wilkie announced up to the families to make that that effective in April, it will pro- decision. Many would agree the moderniza- vide priority disability benefits tion and culture are the most dif- claims processing for the initial ‘‘Gold Star- Families Remembrance ficult to achieve. If that is the claims from discharged combat Day’’. March 2, 2019 marks the 90th case than we need to provide the Veterans who have been year to honor and recognize the approach including the appropri- awarded the Purple Heart sacrifices made by the veteran and ate metrics to measure the level Medal. their families who gave their lives of attention both from within the to defend freedom. VA and its oversight - Congress. Secretary Wilkie announced his decision at a hearing before the While all present would agree it is In 1981, Congress and the Presi- House Appropriations Subcom- demanding work to get the sup- dent passed Public Law 97-37. It mittee on Military Construction, port to provide Bills to Congress mandated VA health care for vet- Veterans Affairs, and Related for their consideration and ulti- erans with service connected dis- Agencies. “Those who hold the mate passage however that is abilities as well as other special Purple Heart, the recognition of only the first step. The veteran’s groups of veterans. It included wounds taken in battle, will now health benefit experience and im- veterans up to WWI, some 58 receive priority consideration provement to their quality of life years after the end of the war. when it comes to claims before is a measure of Congressional ac- WWII ended over 75 years ago. the Department of Veterans Af- tion and the VA’s timely and ef- fairs,” said Secretary Wilkie. The fective implementation. Imple- We have asked you for the better Veterans Benefits Administra- mentation within a high perform- part of the last decade to revisit tion will amend its priority pro- ing organization. A high perform- the special groups and update to cessing categories to include ing organization can only exist include veterans of WWII, Korea, initial claims received from within a framework and culture of Vietnam, Cold War, and our recent Purple Heart recipients on or strong and accountable leadership conflicts in the Middle East. We after April 1, 2019. and employees, modern systems have requested for many years to support the information needs, with no movement on the part of Purple Heart recipients are al- and continuous improvement. We Congress. The political landscape ready treated on a priority ba- believe these shortcomings con- is ever changing and this Presi- sis at VA hospitals and are ex- tinue to prevent the veteran re- dent may see it appropriate and empt from co-payments for ceiving what they deserve. fair treatment for those that have their medical care. The Purple kept our country free. Heart award is the oldest U.S. · It is not modern for a IT system military decoration and is to allow you to schedule a physi- awarded to U.S. service mem- cian appointment yet does not al- bers for wounds suffered at the low to cancel or reschedule. hands ofthe enemy. General Thank you for your attention. George Washington awarded · It is not modern for a treating the first purple-colored heart- physician to explain that I know shaped badges to soldiers who the medicine you need but you fought in the Continental Army need to see a different specialist Ex-POW Bulletin during the American Revolution. to receive that care. Apr-June 2019 In 1932, it was revived to com- memorate Washington’s 200th 9 birthday. The House Committee on The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Veterans Affairs B234 Longworth Russell Senate Building- Room 412 House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 Majority Staff 202-224-9126 202-225-9756 Minority Staff 202-224-2074

Members Members

Democrats: Republicans:

Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) Chairman Johnny Isakson (R - GA) Chair Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) Moran, Jerry (KS) Congresswoman Kathleen Rice (NY-04) Boozman, John (AR) Congressman Conor Lamb (PA-14) Cassidy, Bill (LA) Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) Rounds, Mike (SD) Congressman Max Rose (NY-11) Tillis, Thom (NC) Congressman Anthony Brindisi (NY-22) Sullivan, Dan (AK) Congressman Gil Cisneros (CA-39) Blackburn, Marsha (TN) Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) Cramer, Kevin (ND) Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) Congressman Joe Cunningham (SC-01) Democrats: Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) Jon Tester (D - MT) Ranking Member Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) Murray, Patty (WA) Congressman Collin Peterson (MN-07) Sanders, Bernie (VT) Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan Brown, Sherrod (OH) (Northern Mariana Islands) Blumenthal, Richard (CT) Hirono, Mazie K. (HI) Republicans: Manchin III., Joe (WV) Sinema, Kyrsten (AZ) Rep. Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN), Ranking Member Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) Rep. Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) Rep. Dr. Neal Dunn (R-FL) Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS) Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL)

Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 10 event broke records andersonville both for number of wreaths and for at- tendance!

At noon, LTC Robert Kelley, Commander of the Civil Air Pa- trol, conducted a beautiful welcome ceremony. Park Su- perintendent Charles Sellars and Bennett International Vice Andersonville NHS President Lee Gentry offered brief 496 Cemetery Road On Friday, December 14th, Bennett remarks. Then the approximately Andersonville, GA 31711 International delivered the wreaths 600 people attending the event (229) 924-0343 from McDonough, Georgia, to the fanned out and began laying park in a procession that included wreaths. It was inspiring to see Supt. Charles Sellars a police and helicopter escort. so much support for Andersonville [email protected] Three semi-tractor trailers were National Cemetery and the fallen required to carry all 15,500 military men and women buried Each December, Andersonville Na- wreaths! Their route included a there. By afternoon’s end, a tional Historic Site partners with portion of Highway 19 named for wreath lay on 15,500 of the over the Civil Air Patrol and Wreaths local Ellaville native SFC Victor A. 20,000 graves in Andersonville Across America, a national program Anderson, who was killed in Iraq National Cemetery. Many people that encourages families, commu- and is buried in Andersonville Na- remarked on the striking beauty nity groups, and individuals to tional Cemetery. Hun- sponsor wreaths for placement in dreds of boxes of wreaths national cemeteries across the were unloaded in the rain United States. In 2017, this effort and strategically placed brought a record 3,654 wreaths around the cemetery. for placement in Andersonville Na- tional Cemetery. The wreaths were It was a chilly and wet delivered by Bennett International morning Saturday, De- LLC. cember 15th, 2018 as dawn came peeking After the 2017 event, Bennett In- through the pines around ternational reached out to the park Andersonville National with an interest in increasing the Cemetery and park staff number of wreaths brought to made final preparations Andersonville National Cemetery. A for the big event. The partnership was established be- weather of the past few days had and stirring tribute created by tens tween Bennett International, the cast doubt as to how the event of thousands of wreaths covering Civil Air Patrol, Wreaths Across would go and how well it would be most of the national cemetery. America, and Andersonville National attended. But the morning proved Historic Site. Over the course of to be clear and bright, and the With the support and partnership the year, Bennett International event was so well attended that of Bennett International, the Tay- and their nonprofit partner, the parking quickly overtook the cem- Taylor Foundation, led efforts to etery roads and the overflow park- “There is nothing so American as promote the event and set a new ing, spilling over to fill the museum our national parks.... The record for the number of wreaths parking lot and even the sides of fundamental idea behind the sponsored for the park. The effort the main park entrance road! This parks...is that the country was incredibly successful, shatter- year’s Wreaths Across America belongs to the people, that it is in ing the previous record and bring- process of making for the ing 15,500 wreaths for placement Ex-POW Bulletin enrichment of the lives of all of at Andersonville National Cem- Apr-June 2019 etery. us.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt 11 (1936) lected as the new Education parole and exchange of POWs dur- andersonville, Technician for the park, a position ing the American Civil War. We in- cont’d.. that will help expand our educa- vite all former POWs to attend this tion program and develop addi- program and also to view our next lor Foundation, The Civil Air Pa- tional activities to teach students temporary exhibit, the European trol, and Wreaths Across America, about POWs, the Civil War, and Theater of World War II, which will our new goal is to reach 20,000 other topics. Adam Childs was be displayed at the National Pris- wreaths by 2020. The hope and hired as a Laborer for the park’s oner of War Museum. intention is to place a wreath on maintenance division. Finally, each and every grave in Jaden Terry and Gloria Beard were May will herald the arrival of one Andersonville National Cemetery hired as part-time Student Trainee of our largest annual events, Me- and ensure that every military man Park Guides for the park’s inter- morial Day. This year’s commemo- and woman resting in honor within pretation division. ration will begin with the raising of th its walls is both remembered and the Avenue of Flags on May 17 . honored. For more information With the early ending of winter our More than 200 full-sized American about Wreaths Across America or attention is now turned to the flags will be on display until May th to sponsor a wreath, visit their quickly arriving spring. Starting off 29 and will set a patriotic and website: our spring season is the annual Liv- reverent tone for the activities to th (wreathsacrossamerica.org). ing History Weekend, held March come. On Saturday, May 25 , hun- 16-17 this year. Living Historians dreds of scouts, families, and oth- From December 22 through Janu- will portray Union prisoners and ers gather to place a small Ameri- ary 25, most of the park was Confederate guards. Cannon fir- can flag on each of the over closed due to the federal lapse in ing demonstrations, distribution of 20,000 graves in Andersonville appropriations. However, the na- rations, infantry firing demonstra- National Cemetery. On Sunday, th tional cemetery continued to be tions, children’s activities, and May 26 , a special observance open to the public daily. Burial ser- other special programs will be of- ceremony will be held. Finally on vices for military veterans also fered. Our special guest continued as scheduled. On Sat- speaker this year is Angela urday, January 26th, 2019, the park Zombeck, Assistant Professor resumed full operation. of History at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, In January, the Victory From Within who will present “Catholics in traveling exhibit left the Coronado Captivity: Finding God in Quivera Museum in Lyons, Kansas. Andersonville”. This annual The exhibit was so popular there event, which offers a small that they had extended its dis- glimpse of life as a POW at play. After leaving Kansas, it was Camp Sumter, is always well transported to Heroes Hall in Costa attended. Mesa, California, where it will be on display until September. If you As National Former POW Rec- th th live in or plan to visit the Costa ognition Day arrives on April 9 , Monday, May 27 , the Knights of Mesa area, we encourage you to the park will commemorate the oc- Columbus will hold a traditional go to Heroes Hall and see the Vic- casion with the Avenue of Flags, mass in the national cemetery. tory From Within exhibit. which will be on display from April 5-19. Many visitors come to the Spring is a busy time of year at The past few months have also park to see this dramatic display Andersonville National Historic Site, brought several staff changes to of over 200 full-sized American and with many events and activities. the park. Jennifer Hopkins, who has POW/MIA flags. The park will also Park entrance and all activities are worked for the park’s interpreta- offer a special program on Sun- free and open to the public. We th tion division for several years, was day, April 7 . David Silkenat, Se- hope you and your family will visit promoted to Lead Park Ranger and nior Lecturer of American History and join us for one or more of these will manage daily operations at the from the University of Edinburgh, special occasions. National Prisoner of War Museum. will discuss his new book Raising Tony Jago, who has worked for the the White Flag, which examines park’s maintenance division for PHOTO 1: Hugh Peacock, NPS several years, was promoted to Ex-POW Bulletin PHOTO 2: Jody Mays, NPS Facility Management System Spe- Apr-June 2019 PHOTO 3: Hugh Peacock, NPS cialist. Lindsay Galland was se- 12 taken to Hanoi while Martin were returned to US control in July namPOW evaded long enough to reach 1988. Laos. He was captured and placed in a primitive POW camp. Robinson, Black and Cormier ended news Martin escaped on July 20, 1966 up in 1968-1969 being held in Room along with Navy pilot Lt (jg) Di- 4 of the Zoo-Annex (Cu Loc prison). Tales from the Hanoi eter Dengler, Shortly after their The Annex consisted of eight rooms Hilton—Commissioning escape, 1Lt Martin was killed by each holding 9 POWs, all of whom a villager as he sought food and held the ranks of O3 or below. The three enlisted POWs in water. His remains have never prison complex next door, the ma- Hanoi. been found. After two weeks jor part of Cu Loc, was called the surviving in the jungle, Dieter Zoo. The Zoo held an equal num- Dengler was spotted by a US ber of POWs with the ranks of O4 helicopter, rescued and returned and below. to Danang where he was hospi- talized. Dengler was rescued a On the night of May 10th, 1969 Air second time by his squadron Force Captains John Arthur Dramesi mates from VA-145 aboard U.S, and Edwin Lee Atterberry escaped Ranger, CV61 when he was sur- from Room 5. The next day they reptitiously whisked out of the were captured a few miles outside hospital and returned aboard of Hanoi. Dramesi survived the tor- Ranger. ture but Atterberry died within two days of brutal interrogation. All the Staff Sergeant (SSgt) (E5) senior officers of each of the eight Arthur Cormier was a rooms of the Annex were removed Pararescueman aboard a CH3C from their cells and underwent in- By Navy Captain Mike McGrath (63-9685) helicopter piloted by tense and brutal interrogations. Captain Warren Robert Lilly, USAF Beatings of all POWs in the camp Here is a straight-from-the- and co-pilot 1Lt Jerry Allen with fan belts were common. Many horse’s-mouth story about the Singleton, USAF. They were fly- were put in leg irons. All air vents commissioning of the three U.S. ing with the 38th ARS out of Thai- were sealed and medical treatment Air Force enlisted men held as Pris- land when shot down during a was denied. In the 120 degree heat oners of War in the prisons of rescue mission in North Vietnam in the sealed cells, all men quickly Hanoi, 1965-1973. The three en- November 6, 1965. A fourth developed boils, ringworm and heat listed men had been shot down member of the Jolly Green 85 rash over their bodies. The enlisted and captured in North Vietnam crew, SSgt B.E. Naugle was res- men were no exception. while conducting rescue missions cued but was badly burned. for downed Air Force pilots. Cormier, Lilly and Singleton be- The six officers of Room 4 decided came POWs in the infamous that since the three enlisted men Flight Engineer A1C (E4) William Hanoi Hilton. Cormier would later in their room, (Pararescueman A3C Andrew Robinson and join the two Air Force Captains (E2) Arthur Neil Black, Pararescueman A3C (E2) Arthur who were flying Rescap that day. Pararescueman SSgt (E5) Arthur Neil Black were flight crew mem- Captain Richard Eugene Bolstad John Cormier, and Flight Engineer bers of a HH43B (62-4510) piloted and Captain George Grigsby A1C (E4) William Andrew Robinson), by Captain Thomas Jerry Curtis, McKnight were flying separate A- were going through the same rough USAF and co-pilot 1Lt Duane 1E Sandy aircraft from the 602 treatment as the rest of the offic- Whitney Martin, USAF September ACS, 6251 TFW out of Bien Hoa ers in camp, they should be given 20, 1965. Curtis, Martin and detached to Udorn, Thailand a “battlefield commission.” The SRO Robinson were with the 38th Air when shot down. The pilot they of Room 4, Lt (jg) Richard Marvin Rescue Squadron. Black was at- were trying to rescue was Lt Col Brunhaver requested permission tached to the 41st ARS. Both George Carlton McCleary who had from Air Force Captain Conrad squadrons were based in Thailand. been shot down the day before. Trautman (Konnie), the Annex camp Black was a volunteer who jumped McCleary was flying a F-105D Senior Ranking Officer (SRO) in Room aboard the helicopter at the last from the 357 TFS out of Korat, 5 to approve a battlefield commis- moment without proper clothing or Thailand. McCleary was never sion for the three men. even a military identity card. All spotted. He was presumptively four of these rescue crewmembers found to have died. His remains Captain Trautman, the senior rank- became POWs. Robinson, Black ing officer of 72 junior officers in and Curtis were captured along Ex-POW Bulletin the Annex, agreed. He said the Air Force could consider the legality of with the F105 pilot, Captain Willis Apr-June 2019 Ellis Forby flying with the 334 TFS the battlefield commission after out of Takhli, Thailand. They were 13 eventual release. (Note: Release nampow, cont’d... dier General Flynn swore in Neil six years, Captain McGrath par- Black. Colonel Fred Vann Cherry, ticipated in communication and or- came during Operation Homecom- USAF swore in Bill Robinson. Se- ganization efforts to resist enemy ing, Feb-Mar 1973). The men of nior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) exploitation. His experiences have Room 4 set up an Officer Candi- (E8) Art Cormier held off accept- been chronicled and illustrated in date Course for the three men. ing his commission as he was up his book, Prisoner of War—Six This later turned out to be an for promotion to Chief Master Ser- Years in Hanoi. The book is in its important decision which the Air geant CMSgt (E9). It was impor- 11th printing and is available from Force took under consideration tant to Art to reach this accom- the Naval Institute. upon their return. After the of- plishment, the highest level of pro- ficer candidate course was com- motion for the enlisted ranks. Af- Captain McGrath was repatriated pleted, Room 4 SRO, Skip ter reaching CMSgt (E9) in Febru- on March 4, 1973. After rejoining Brunhaver turned over the re- ary 1974, Art Cormier accepted his his family in San Diego, he at- sponsibility of administering the promotion to 2Lt. Cormier’s date tended the Naval Postgraduate Oath of Office, which can be of commission was back dated to School in Monterey, California. He found in Section 3331, Title 5, April 9th, 1973. Arthur Neil Black graduated in September 1975 re- United States Code, to the se- would later retire with the rank of ceiving a Masters Degree in Finan- nior ranking Air Force officer in Major, USAF. William Andrew cial Management. He reported to Room 4, 1Lt John L. Borling. Robison and Arthur John Cormier VA-195 to fly the A7E before join- would retire with the rank of Cap- ing the VA-97 “Warhawks” as Ex- Later, in Camp Unity, the senior tain. Both William Robinson and ecutive Officer in October 1977. ranking officer of all Vietnam Neil Black are recipients of the Air He took command in January 1979 POWs, Air Force Colonel John Pe- Force Cross, the nation’s second to lead the squadron in highly suc- ter Flynn was briefed on this highest military award behind only cessful WESTPAC cruises includ- event. After release of all POWs the Congressional Medal of Honor. ing operations on “Gonzo Station” during Operation Homecoming, They were the first Air Force en- during the Iranian hostage crisis. General Flynn took charge in pre- listed men to receive the Air Force Following his sea tour, Captain senting the issue to the Air Force. Cross. McGrath reported to the U.S. Na- The Chief of Staff of the Air Force val Academy as Chairman of the turned the Captain John Michael McGrath, Leadership and Law Department. commissioning down. Flynn then USN (Ret): Mike’s final Navy assignment was took it to the Secretary of the Captain Mike McGrath, a native of a three year tour as naval attaché Air Force who in turn denied the Delta, Colorado, attended the Uni- in Quito, Ecuador. Mike retired commissioning. Flynn then went versity of Colorado for one year from the Navy in January 1987. to the Secretary of Defense who prior to entering the United States in turn denied the commissioning. Naval Academy. Upon graduating Captain McGrath’s military awards Flynn then did the unthinkable. from Annapolis in June 1962, he include: The Silver Star, Defense He went to President Nixon and entered Naval Aviation flight train- Superior Service Medal, two Le- briefed the President on what ing at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He gion of Merit Medals with Combat these three men went through was designated a Naval Aviator in “V,” two Distinguished Flying and what actions the officers of November 1963. Crosses, two Bronze Stars with Room 4 had taken. Combat “V,” 17 Strike/Flight Air In 1964, Mike’s first tour was as a Medals, three Navy Commendation The President liked what he saw. flight instructor with Training Medals with Combat “V,” two Purple He said, “Yes, make it happen.” Squadron Two. He began his first Hearts and the Prisoner of War And it did. Brigadier General Flynn sea duty tour in early 1965 when Medal. Civil awards include his re- would later confide to Bill Robinson he joined the “Blue Diamonds” of cent election to the Colorado in a private conversation that this VA-146. Flying the A-4C chapter of the National Wrestling was one of his greatest accom- “Skyhawk,” he flew 179 combat Hall of Fame. Mike was the recipi- plishments. He was extremely missions from the decks of USS ent of the 2003 Medal of Courage proud that he could accomplish Ranger and USS Constellation be- award. the impossible for three men un- fore being downed by enemy gun- der his command. fire on June 30, 1967 over North Mike is married to the former Vietnam. Marlene Hanuschak of Young- The three enlisted men remained stown, Ohio. They live in Monu- on active duty after their release Destined to wait out the Vietnam ment, Colorado. Mike recently re- February 12, 1973. Robinson and War as a Prisoner of War for nearly tired from United Airlines. Golf, Black, both of whom had reached fly fishing and six grandchildren the rank of MSgt (E7), were sworn Ex-POW Bulletin keep the McGraths active as they in as Air Force second lieuten- enjoy life in the Colorado Rockies. ants on April 9th, 1973. Briga- Apr-June 2019 14 Malta, U. of Delaware, Flanders remote and dangerous” terrain Marine Institute, Institute of Mari- and the “high cost of deploying time Heritage, Deep Sea Produc- teams.” tions, SCRIPPS, Project Recover, and U.S. Navy SPAWAR. Sears, the historian, said there may be another issue: the apa- • Surveys and Mission Support: thy of time…. Army Geospatial Command, U. of Warsaw Institute of Archaeology, According to Chris Carola with the and U. of New Orleans. PI also Associated Press, in an article pow/mia implemented cooperative agree- dated 02/01/19: ALBANY, N.Y. — ments and grants; expanded the American Legion officials are call- agency’s volunteer program; and Mary Schantag, Chairman ing on New York lawmakers to re- increased the “hub and spokes” P.O.W. Network quest the Pentagon exhume the program for historical research, [email protected] Long Island graves of sailors killed with nine participating institu- in a World War II ship explosion in tions: The Ohio State U., Temple an attempt to identify the fallen 2018 in Review U., Texas A&M, U. of Wisconsin, servicemen…. East Carolina U., U. of Southern Mississippi, Brigham Young U., and Per DPAA: 203 ACCOUNTED FOR Four graves are known to con- October 1, 2017 through Septem- Tuskegee U. as well as the World War II Museum in New Orleans. tain the remains of some of the ber 30, 2018 136 sailors killed when the USS Turner exploded and sank near the Results from the lab hit a high- PRESCOTT, AZ (3TV/CBS 5)--A entrance to New York Harbor on water mark in FY18, with a total self-funded Arizona explorer [a Jan. 3, 1944. The total number of of 203 previously missing individu- non-profit called MIA Recoveries] sailors buried in each grave isn’t als being accounted for. The re- has found nearly two dozen plane known. Each gravestone is en- solved losses included 10 from the crashes from World War II, help- graved with the words “Unknown Vietnam War, 156 from World War ing account for the remains of 193 U.S. Sailor” and the date of the II, and 37 from the Korean War. American casualties that have been missing since World War II in sinking. WWII identifications included the the eastern Himalayas. 100th identification from these About 150 sailors survived the disinterred USS Oklahoma remains. Clayton Kuhles, 65, of Prescott has blast…. At the end of FY18, DPAA had been searching for missing aircraft identified 181 individuals from the wrecks near the borders of China, In February 2017, DPAA officials ship’s crew. Also identified was Myanmar and India since 2002… told the AP that dental records Capt. Lawrence Dickson, the first with a team of porters in hopes of and other documents that could Tuskegee Airman accounted for bringing fallen American airmen help identify the remains buried out of 27 reported missing during home for a proper burial. in the Long Island graves were World War II. missing. The agency said at that time the officials said an effort DPAA conducted more than 30 He has found and successfully identified 22 plane crashes from was being made to find those field missions involving partners in documents. FY18, marking a ten-fold increase WWII… over FY17. Here is a list of the It couldn’t immediately be deter- partners who were involved or are …In December, the Defense POW/ mined from DPAA officials if the currently involved in these efforts: MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said it has three teams actively records were found. • Terrestrial Investigation and Re- working in the region to recover covery: U. of Wisconsin, Archaeo- remains, but there are still hun- Donna Knox, the daughter of Lt. logical and Historical Conservancy, dreds of undiscovered wrecks... Harold W. Downes, Jr., MIA as of U. of Maryland, Shoulder to Shoul- January 13, 1952 says: Senate der, U. of Queensland, St Mary’s DPAA said its efforts in the area Bill 120, the Bring Our Heroes U., Cranfield U., U. of Illinois - Chi- are hampered by the “austere, Home Act, has been limping cago, SEARCH, and History Flight. around Senate halls since it was Ex-POW Bulletin introduced to this Congress by • Underwater Investigation and Apr-June 2019 Sen. Heller in [January] 2017…. Recovery: East Carolina U., U. of 15 pow/mia cont’d... POW and MIA empty chair tribute unveiled in Winslow NJ

So where does all this leave us? Still not knowing what intelli- 2019 WINSLOW TWP. – gence lies buried in archives or No one will sit in a new file rooms that could bring an- chair at the Winslow swers from the dark corners of Township Municipal secrets past. We will have no Building, but it will still way of changing that situation have an important unless S-120 or its successor is function, officials said. passed… The commemorative chair will honor the But then, if our government nearly 82,000 American wanted transparency on the is- prisoners of war and sue, it would have brought it soldiers missing in ac- about decades ago. Which, of tion. The chair, pur- course, fuels the fire and makes chased by Winslow me wonder What are they hid- Township, will remain ing? If the answer to that ques- unoccupied as a poi- tion is Nothing, what are they gnant reminder of ser- waiting for? vice member who have not returned home. I challenge those in positions of influence to actively support the “It’s a way to show Bring Our Heroes Home Act. I young people exactly challenge the American People, what our history is,” especially families whose loved said Winslow Mayor ones remain missing, to pressure Barry Wright. their elected officials to get this job done. The men who disap- “Most of them probably don’t know we lost 58,000 Americans in peared without an accounting Vietnam.” deserve no less. Wright said his own brother served 13 months in Vietnam, and died As of March 1, 2019, the cur- from the effects of Agent Orange. The chair that honors POW and rent status of Unaccounted-for MIA service members was unveiled at a ceremony March 12, 2019 Americans Lost in the VIetnam at the municipal building. Wright said a veterans group approached War: the township about purchasing and dedicating a chair. Winslow offi- Vietnam cials already have many connections with local veterans through Original Missing 1,973 their work with Veterans Haven at Ancora State Hospital and the Repatriated & Identified 727 township’s VFW post. And Township Committeeman Carlos Vascos Remain Missing 1,246 was newly assigned as a liaison to the Veterans Affairs Department, Laos Wright said. The mayor added that the township believed the com- Original Missing 573 memorative chair was just another way to acknowledge veterans’ Repatriated & Identified 285 significance. Remain Missing 288 Cambodia “You talk about what patriotism is, and you look at the people who Original Missing 90 sacrificed so much, and people who have not returned.” Repatriated & Identified 42 Remain Missing 48 China Original Missing 10 Sheri Berkery Cherry Hill Courier-Post Repatriated & Identified 3 @SheriBerkery; 856-486-2673 Remain Missing 7 Ex-POW Bulletin TOTAL Missing & Accounted-For Apr-June 2019 1,589 16 There is no question that Los he reached across his body to a Baños was liberated by 11th Air- pocket in his blouse that was civilians borne troopers on February 23, where Japanese often kept a gre- Angus Lorenzen 1945. Internees remember gue- nade in case they were captured, [email protected] rillas streaming out of the jungle and a GI shot him. When he went to attack the pillboxes at the camp down, a group of internees stand- entrance and to circle and enter ing nearby kicked his body, after BACEPOW the camp from the opposite side which his body was dragged into Bay Area Civilian Ex- as the Japanese guards were in the front lobby of the Main Build- Prisoners of War. total disarray while the parachut- ing. I give this story some cred- Membership is open to ists were dropping. Internees give ibility since I observed his body credit to the guerillas, led by the there about ½ hour after the gate all former prisoners 11th Airborne Reconnaissance Pla- was breached and still there 15 of the Japanese, their toon, for suppressing the Japa- minutes before the firefight in the families, and friends. nese ability to counter the Air- Education building started. Which There is an active borne troopers and to keep casu- story will History record? descendents group. alties to a minimum. In his book, Rescue at Los Baños, Bruce These anecdotes are not intended www.bacepow.net Henderson gives very little credit to challenge the accuracy of the Commander, Angus to the guerillas. reporters, but to illustrate how dif- Lorenzen ferently people can view a signifi- In Santo Tomas, the rescued in- cant event. This is sometimes It is said that there are two things ternees saw many things very dif- called “the fog of war”, where a person should avoid – visiting a ferently. One case was the death people can’t see, or remember factory to watch sausage being of the hated deputy camp com- events clearly, or misremember made and visiting the legislature mander, Lt. Abiko. Many intern- them. This is the challenge that to watch laws being made. There ees agree that they saw Abiko’s historians face when trying to draw should be one addition, though it body on the morning after libera- the whole truth from the myriad may be unavoidable, and that is tion stretched out on a table in a reports. People writing about their to avoid watching history being small room beneath the stairwell personal experiences in one of the made. It is disheartening to be in the rear lobby of the Main Build- camps or transcribing diaries need there when something earth shat- ing looking as if he had been to be aware how discrepancies tering happens, then to later read beaten. But how did he die? A can creep into an account, which an historian’s account that com- favorite story is that a group of could then discredit it. Since sev- pletely discredits what you saw. internees caught him and beat him eral people have work in progress to death, then posed him in the along this line, it is incumbent on Bilibid POW camp was liberated room. There are at least 8 differ- BACEPOW to help them keep the shortly after Santo Tomas. The ent stories about how he died, in- record accurate, and to this end, civilians interned in Baguio had cluding one in which he was we have created the position of been transported to Bilibid in Ma- wounded and taken to the clinic Historian on our board of directors nila in late December 1944. At a next to the Main Building lobby, to: reunion years after liberation, they where he was patched up and · Respond to inquiries from published a book in which it was moved to a bed in an adjacent people both within and outside stated that liberation occurred on women’s dormitory where BACEPOW to refer them to docu- February 5, 1945, and many writ- wounded GIs were being treated. mentation or connect them to ex- ten accounts support this date, When the woman whose bed he perts on the subject matter for so we have been regarding this was in found him, she made such help answering their research as the banner day for the Bilibid a fuss that he had to be removed, questions prisoners. Then Jim Zobel dug up then died. The most credible story · Facilitate collecting, pre- a letter from the MacArthur Me- is that he was standing on the serving, digitizing and sharing ma- morial archives written by one of Plaza between the Main Building terials documenting the internment the 37th Infantry troopers who lib- and the Education Building nego- camps and the Occupation (e.g. erated the camp, recording the tiating about the hostages with a on the BACEPOW website) so that date as February 4, and there are group of American officers when current and accurate information ex-internees from Bilibid who are is available adamant that liberation was on the Ex-POW Bulletin · Review and provide feed- th back on materials (e.g., articles, 4 . So how does History treat Apr-June 2019 this discrepancy? books, films) submitted to 17 cant statutory changes to ben- civilians, cont’d... efit Veterans in decades. BACEPOW for consistency and ac- curacy with actual events events “This is a historic day for VA, its stakeholders and, most impor- Sally Meadows is this Historian, at tantly, for Veterans and their [email protected]. families,” said VA Secretary Rob- April 27, 2019. AXPOW Board of She is working with her father to ert Wilkie. “The implementation Directors meeting will be held at compile his records of Santo Tomas of the Appeals Modernization Act the Arlington Hilton, 2401 East to donate to the MacArthur Memo- comes as a direct result of col- Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX. Make rial and has developed an extensive laboration among VA, Congress your room reservation directly digital record of pertinent informa- and Veteran Service Organiza- with the hotel: 817-640-3322. tion. tions to deliver on Veterans’ Free airport shuttle/free parking. longstanding desire for reform of All are welcome! Sally will work closely with Cliff Mills the legacy appeals system. Be- who is building a comprehensive ginning today, Veterans will have August 9-10, 2019. Ohio State website about the Philippine intern- greater choice in how VA reviews Convention will be held at Drury ment experience and is an impor- their disagreement with a VA Inn and Suites, Grove City, Ohio. tant source, and he also answers claims decision and enjoy timely Please make your reservation by inquiries about people and events in resolutions of disagreements calling Drury Inn and Suites at the camps from his extensive knowl- through a streamlined process.” 1-800-325-0720 and refer to edge and files. The website is http:/ Group No. 2350228. Or go online /philippineinternment.com and is dis- Veterans who appeal a VA claims to www.druryhotels.com then cussed in more detail in another ar- decision have three decision re- enter Group number 2350228. ticle in this edition. view options: Higher-Level Re- Again this year, the Chapter is view, Supplemental Claim and footing the bill for the rooms and This gives us two terrific resources Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ all food. We would like to see all to help us develop information and Appeals. of you at the convention!! keep our history as accurate as is possible under the circumstances and VA’s goal is to complete Supple- to penetrate the fog of war and fad- mental Claims and Higher-Level ing memory. Reviews in an average of 125 News days, and decisions appealed to the Board for direct review in an WEIGHT CHECKING average of 365 days. Under the POPULAR SPORT Briefs legacy process, decisions aver- AT SANTO TOMAS aged three to seven years.

MANILA, March 4. (AP) – VA’s Appeals VA remains committed to reduc- Modernization Act ing significantly the inventory of One of the longest queues in legacy appeals. VA’s fiscal year Manila is at the Santo Tomas 2019 budget included funding for New law streamlines scales. 605 additional appeals employ- department’s current claims and As liberated internees and ees, which VA used to establish appeals process for Veterans prisoners of war await two new Decision Review Opera- transportation home they are tions Centers at the St. Peters- eager to restore as much weight On Feb. 19, 2019, the U.S. De- burg, Florida, and Seattle, Wash- as possible now that good food partment of Veterans Affairs (VA) ington, regional offices. The is plentiful. announced that it has imple- former Appeals Resource Center There is only one scale mented the Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C., was con- and every day they wait in line – Improvement and Modernization verted to a third Decision Re- persons who lost as much as 100 Act of 2017, which was signed view Operations Center. pounds under Japanese captivity into law Aug. 23, 2017, and rep- – to see how many ounces they resents one of the most signifi- For more than 18 months, VA has have put on daily. All have gained worked toward full implementa- appreciably in the last couple of Ex-POW Bulletin tion of the Appeals Moderniza- weeks, some enormously. Apr-June 2019 tion Act, but reform has been a 18 goal for VA and its stakeholders news, cont’d... for years. In March 2016, VA spon- sored an “Appeals Summit” in which VA, Veterans Service Orga- nizations, Veterans advocates and Congress worked together to de- sign a new appeals system. The summit resulted in the drafting, passage and implementation of the Appeals Modernization Act.

Health Records System LEFt: Bob Teichgraeber in 1945. With the British Army and wearing The Departments of Defense and a British Army uniform after escaping from 86 day Hunger March Veterans Affairs are still trying to from Stalag Luft 4 on April 15. figure out how to best align their RIGHT: Bob Teichgraeber in 2018. Celebrating Veterans Day. 73 agencies’ respective plans to cre- years later. ate a common Cerner electronic health record system. Speaking on The research vessel Petrel, owned House Foundation and is pleased 13 FEB at the HIMSS19 confer- by the estate of late Microsoft co- to expand support of their impor- ence in Orlando, DoD and VA pro- founder Paul Allen, discovered the tant mission,” said VA Secretary gram officials said coordinating Hornet three miles under the ocean Robert Wilkie. “Since the first VA their activities to ensure surface off the Solomon Islands Fisher House was built in Albany, interoperable EHR systems is a late last month. The Hornet, the New York, staff and volunteers work in progress, emphasizing that last U.S. fleet carrier to be sunk serve passionately with gratitude the agencies continue to discuss by enemy fire, lost 140 hands un- in a welcoming ‘home away from an optimal organizational design der a relentless Japanese air home’ for families of Veterans un- that will facilitate coordinated de- bombing attack at the Battle of dergoing critical care and treat- cision-making and oversight when the Santa Cruz Islands on Octo- ment at VA.” it comes to governance. ber 26, 1942. As Imperial Navy surface forces closed in, all hands Mission Act Toward that end, the DoD and VA were ordered to abandon ship, and The VA Mission Act, a law that Interagency Program Office is the Hornet was finished off by en- expands veterans’ access to pri- working to establish joint EHR mod- emy torpedoes and sent to its vate doctors, is set to go into ef- ernization governance bodies to watery grave. fect in June. VA Secretary Robert foster coordination and improve Wilkie unveiled proposed rules that communication between the de- stipulate when veterans would be partments. “We can’t talk enough Fisher House Expansion allowed to receive private-sector about the work that the Inter- U.S. Department of Veterans Af- medical treatment – changes that agency Program Office has done fairs (VA) announced that Fisher he said would revolutionize the VA to ensure that the DoD and VA House Foundation plans to con- health care system. are aligning around commercial struct three new 16-suite Fisher standards and to also be able to Houses at VA campuses in Ann Under the VA’s proposed rules, provide a consolidated input be- Arbor, Michigan; Aurora, Colorado; veterans who must drive more tween basically the two largest and Omaha, Nebraska; which will than 30 minutes to reach their VA federal healthcare providers,” provide temporary accommoda- mental health or primary care pro- Stacy Cummings, program execu- tions for the families and viders – or wait longer than 20 tive officer for Defense Healthcare caregivers of Veterans and active- days for an appointment – would Management Systems, told a duty military receiving care at the be allowed to use a private doc- HIMSS audience. VA facilities. Construction for the new accommodations will begin tor. The VA plans to post the pro- within the next six months. “VA posed rules to the Federal Regis- Lost Carrier has a great and longstanding 25- ter, where members of the public Discovered year partnership with the Fisher will be allowed to provide input. Some lawmakers on both sides of USS Hornet is found in the South the aisle have urged Wilkie for Pacific 77 years after it was sunk Ex-POW Bulletin more transparency and collabora- by the Imperial Japanese Navy Apr-June 2019 tion about the access standards. 19 Remembering Hands States. Most in line donated ten per day where showers, meals, dollars for their spot. counseling, clothes, and other es- Across America: Why sentials are available. The other, we need a massive act The aim was to channel funds to is an overnight shelter which ex- of kindness today more local charities. While some criti- panded from just winter use to now cized the event as a publicity providing year-round overnight than ever stunt with high administrative shelter. The major non-profit costs, the fact is that Hands (ACTS) supporting the original By Rich Garon Across America raised public con- church shelter scheme has now sciousness to the issues of grown in size and offers a consid- No one among those church vol- homelessness, hunger, and other erable number of programs to sup- unteers on a cold, fall night in 1986 issues relating to poverty. My two port those in need of housing, knew how it would turn out. They young children and I, holding food, and refuge from abusive do- were preparing food and setting hands in the chain in front of the mestic situations. up cots and organizing for a group Lincoln Memorial, felt that event of homeless people who would to be very powerful and inspiring. Hands Across America did have its spend the night in the small, I heard the same feelings voiced detractors who claimed it wasn’t sparsely furnished parish hall. At by many. There were more than well organized, that it raised no- seven o’clock the doors opened enough people at that spot and where near the money it sought, and men, women and several chil- the line doubled around and in and that in a number of other dren got ready to spend the next some spots, tripled around. In ways it fell short of its goal. An 12 hours in a warm, safe place. some areas out west, the line article [LA Times May 26, 1986, didn’t always connect, but esti- Goal of Unbroken Chain Not Met: It was a simple plan coordinated mates said that if the number of Millions Join in Concern for the by a local non-profit and involv- people had been evenly spread, Poor] the day after the event ing several Prince William County, the chain could have been unbro- quoted Marty Rogol, one of orga- Virginia churches. Beginning on a ken. nizers: “confusion was inevitable.” Sunday night, one church would He “warned reporters not to ‘nit- host the shelter for one week, from The legacy of Hands Across pick’” and said further: “we cre- seven pm to seven am. At the end America in my area of the nation ated an event that is unheralded of the week, volunteers from that was foundational. The money in human history. There is no way church would bring supplies – cots, made available for the revolving everybody will do everything right bedding, cooking equipment, and church shelters in concert with the the first time. We controlled the other items to the next church continued dedication of those and event as well as any event could hosting the shelter. There were other churches, non-profits, indi- be controlled.” enough churches and enough turns viduals and the county govern- to last through the winter of that ment would eventually give rise I know I shared with many people year. Back then, there were no to the creation of permanent shel- on the day of the event, a feeling other shelters to house the home- ters. that together we could help less. change things for the better. I At first, the revolving churches was moved that so many parents In the early stages of planning for shelter gave way to a renovated there had the opportunity to join this revolving shelter among old motel with a freestanding with their children in this celebra- churches, it became clear that kitchen. That building was torn tion of the opportunity to do posi- more funds than initially envisioned down and a new state of the art tive things. would be needed to start and shelter was constructed with pri- maintain the shelter. A $5,000 vate rooms, kitchen and laundry Maybe it’s time to again join hands grant from the Hands Across facilities, and counseling and em- across America. We can learn from America campaign helped bankroll ployment services. Another new earlier lessons. I don’t know what the operation during that winter shelter was constructed at the effect technology unavailable that helped many avoid spending other end of the county. Today, thirty-one years ago would have nights outside. there are two additional facilities on such an event, but I think the to support the homeless. One is a internet would help forge solid drop-in center open several hours Hands Across America was a highly connections. Suppose we took a publicized event on May 25, 1986, day and instead of sniping at op- where some six million people held Ex-POW Bulletin ponents real and imagined, we hands in a chain across the United Apr-June 2019 sought their hand in a demonstra- 2019 hands, cont’d... tion of how great our nation can be in a sea of harmonious engage- ment. Efforts to bring our nation together should not be seen as publicity stunts. I’m sure there were people I saw in line that day that didn’t embrace completely policies I thought fundamental to positive change. But maybe there was enough commonality to begin to build on. That’s the way to frame a conversation, instead of shut- ting it down before it starts.

Hands Across America helped ac- celerate the shelter programs reaching out to the homeless in James Rutland, with his service dog Duncan my area. Maybe a second event, involving a new generation, can Most importantly, he suffered from K9s For Warriors is a BBB accred- reach Hands and Hearts Across depression and often thought ited charity organization located America. about suicide. Thinking he could in Ponte Vedra, Florida, that has do it alone, Rutland tried healing been pairing rescue dogs with Rich Garon is an author and the from the trauma on his own. That traumatized soldiers since 2011. former Chief-of-Staff for the Com- wasn’t working. “If you do what The dogs are trained to be ser- mittee on International Relations, you’ve always done, you’ll get vice dogs, specifically performing U.S. House of Representatives. what you always got,” says tasks to quiet the symptoms of Garon now spends much of his time Rutland. war trauma disabilities in soldiers. working with the homeless, and all “The skillsets our dogs learn help proceeds from his latest novel, Lee In 2016, Rutland finally rounded these warriors with anxiety, iso- Fitts, will be donated to the Bill the bend of recovery when he was lation, depression, and night- Mehr Drop-In Center for the home- paired with his service dog, Dunkin. mares,” says Shari Duval, the less in his local community outside “I started focusing on “we instead founder of K9s For Warriors. “So, of Washington, D.C. For more in- of “me”, says Rutland. the warriors can function again in formation please visit public.” www.richgaron.com. He has a semi-colon tattoo on his right wrist, a known symbol of tak- Specifically, the dogs are trained ing a pause when thinking about to deal with symptoms of Post- K-9s for Warriers suicide. Unlike a “period” which traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ends a sentence, the semicolon traumatic brain injury (TBI), or military sexual trauma (MST), as The following is an excerpt from a creates a pause, for the reader, a result of military service on or blog on consumeradvocate.org then continues the story. Rutland after 9/11.- written by Scott Smith. wears it proudly. “It’s a great con- versation starter,” Rutland says. Duval started the program after James Rutland is a 12-year Army watching her son Brett Simon suf- veteran who served a tour of duty He goes on to explain that breath- fer from PTSD after he returned in Iraq in 2004, followed by two ing, family, friends, and the pro- from Iraq. Simon did two tours, more tours in South Korea. He left gram that gave him Dunkin are developing PTSD during the first the military in 2014, suffering from what keeps him going. one. Watching her son suffer from multiple medical conditions related the debilitating condition moti- to his service, including mild trau- vated Duval to research alterna- matic brain injury (TBI), sleep ap tive treatments to the standard nea, and hearing loss, to name a Ex-POW Bulletin talk therapy and medication, nei- few. Apr-June 2019 ther of which worked for her son. 21 In mid-August, the guard motioned k-9s, cont’d... for me to get up and then mo- tioned for me to walk around in “On average, soldiers take 14 Your the cell. What a change! What is meds a day to treat PTSD, TBI, this, after not being able to move or MST,” says Duval. If treatment for all this time? is not working, she says veterans are prescribed more and more In late August, they cut off my drugs. “I even knew one soldier Stories hair and beard then took me down who was taking 44 meds per day.” the hall to a large tub about 6 ft. After two years of researching al- square and 2-½ ft. deep of hot ternative PTSD treatments, Duval Gene Gabs water. I wanted to dive in to re- came upon a program that paired By Gene Evers move a year or more of filth, but service dogs to alleviate their 39439 NW Osterman Rd never got past my crotch. TOO PTSD symptoms in veterans. Forest Grove, OR 97116 DAMN HOT! According to Simon, “Mom was the Being alone with only my thoughts I was given a new set of clothes one that suggested I use a ser- and a lot of stare downs by angry and shoes to put on. Shoes were vice dog to deal with my PTSD guards (Yes, somewhat difficult to so narrow I couldn’t get them clear when nothing else worked.” Duval keep any thought going) and not on, but had to wear them any- saw her son’s symptoms begin to knowing anything about what was way. improve. She then wanted to help going on in the world, you wonder other veterans do the same. what is happening. The last thing I was asked in that cell was “Where did you hide your Thus, the K9s For Warrior program In all that time, I had only two weapon?” Of course I was not was born. With her son’s back- questionsanswered by my inter- armed as I had stated, but I was ground in training dogs, including rogators. I asked if Eisenhower not believed. The crew members 13 years as a canine police of- had been elected President, he would normally carry a .45 on their ficer, Duval convinced Simon to answered “Yes”. After the guards hip. I was asked that many times start the nonprofit together. wore dark ribbons for a few days, while I was there. I asked the interrogator the next To date, the program has res- time he came in “Why?” Stalin had Late evening, Sept. 4, 1953, I was cued more than 850 dogs and 440 died. Shortly after arriving there taken by jeep to a train. Three military service members, with an he askedme if I knew where I was, prisoners in the car, 1 front, 1 back astounding 99 percent program I said “Mukden”. He said “how did and 1 center, with a guard by success rate. you know that?” He then slapped each, no one could talk or make a his own mouth. I didn’t, but a good sound. I recognized Kenneth Bass, Soldier, take me from this guess – just because I could hear the tail gunner on our RB-29. When shelter’s cage. jet engines. Because of guesses I we crossed the Yalu River the next Give me back my life. In return, th had pulled when in North Korea, morning, Sept. 5 , the blinds were I’ll cover your back. he thought I had a radio or some- raised so we could see out at all I’ll be your canine warrior, your thing and had the guards pat me the damage to the landscape. So sixth sense. down and search everything more many large craters from bombs – I’ll stand guard into the night than once. He once asked me and people fishing in some. and chase the demons away, where the radio was hidden. the uninvited, cloaked in night This is the first time that I felt sweats and darkness. I had no information, but in late that we may be heading home. July or early August 1953 the I will help you open your cage of morning rice gruel was the same, That afternoon I was taken to a solitude but the 2nd daily meal was in- tent with 12 cots if I remember then walk tall by your side into creased, even got a spoon a right. Yes, a cot, not on the floor the light of day. couple of times to eat it with. or on the cold rocks. I was the Together, our faith will rise as only one there with a guard stand- tall as your soldier’s pride. ing outside. We are now family in this post- 911 world. Ex-POW Bulletin Late afternoon, the guard took me Because together, we stand. to a stage with several others. I’ll Apr-June 2019 be darned! They look like the RB- -Bridget Cassidy 22 gene gabs, cont’d... up and forced into a jeep so ar- My parents only found some in- rived about 1-½ hours behind us formation on me as a couple of 29 crew! There were 2 or 3 large (the rest of the crew). news reel cameras set up off parents of other crew members stage recording this. Someone got info that I was on that flight Ted Harris was the last man to (Chinese) read a long list of things and passed it around. I still have exchange in the Big Switch, even that we were supposed to have some very nice letters that were though some others have claimed admitted doing. I don’t remember sent our way. to be. After a dish of ice-cream, much as I was in such a daze, a shower and new clothes, I went but they talked about germ war- As none of our crew was ever listed back to the pile of discarded POW fare and a whole bunch. When as POWs, when the Big Switch uniforms and retrieved mine from they were through, one officer came around they all waited and the top of the pile. I still have it, th yelled that it was not true and hoped for the best. Sept. 4 but someone had stolen my cap asked to see that paper. I was came and no word, so they kind and bowl. th taken back to the tent and spent of gave up. On Sept. 6 , my dad thenight there. has his prized Holsteins in the show I was flown to Tokyo General Hos- ring at the Oregon State Fair in pital and kept there for more than Sept. 6, 1953. The guard took me Salem when they announced over a week, then flown to Hawaii and to a truck with all the crew ex- the loud speakers that I had been on to California. I was back in the cept Harris and many started talk- released. I guess some of the States before the guys who came ing as I sat down. The Chinese cows even got a big spooked from back on the ship. I had to go to person sitting in the back as I was all the yelling after it all sunk in. reunions and meet other ex- said, “You must not talk”. Same Almost every time I go to the fair POWs. What neat gentlemen! Strieby (co-pilot) yelled a few there, someone tells me about that obscenities at him and said “You and just what they were doing at Strange things happen. I was as- try to stop us”, at which the Chi- the fair then. signed to be a camera inspector nese turned his back to us and in a factory in the Tokyo area that looked out the back of the truck. did contract work for the US Air Force and Navy so should not Bill Koski, CFC gunner said to me, Has anyone have been in any danger even “Evers, I saved your life. They though I had made two trips to seen this pin? were going to shoot you for being South Korea for some work there. a spy but I told them you were an ABC expert”. I replied, “You bas- My parents received a telegram tard, that was on Sept. 18th wasn’t that I had been killed in action in it?” That’s the day that hill hit me July 1952. Two days later, they all over. received another stating that no bodies had been found, so I was As we were driven to the bridge, listed as missing in action. This what a sight to see the GI guards was quite puzzling to them as my standing about 7 ft. tall with shin- job was in Tokyo. My brother Ed ing chromium helmets. The Chi- had visited me there a few weeks nese prisoners going the other way earlier as he was on his way home were throwing away the American- from front line duty with the 3rd issued clothes. As we stopped at Div. in North Korea. He presumed the Exchange Center, the Chink that the “Commies” had gotten me with us handed a clipboard to the on the back streets of Tokyo. Don’t officer there. (Seems it was a gen- remember ever walking there but If you know its history or have eral, but I can’t remember his when we drove from our FEAMCOM any information about it, name). He looked at his clipboard base to work we often had to please contact: and said “Who in the hell are you? avoid some routes. I usually took SGT Gary Spencer, Curator/ But welcome back”. the train back and forth. Historian North Carolina National Guard Ted Harris (pilot), refused to come Museum back saying he would not return 4105 Reedy Creek RD because he had not signed or Ex-POW Bulletin Raleigh, NC 27607 agreed to the statements as they Apr-June 2019 O-984-664-6544 were read. He was manually picked 23 C-919-749-7967 Captured at Anzio cause of their firepower, machine American fighter planes then guns were often targeted. Ma- veered toward the first-aid sta- By Vickie Aldeus chine gunners were at risk of be- tion — which had military vehicles Mail Tribune ing shot or blown up with gre- and ammunition boxes nearby — nades. and fired.

A German tank fired at Longiotti’s “No American got hit, but a Ger- machine gun, knocking it out and man sitting behind me on a box of leaving the squad with only a rifle ammunition was hit. He never got and pistol. up,” Longiotti said, noting he was killed by a strike to the chest but Surrounded by the deafening noise still held a sandwich in his hand. of gunfire and mortars exploding around them, the men hoped the Longiotti was eventually moved to Allies would gain ground and come Camp Laterina in Italy, a large pris- back. oner-of-war camp that held Allied prisoners from many nations. Instead, on Feb. 18, 1944, Ger- man soldiers with bayonets on The camp was surrounded by two their rifles snuck up from behind, tall barbed-wire fences about eight poked the men in their backs and feet apart. Guard towers were at ordered them to put their hands each corner, and German shep- up. The men were forced to sur- herds patrolled the perimeter. render. Water was scarce, and the POWs Longiotti saw thousands of bayo- received barely enough food to American machine gunner Cordino net-wielding Germans racing survive. “Cor” Longiotti was trapped with across an open field, their eyes Breakfast was a cup of coffee. a handful of other soldiers in no glassy as if they had been Lunch was a cup of watery soup. man’s land — caught in the drugged. Rather than running in a Dinner was another cup of soup crossfire between Allied and Ger- zigzag pattern or taking cover as or tea, plus a small loaf of dark man forces. Americans did, they appeared to make no effort to avoid Allied fire. bread that had to be divided In 1944, the Allies had invaded among six men. near the coastal town of Anzio in Researchers would later learn Na- The bread was made of rye, sugar Italy. But the Germans, determined zis delivered millions of doses of beets, sawdust, minced leaves and to drive them back into the Medi- methamphetamine to fuel German straw. terranean Sea, strafed and bombed soldiers. them with planes, then attacked Carrying their wounded sergeant Fights sometimes erupted over the with tanks. on a blanket, Longiotti and the bread because it was almost im- possible to divide each loaf into Suffering from massive casualties, three other remaining members of six exactly equal pieces. To pre- Allied troops pulled back, leaving his machine gun squad were vent fights, the person who cut Longiotti and his small machine marched past fields of dead Allied the bread would put a piece in gun squad alone on a road with and German soldiers to a German each hand behind his back, then their wounded sergeant. first-aid station. Many of the sol- diers had been blown to pieces. ask another person to pick a hand. “This was the worst battle of the Within three months, Longiotti’s war that I have seen; it was like “It was the most horrible sight of weight had dropped to 90 pounds. being in hell itself,” said Longiotti, the war that I have ever seen and it was a great loss for both sides,” who recounted his experiences in Conditions in the camp were filthy. an interview and a book he wrote Longiotti wrote. titled “The Way It Was: WWII.” After delivering their sergeant, “Everybody had lice. You would sit they never saw him again. out in the sun and pick lice off Longiotti, 94, now lives outside you,” Longiotti said. Ashland, OR. The tunnel Being a machine gunner had al- Ex-POW Bulletin ways been one of the most dan- Apr-June 2019 Anyone who tried to escape was gerous jobs in World War II. Be- 24 put in solitary confinement with capture, cont’d... stashing burlap bags of wheat be- Germans killed Jews and other neath hay and straw. only bread and water. Those who people with poison gas. “They would hide the wheat in the successfully escaped were usually The farm captured and killed, their bodies hay loft in the barn so they would displayed for all to see in the Longiotti and others were trans- have food because Germans were camp. ferred to another camp and spent starving,” he said. their time going out to clean up In the winter, the prisoners went rubble in a German town bombed Despite the danger, a select group to the woods and brought back by American and British planes. of POWs, including Longiotti, knew wagon loads of firewood using of a plan underway to tunnel One day for lunch they were pre- oxen. Longiotti fell deathly ill and through a barracks floor and bur- sented with a large pot of snail was diagnosed with the infectious row underground out past the two soup. bacterial disease diptheria — an lines of fences. experience that brought back “Some of the snails were still alive Men digging the tunnel would let childhood memories of his 9-year- and clinging to the sides of the dirt sift from their pockets down old brother, who died from pot, and it had a terrible odor,” he their pant legs and onto the ground diptheria. wrote. of the camp. Dirt was also thrown While Longiotti was lying in a hos- into latrines. The men went hungry that day. pital, his mind was filled with fears One night, 50 men prepared to go Longiotti was interviewed at the that he would die there and his through the tunnel to freedom. But camp. He claimed he had been a family would never learn his fate. tunnel engineers estimated the farmer before the war and knew Fortunately, he recovered and was passageway was about two feet how to milk cows, plow with oxen able to go back to farm work. short of the outside fence — and do other farm chores. meaning the escapees would come The POWs saw Allied planes flying Along with 17 other prisoners, he up between the two fences. overhead, dropping strips of alu- was sent to work on a farm. minum foil in an effort to evade The attempt was aborted. There he shared whatever the enemy radar. As Christmas ap- “It was a real good, dark night,” farm family ate. Meat was rare, proached in 1944, the men picked Longiotti said. “If we’d have got but cabbage, sauerkraut, pota- up foil that drifted down onto the out, the Italians would have helped toes, soup and beer provided a fields and used it like tinsel to deco- us.” better diet than what they had rate a small evergreen tree. eaten in the POW camps. The next day, a Scottish soldier With the war drawing to a close, told the Germans about the tun- They worked seven days a week, the German people seemed anx- nel. The Germans crushed the tun- plowing fields and cutting wheat ious and excited for the Nazi reign nel, filled it with rocks and dirt and and hay fields by hand with to end, although they would not placed many POW officers in soli- scythes. speak openly against Adolf Hitler tary confinement for weeks. for fear of reprisal. Farmers had to give most of what The prisoners learned the tunnel they raised to the German gov- In April 1945, American soldiers had actually reached out past both ernment. arrived, and Longiotti was free af- fences. ter spending more than 14 months Food was so scarce, inspectors in captivity. About a month later, Longiotti and would weigh the milk to be sure it other prisoners were crammed into was being turned in. “It was the most beautiful sight boxcars. They took turns stand- we have ever seen, the American “They could keep only a very small ing and sitting for the three days troops arriving in town with no re- amount of milk for small children, it took to reach Stalag 7A, a Ger- sistance from the enemy,” he no adults,” Longiotti wrote. man POW camp. wrote. “It was a day that I will The farmer who Longiotti worked never forget.” Upon arrival, the prisoners were for secreted food away for his fam- stripped, placed in a shower room ily, hiding potatoes in a cellar and Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie and sprayed with a chemical to Aldous at 541-776-4486 or kill lice. [email protected]. Fol- Longiotti later learned it was the Ex-POW Bulletin low her at www.twitter.com/ same type of shower room where Apr-June 2019 VickieAldous. 25 The RIDE HOME 3818 Litchfield Loop Lake Wales, Florida 33859 www.theridehome.com

Dear Former Prisoners of War and Families of our Missing in Action,

We respectfully request that you join us as our guest at the National POW/MIA Recognition Day event, The RIDE HOME, to be held 19- 21 September 2019 in Warner Robins, Georgia. Our goal is to answer the call of every sitting President since 1978;

“I call upon the people of The United States to join me in Honoring and Remembering all former Prisoners of War and those still Missing in Action who valiantly served our great nation.”

It will be our privilege to provide your room accommodations, seating for two at both the Heroes Dinner and Ground-Pounder & Fly-Boy luncheon, Military styled recognition for your service, transportation for you and a guest/spouse while you are in Warner Robins as well as fellowship and camaraderie you can only find with those who served this great nation with you. Take a moment, please, and complete the information sheet on the following page, drop it in an envelope (add a stamp) to the address at the top of the page and we’ll handle the arrangements. If you have a question or concern or perhaps would like to confirm your participation this year verbally, call us and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in September.

Until they all come home………. Warm regards, On behalf of the Board of Directors for The RIDE HOME, INC., Jim ‘Moe’ Moyer 407 448 1181

Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 26 The Ride Home 2019 Thursday, Friday, Saturday September 19-20-21, 2019 www.theridehome.com The RIDE HOME Inc. 3818 Litchfield Loop, Lake Wales, Florida 33859

YES, I will attend NO, I will not attend Please return this form by June 30 2019, to the RIDE HOME address above. POW or MIA Name: ______MIA Rep Name: ______NOK Name: ______Guest Name: ______Address: ______City, State, Zip: ______Telephone #: ______Cell Phone #: ______Email: ______Branch: ______Rank: ______Area of Capture: ______Date of Capture: ______Date of Release: ______Area at time MIA: ______Date of MIA: ______Remains returned: ______

Room Accommodations We will try our best to accommodate your room preferences; however, we cannot guarantee them. Room accommodations will depend on availability at the time your information is received.

Your lodging is offered Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights courtesy of The Ride Home. Please reserve a room for the following dates (check all that apply): Thursday, September 19 ______Friday, September 20______Saturday, September 21______Smoking: ______Non-Smoking? ______Bed Size: Queen/King: ____Two Doubles: _____ Special Requirements Handicap accessible, handicap shower, etc.

Are you interested in being a passenger on a motorcycle at either of the Escort Rides? (Circle one)……… YES_____ NO_____ Concerns or Questions – Contact Ginny or Moe at 863 324 7268 or [email protected] Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 27 can Legion Riders, Milwaukie OR In memory of LaVerne Rupprecht, In memory of Houston E Lowe, by Jere & Nancy Buttimer contributions by Fred Serene Jr In memory of Lewis Fulare, by In memory of Houston E Lowe, Jerry & Francine Fulare by Tony Rezendes In memory of PNC Maurice Sharp, In memory of Irving Bailey, my by Bonnie Sharp husband, by Dorothy In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by by Kathleen Collani Sherry Bush In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by by Imagine Studio for Hair, Deborah Ashburn Shrewsburg NJ In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, Casey Midgett by Betty & Norm Gustafson In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, Please send donations to: Gayle Redmon by Jack & Diane Davis National Headquarters, PO Box In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445 Annette Floyd by Anne Cameron In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of PNC Zack Roberts, Checks must be made payable to Sandra Hays by Dennis Flood AXPOW or American Ex-Prisoners In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of Zula Dawson Ray, of War. Carolyn L Sykes by Les Clark In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by In memory of Zula Dawson Ray, GENERAL FUND Sally Sykes by Elsie Petty In appreciation of AXPOW HQand In memory of Joe D Goodwin, by the Bulletin, by Vermont Chapter Smithville LSB VOLUNTARY FUNDING #1 In memory of LaVerne Rupprecht, Irene Zurawski, Valparaiso IN In memory of Edward Kromminga, by Bob & Loretta Andruska John VanderLinden, Dunedin FL by Jim & Barbara Peterson In memory of LaVerne Rupprecht, Sybil Garver, Evergreen Park IL In honor of Fred Jossi, by Ameri- by Karen Mattio Thomas Gibbons, Palm Desert CA When you or your family make a donation to AXPOW, or list us in your will, please make sure to update your instructions by using our Post Office Box listed above. The PO does not have to forward our mail after one year. The Meaningful Gift

A number of years ago, one of our members made the decision to establish a bequest to the American Ex- Prisoners of War. He felt strongly that he truly cared about the future of AXPOW and wanted to leave a legacy to us. He and his wife are now gone, but their generous gift enabled them to demonstrate in a very meaningful way their commitment to the organization. Most recently, the American Legion in Milwaukee, Oregon made a gift to AXPOW. Support for our programs became the beneficiary of that generosity.

You, too can take action today to help ensure that the American Ex-Prisoners of War is there for returning POWs, their families and their dependents through your will or living trust. This gift can be funded with cash or securities, mutual funds or other investments that are not serving your current needs. This special gift will benefit future generations as well as we transition to a legacy organization.

It’s very simple to make a bequest to the American Ex-Prisoners of War. Simply share this sentence with your attorney or financial planner and they can add the following to your will or living trust:

“I give, devise and bequeath to the American Ex-Prisoners of War, PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007- 3445, the sum of $______or ______(named investment) or ______percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate.”

Your generous support of our programs over the years has made a tremendous difference to ex-POWs and their families. Please take a few minutes of your time to help. And feel free to contact CFO Marsha Coke at 817-649-2979/[email protected] or CEO David Eberly at (757) 508-8453 /[email protected]

Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 Thank 28 You! new members National Headquarters PO Box 3445 Arlington, TX 76007-3445 (817) 649-2979

request for membership application American Ex-Prisoners of War

Name:______Address:______City/State/Zip:______

Membership is open to US Military and Civilians captured because of their US citizenship and their families.

Do NOT send dues with this request for an application Mail to: American Ex-Prisoners of War PO Box 3445 Arlington, TX 76007-3445 (817) 649-2979 e-mail:[email protected] Certificate of Captivity Suitable for framing, this certificate of captivity, printed on 8½” x 11” quality paper, proudly displays your history as a prisoner of war. Each certificate background is personalized to the theater of operation. To receive this certificate from AXPOW, please order from National Headquarters. If you are ordering at Convention, you can place your order in the Merchandise Room. We will need your name, service number, branch of service, unit when captured, POW number (if known), camp names and locations. You can call 817-649-2979 or email: [email protected]. Ex-POW Bulletin You may include a picture Apr-June 2019 with your order. 29 taps

Please submit taps notices to: Cheryl Cerbone, 23 Cove View Drive, South Yarmouth, MA 02664 [email protected]

From Zack… Star for Meritorious “We exist to help Hi Cheryl, if and when??? This is Achievement in Ground those who cannot my obituary, hope you don’t have Combat, three major help themselves”. He to use it in the near future. I Battle Stars in the Eu- started as a Chapter should be able to make it to ropean, African and Commander in 1985, the100 mark – only 18 years ago. Middle East Theaters of served as the new Love and best wishes always, Operation and New Jersey State Judge Zack (May 4, 2006) Jersey’s Distinguished Advocate for more Service Medal. than 20 years, on the PNC Zack David Roberts Board of Directors for When he returned to his AXPOW and on their hometown, he went to Education Committee before be- a small dance hall where he met a coming chairman. He set up Speak- very beautiful young blond girl who ers Bureau programs nationally, and had graduated from the same high developed and produced training school. She was younger so he had videos. Because of his interest in not known her there. Her name legislation, he served on the Leg- was Agnes Whitlow. At the time, islative Committee, working on she was engaged to a sailor, but presumptives and benefits; he ad- for Zack this was love at first vanced to become National Legis- sight. She ended her engagement, lative Chair for this committee. and they were married Dec. 27, 1946. He became the National Com- mander of the Ex-Prisoners of War He always considered Agnes as 1999-2000 and testified before the divine intervention in his life. He Veterans Affairs Committee to help believed he could never have and protect the benefits all dis- achieved the life he had without abled veterans. her unwavering support. During those first difficult years, he would Zack was a life member of AXPOW, tease her “Agnes, you’d better DAV and MOPH. He was also a Zack David Roberts, 95, passed take care of me; you’ll never get away on Feb. 14, 2019. He was member of The Peninsula Masonic another one like me.” Her response Lodge for 70 years. born in the coal-mining town of was always an affectionate “Who Plymouth, PA. His father, grandfa- wants another one like you?” She He was predeceased by the love ther and great-grandfather were always said “One life; one love.” coal miners and his mother ran a of his life, Agnes Whitlow Roberts whom he was married to for over successful beauty salon in the He was the successful business midst of the depression years. 58 years and without whose love, owner of four hairdressing salons. understanding and support, he During his career, he traveled Zack entered service in April 1943, could not have accomplished all throughout the United States and he did. He was also predeceased trained as a combat infantryman Canada for international beauty th by his son, Master Sergeant Zack serving with the 179 Reg. Com- shows as the featured guest art- bat Team, 45th Div., was sent to Sheldon Roberts and his sister, ist. Later, he developed a career Elizabeth Hecht. Surviving are his North Africa, and then into Italy in real estate and investments. where he fought in the Monte daughter, Kim Roberts-Honecker, son-in-law, Robert A. Honecker Jr. Cassino campaign, and then on to In the 1980s, he became involved the Anzio beachhead. At Anzio, he and his grandchildren, Brett, Zach, with the American Ex-Prisoners of and Mariah Honecker of became one of four surviving War because he liked their slogan: wounded out of a company of 200. Shrewsbury, N.J. He is also sur- He was captured by the Germans vived by his nieces, Carol Stolpe, Feb. 16, 1944 and spent 15 Ex-POW Bulletin Nancy Carey, and Joyce Hecht of months in German POW camps. Apr-June 2019 Columbus, Ohio. He was awarded the Combat In- fantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze 30 taps, cont’d... grandchildren, 14 great-grandchil- LARSEN, John, of Alameda, CA died COMACHO, Greg, of San Diego, CA dren and a large extended family. March 1, 2017. He was a member died recently. He was a member of AXPOW and BACEPOW. John was of the San Diego Chapter, AXPOW. HARTUNIAN, Mike, 97, of Newport a civilian internee of the Santo Greg was a Civilian Pow, born while Beach, CA died Dec. 11, 2018. Tomas Internment Camp in Manila. his parents were in captivity. During WWII, he served with the 15th AF, 484th BG, 825th BS. He was MILLSPAUGH, Dorothy Ann, of Gig DAVIS, William F., of Lakeside, CA, held in Luft IIIA. His wife, Viola, Harbor, WA passed away Nov. 28, passed away recently. During predeceased him; he is survived 2018 at the age of 90. Her late WWII, he served with the 8th AF, by 2 daughters, 3 grandchildren husband, Vesper, served during the 392nd BG, 477th BS. After capture, and 2 great-grandsons. Korean War and was captured at he was held in Luft 1, Barth. Bill the Chosin Reservoir. Dorothy is was a member of the San Diego JONES, Murphy Neal Sr., of Mag- survived by 3 sons, 1 daughter and Chapter, AXPOW. nolia, DE died Jan. 31, 2019 at the their families. age of 81. He endured more than GOLEC, Teofil, 96, of Eastpointe, 6½ years as a prisoner of war in MONELL, Frank Joseph, of MI died Dec. 12, 2018. He was a North Vietnam’s infamous “Hanoi Fairmont, WV died Jan. 15, 2019. life member of AXPOW and the Hilton,” He was a pilot when his He was captured in the Battle of Wolverine Chapter. Teel served in F105-D fighter-bomber was struck the Bulge while serving in the Army the Army during WWII; he was by antiaircraft fire on June 29, during WWII. Frank was a member captured in France and held in 1966. Losing his battle to keep the of the Barbwire Mountaineers, Stalag VII, Mooseburg. His wife of jet airborne, Jones ejected only AXPOW. He leaves 1 son, 3 grand- 65 years, Norma, predeceased 300 feet from the ground, and his daughters, 3 great-grandchildren him; he leaves 3 children, 6 grand- rough parachute landing left him and their families. children and 2 great-grandchildren. with a shattered left arm, three fractured vertebrae, torn knee ORTIZ, Aurelio, of San Diego, CA GONZALEZ, Julio Francisco, 99 of cartilage and shrapnel that in- died Dec. 27, 2018. He served in Silver Spring, MD passed away fected his right leg. He was re- Korea with the US Army, F Co, January 31, 2019. He proudly leased in Feb. 1973. A native of 187th RCT. Survivors include his served in the United States Army Baton Rouge, he returned to LA; wife, Maria Ana and 1 daughter. and was a WWII POW. He was born he moved in 2018 with his wife, He was a member of the San Di- in Humacao. Puerto Rico and Glenda to be close to his daugh- ego Chapter, AXPOW. moved to New York City as a child.. ter. He also leaves 1 brother, 4 He is survived by his loving wife of grandchildren and 1 great-grand- PITTS, Anita M., 88, of Sun City, 76 years Mary. He was the loving child. AZ passed away Jan. 16. In 1987 father of two daughters; he also Anita was elected Adjutant/Trea- leaves 4 grandsons, 3 great- KENNIE, Beulah, of San Diego, CA surer of the newly formed Agua grandsons and 1 great-grand- and widow of ex-POW Frederick Fria Chapter of Sun City. AZ. She daughter. Kennie, died June 18, 2018. She remained an active member of the was a member of the San Diego Chapter throughout the years GREENFIELD, David S., of Chapter, AXPOW. serving as Chapter Commander in Temucula, CA died May 13, 2018. 2009 and 2010. Anita was pre- He was captured while serving with KROMMINGA, Edward L., long-time ceded in death by her Ex-POW the 15th AF, 97th BG, 314th BS and member of the Mn/St. Paul Chap- husband John Pitts (deceased held in Stalag Luft 3. Survivors in- ter, passed away Jan. 25, 2019. 1997) and is survived by two sons clude his companion, Harriet During WWII, he served with the and one daughter. AAC, 15th AF, 736th BS, 454th BG. Brooks. He was a member of the rd San Diego Chapter, AXPOW. On his 33 mission, he was shot PROUD, Ann May, of Mt. Morris, IL down over Italy, captured and held died Jan. 24, 2019. She was 93. HARDIMAN, Edward J. Sr, 91, of until liberation. He is survived by An artist and volunteer for many Ft. Myers, FL formerly of Quincy, his wife of 74 years, Dorothy, 2 worthy causes, she will be missed MA passed away November 24, children and 1 grandchild. Both by her 3 daughters, 1 son, 7 grand- 2018. He was captured while serv- were life members of AXPOW. children, 4 great-grandchildren, 1 ing in the Army during WWII and brother, nieces and nephews, and held until liberation. He is survived Ex-POW Bulletin their families. Her husband, ex- POW David, predeceased her. by his loving wife of 64 years, Apr-June 2019 Marion, 4 children, 3 sisters, 11 31 taps, cont’d... TURNHAM, Genny, of San Diego, SHARPELL, Howard, of San CA, widow of ex-POW Keith, died RUZICKA, Mary Frances, of Spring- Marcos, CA died recently. He Feb. 28, 2018. She was a member field, IL died Feb. 19, 2019. She served with the 81st Eng., Combat of the San Diego Chapter, AXPOW. was 91 and an avid gardener and Bn and was held in Stalag IVB af- cook. Mary Frances was the widow ter capture. His wife, Ginny, pre- VOGLER, Robert J., Jr., of San Di- of ex-POW John. She leaves 4 deceased him; he leaves 1 son. ego, CA died May 13, 2018. Dur- daughters, 1 son, 6 grandchildren, Howard was a member of the San ing WWII, he served with the Far 8 great-grandchildren and a large Diego Chapter, AXPOW. East AF, 17 Pur. Sq. Kamioka, Ja- loving extended family. pan. He was a Bataan Death March SHAVITZ, Ernest, of Skokie, IL survivor, held in Mukden. His wife SCHLEPEGRELL, William V. 95, of passed away Dec. 2018. He was Vera and 1 daughter survive him. Hibbing, MN passed away Nov. 29, an active member of the former He was a member of the San Di- 2018. He served with the AAC dur- Chicago Chapter, AXPOW. During ego Chapter, AXPOW. ing WWII and was stationed in WWII, he served with the 456th France. He was shot down, cap- BG, Army Air Corps. He leaves his tured and held until liberation. Bill loving wife of 72 years, Evelyn, is survived by his beloved wife of four children, seven grandchildren, 70 years, Norma, 5 daughters, 4 four great-grandchildren and a sons, 14 grandchildren, 29 great- host of friends and extended fam- grandchildren and a host of ily. friends.

closest to the earth which causes only say “Lord, You are Great!” chaplain it to look larger although it’s size David realized we do not need a is exactly the same as when it is God who is a tool to be used for “Smallest” being at its most dis- our wants and desires but rather tant point from earth. we need a God who is “super sized” with power because He is These are many things that do not in charge of the universe, with need to be “super sized” or en- wisdom to guide us and with love larged. However, there is one that so that He cares and acts on our we need to increase: Our time with behalf. God. Prayer, Scripture study, and worship service attendance are all I close with Psalm 98:1 “O sing ways to increase our time with God Benny Rayborn unto the Lord a new song; for He as well as thinking about Him and hath done marvelous things: His 459 Grady Brown road trying to understand Him. right hand, and His holy arm, hath Lumberton, MS 39455 gotten Him the victory.” The more time we spend with God, the more in awe we find ourselves. Prayer: O Lord, God, Creator and I was placing an order at a fast We eventually realize (as in II Preserver of the universe we food restaurant the other day and Samuel 7:22) that God is AWE- thank you for the wonderful things as I finished my order, the cashier SOME. King David wrote: “Where- that You have done for us and for asked me, “Do you want to super fore thou art great, O Lord God; those that You will do in the fu- size that?” It’s food we’re talking for there is none like thee, neither ture. May we always be in awe about…Of course, I did but, being is there any God beside thee…” of You so that we may worship aware of the calorie count and my David found our Lord to be awe- you with sincerity. In the Messiah’s weight I turned down the offer of some, awe inspiring and the great- Name. Amen. more food. I’m still a growing boy, est of all! unfortunately, it’s towards the wall and not the ceiling! More food is David was trying to “know God” not ideal for my health. but his human brain was stunned by the greatness of God. He could Recently we observed another su- Ex-POW Bulletin per event, that of a “super moon”. Apr-June 2019 A super moon is when the moon is Benny 32 American Ex-Prisoners of War Contribution should be sent to: Arlington, TX 76007-3445 PO Box 3445

ALL CHECKS MUST BE MADE PAYABLE TO AXPOW OR AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR

The 106th Infantry Division Association Organized at Camp Lucky Strike 1945 active since 1946

If you are a former 106th Infantry Division vet, were attached to the 106th, a relative of a 106th veteran, you are eligible for membership in the Association.

The CUB Magazine is published three times per year. Published since 1946. Annual Reunions held yearly since 1947.

Jacquelyn Martin, Membership Chairman 121 McGregor Ave. Mount Arlington, N.J. 07856 973-663-2410 E-mail: [email protected]

Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 33 AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR VOLUNTARY FUNDING PROGRAM

The AXPOW Voluntary Giving Program parallels that of other VSOs, whereby the entire membership, including life members, is given the opportunity to contribute to the operation of our organization, based on ability and willingness to contribute. All contributions are to be sent directly to National Headquarters to be used for the operation of the organization. A complete accounting of contributors will appear in the Bulletin each issue.

I am enclosing my contribution to support the operation of the American Ex-Prisoners of War. $20.00 $30.00 $40.00 $50.00 $100.00 Other

Name Address City/State/Zip Phone #

Please make checks payable to American Ex-Prisoners of War - Voluntary Funding Mail contributions to: National Headquarters, American Ex-Prisoners of War PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445

JEFFERSON BARRACKS POW-MIA MUSEUM

N is {or Never Forget is a child -friendly book that takes readers on a compelling journey through wartime history. Poignant illustrations and stories capture key people, concepts, and memorials to help readers understand and honor the sacrifices endured by men and women prisoners of war and missing in action on behalf of freedom .

Proceeds from books purchased through JBPMM, Inc. (501c3) go directly to restoring \ renovating the former 1896 Officers Quarters Building into the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum. $21.95 including S/H. Contact Paul Dillon at [email protected]; 314-609-9037.

Ex-POW Bulletin Apr-June 2019 34 From Chris Nogues... Last weekend my family hosted a “Roaring 20’s” themed lunch for our Inland Empire Chapter of ex-POWs & their families, at Bob’s Big Boy in Calimesa. We made a surprise cake to also celebrate Mr. Archie Aitcheson’s birthday. He was born on Leap Year, so he says he’s officially 23 & 3/4 years young. Some members were snowed in and weren’t able to make it but we still had a good turnout. People dressed up, danced to 1920’s music, won raffle prizes and had a great time!

LEFT: (Top Row, from left to right): Chris Nogues, Augustine Martinez (35th Infantry Div), Archie Aitcheson (15th Air Force), Norman Gibbs (15th Air Force) (Bottom Row, from left to right): Tom Gibbons (14th Armored Division, Liberator of Stalag Luft 7A), Marty Schlocker (17th Airborne Div), James Goble (35th Infantry Div) & Cecil Davis (8th AF, 100th BG).

RIGHT: ExPOWs with family members

LEFT: Birthday Boy Mr. Archie Aitcheson & Son next to him

Custom Mugs

RIGHT: Cecil Davis - Ex-POW at Stalag Luft 7A (8th AF, 100th BG, 349th BS)

Artwork I did for the event Challenge Coins! Bronze Grave Medallions

$13.00 includes S/H/I $100.00 includes S/H/I All orders for products sold by AXPOW National Organization, including dues/subscriptions should be mailed to: American Ex-Prisoners of War National Headquarters PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445; [email protected] change of address form Include your mailing label for address change or inquiry. If you are receiving duplicate copies, please send both labels. If moving, please give us your new address in the space provided. Please print: Name______Address______City/State/Zip______Phone ( )______Email ______Please allow 4 weeks to make address corrections.

Mail to: National Headquarters, AXPOW, PO Box 3445, Arlington, TX 76007-3445 Or e-mail: [email protected]