Jan. 2005 - Philippine Defenders Main

The 

VOLUME 59 PITTSBURGH, PA — JANUARY, 2005 NUMBER 4 

Commander Agapito E. Silva and Honorary 

Vice Commander Paul Reuter at Arlington 

I had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege and 

honor to go to Arlington National 

Cemetery in Washington, D.C. to place a 

wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown 

Soldier on Veterans Day. 

My wife, Socorro accompanied me to 

Washington, D.C. and what an eventful 

week we had. On Wednesday night, 

November 10, we were invited to a blacktie 

affair at the Smithsonian Institution 

National Museum of American History. 

This was in celebration of the opening of 

The Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Military 

History. It was a bigger thrill when we ran 

into Lester Tenney and his wife who are 

from California. Lester had been invited to 

the opening as well. He led us to the 

exhibit of the World War II POW’s. 

Lester’s picture is on display. Lester and I 

both agreed, there was not enough history 

there about Japanese POWs. He stated 

that we should contact the director of the 

Smithsonian to see if we could get more 

information about Japanese POWs 

displayed. 

On Thursday morning, we traveled to 

Ft. Myers and from there we were bussed 

with other Veterans to the White House for 

breakfast. We had our picture taken with 

President Bush. After the breakfast and 

photo session, we were bussed to 

Arlington National Cemetery Amphi - 

theater, where we had the honor to see 

President Bush place a wreath at the 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This portion 

of the ceremony was televised and 

my family and friends had the opportunity 

to see me and my wife on C-SPAN tele - 

vision. My local newspaper also ran a 

photo and article on me, marking this 

event. Later on, Paul Reuter and I placed 

a beautiful wreath at the Tomb of the 

Unknown Soldier. There were several 

other Veterans Organizations who also 

placed wreaths. 

Our day ended by attending the Fifty- 

First Annual Veterans Day National 

Reception at the Hilton Alexandria Mark 

Center Hotel. This was a fabulous reception 

attended by all the Veterans and their 

families. 

Continued on Page 3

2 — THE QUAN 

The 

AGAPITO E. SILVA HAROLD A. BERGBOWER 

Commander Sr. Vice Commander 

1820 La Poblana, N.W. 10728 West El Capitan Circle 

Albuquerque, N.M. 87104 Sun City, AZ 85351-1502 

JOSEPH L. ALEXANDER, PNC EDWARD JACKFERT, PNC 

Jr. Vice Commander National Treasurer 

9407 Fernglen 201 Hillcrest Dr. 

San Antonio, TX 78240 Wellsburg, W.Va. 26070 

304-737-1496 

MRS. JEAN PRUITT 

Merchandise Sales 

109 Young Dr. 

Sweetwater, TN 37874 

MEMBERS OF THE INVESTMENT BOARD 

Edward Jackfert Secretary Joseph A. Vater 

EXECUTIVE BOARD 

Henry Cornellisson Charles Graham 

Charles Dragich Pete Locarnini 

Charles B. Heffron Carlos Montoya 

All Incumbent State Commanders 

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 

7401 Bull Run Dr. 

Centreville, VA 20121 

703-222-2480 

ADBC Cincinnati 

Convention Visit to 

Air Force Museum 

There will be a no-cost commercial bus 

trip to the Air Force Museum located at 

the Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio 

during the ADBC convention on 

Thursday, April 7, 2004. The trip will take 

a bit over an hour each way with an 

expected two hours at the Museum. The 

group will have the opportunity to self 

guide or have a partially guided two hour 

guided tour of the impressive displays 

there, especially their WWII and POW 

display. Departure from our hotel will be 8 

a.m. with return about 1:30 p.m. You will 

need to eat before going. 

We need your indication of attendance 

to insure you have a seat. Please drop a 

card with your name and numbers to 

Dedicated to those persons both living and dead who fought against 

overwhelming odds against the enemy at the outbreak of World War II. 

Official Publication of the 

AMERICAN DEFENDERS OF BATAAN & CORREGIDOR, INC. 

(INCLUDING ANY UNIT OF FORCE OF THE ASIATIC FLEET, PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO, 

WAKE ISLAND, GUAM OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS, AND DUTCH EAST INDIES) 

PUBLISHED 5 TIMES A YEAR 

HONORARY OFFICERS 

Paul Reuter ........................................................Honorary Vice Commander 

DUANE L. HEISINGER 

Executive Secretary 

Co-Chairman Site Committee 

Membership Chairman 

7401 Bull Run Dr. 


703-222-2480 

ANDREW MILLER 

Historian 

1605 Cagua Drive N.E. 

Albuquerque, NM 87110 

REV. ROBERT W. PHILLIPS 

Chaplain 

1620 Mayflower Court A-418 

Winter Park, FL 32792 

DR. WILLIAM R. BRENNER 

Surgeon 

1006 State St. 

Larned, KA 67550 

JOSEPH A. VATER PNC 

Editor of Quan 

Co-Chairman Site Committee 

18 Warbler Drive 

McKees Rocks, PA 15136 

412-771-3956 

Fax: 412-875-6606 

Duane Heisinger, 7401 Bull Run Drive, 

Centreville, VA 20121. 

Members an wives or widows will have 

priority on this trip with descendants and 

others next in line. We need your commitment 

soon, no later that March 15, 2004 

to hold your seat — then verify registration 

when you arrive in Cincinnati. We will 

maintain a back up list if needed. 

Duane Heisinger 

Co-Chairman Convention Committee 

PAUL REUTER 

Adjutant & Legislative Officer 

516 Sandy Pl. 

Oxon Hill, MD 20745 

MARTIN S. CHRISTIE 

Necrology Committee Chrmn. 

23424 Mobile St. 

West Hills, CA 91307-3323 

JOHN H. OLIVER 

Past Commander 

1400 Ocotilla Dr. 

Marble Falls, TX 78654 

RALPH LEVENBERG, PNC 

Special Projects 

2716 Eastshore Dr. 

Reno, NV 89509 

PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS 

Harold Spooner *James K. Cavanaugh Henry J. Wilayto 

*Rev. Albert D. Talbot *Thomas A. Hackett *Charles Bloskis 

James McEvoy *Bernard Grill Arthur Beale 

*M/Gen. E.P. King Jr. Louis Scahwald Andy Miller 

Simme Pickman *Jerome A. McDavitt *Joseph Matheny 

Albert Senna John M. Emerick *George Wonneman 

*Maurice Mazer *Joseph T. Poster *Frank Bigelow 

Joseph A. Vater *John Bennett *Charles L. Pruitt 

*Lewis Goldstein *James D. Cantwell Melvin L. Routt 

*Albert C. Cimini Ralph Levenberg James R. Flaitz 

*Samuel M. Bloom, M.D. *Elmer E. Long, Jr. *John Koot 

*Kenneth J. Stull *Philip Arslanian *Roy Y. Gentry 

*Harry P. Menozzi John Rowland Edward Jackfert 

*John F. Ray John Crago Joseph L. Alexander 

*Samuel B. Moody Edward Jackfert Joseph Ward 

*Arthur A. Bressi *John R. Lyons Omar McGuire 

*John E. Le Clair *Ken Curley John H. Oliver 

Welcome 

Thursday, December 9, 2004 President 

Bush nominated Jim Nicholson as 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, replacing 

Anthony Principi. Mr. Nicholson is a West 

Point graduate and decorated Vietnam 

War veteran. He was U.S. Ambassador to 

the Vatican. The nomination must be 

confirmed by the Congress. 

The ADBC wishes to thank Secretary 

Principi for his service to the veterans. 

Thank you.

Commander Silva 

Continued from Page 1 

Later in the week we went to see the 

new World War II Monument in Wash - 

ington, D.C. This is quite an impressive 

monument. Though long overdue, we now 

have our monument for future generations 

to see and remember us by. 

As I stated earlier, this trip was a oncein-a-lifetime 

privilege for me and something 

I will never forget. What a great 

honor, and for this, I shall always be most 

grateful. 

Stay well and I pray my wife and I do, 

too, so we can gather once again at our 

ADBC National Convention in Cincinnati, 

Ohio in April 2005. Let’s continue to support 

our troops. God Bless all my POW 

Buddies and wives. See you in Cincinnati. 

Be There!!! 

Agapito E. Silva 

Commander, ADBC 

———————— 

Ex-POW Benefits 

Expanded 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony 

J. Principi announced October 2, 2004 

that benefits to all former POWs with 

strokes and common heart diseases will 

be expanded. 

Former Prisoners of War afflicted with 

strokes and most heart diseases may be 

eligible for disability compensation for 

those ailments, and their spouses and 

dependents may be eligible for serviceconnected 

survivors’ benefits if these diseases 

contribute to the death of a former 

POW. 

This will add to the list of medical problems 

the federal VA presumes to be 

linked to the military service of former 

POWs. According to information published 

by the federal VA, the new rules 

took effect on October 7, 2004. 

———————— 

Interested? 

Dear Mr. Joseph Vater, 

I am writing to you to ask if you could 

print in the Quan a request. 

I am trying to get a group to go to 

Tokyo, Japan in either March 2005, 

before the National ADBC convention in 

Cincinnati, or in April 2005 after the convention. 

I am looking at going back to the 

Kawasaki prison camp and any other 

camps in the area. If possible I will plan to 

tour some of the Japanese cities and 

area. Anyone interested please contact 

me. 

Thank you for your assistance. 

Sarah Leonard 

PO Box 223 

Chico, CA 95927-0223 

530-895-9523 

msmyxo@yahoo.com or 

jpow247@yahoo.com 

Bataan Survivor at 

Arlington for Veterans Day 

On Veterans Day a Bataan veteran 

from Albuquerque took part in Veterans 

Day observances at Arlington National 

Cemetery. 

Agapito “Gap” Silva, 85, national commander 

of the American Defenders of 

Bataan and Corregidor, went to 

Washington, D.C. Silva and other invited 

veterans from around the nation took part 

in ceremonies at the cemetery’s Tomb of 

the Unknowns, where President Bush laid 

a presidential wreath. 

Silva spent more than three years in 

brutal Japanese captivity during World 

War II performing slave labor. He and his 

wife, Socorro, received the invitation last 

summer Silva said. 

Agapito “Gap” Silva, a World War II 

veteran who survived the Bataan Death 

March and subsequent Japanese captivity, 

holds a portrait of himself as a 

young soldier. 

Season’s Greetings 

Bob and Berni Vogler 

We moved to Florida: 

1733 Grande Park Drive 

Englewood, FL 342234 

941-475-2130. 

———————— 

Retired Military 

The 2005 Defense Authorization Act 

was signed by President Bush on Oct. 28, 

2004. One of the provisions in it is the 

concurrent receipt of military retired pay 

and veterans disability compensation for 

retirees rated 100% disabled will begin 

without phase-in after Jan. 1, 2005. Many 

of our men were looking for this action. 

VA’s National Shrine 

Commitment 

When Congress transferred the national 

cemetery system from the Army to VA 

in 1973, it declared these cemeteries for 

veterans “shall be considered national 

shrines as a tribute to our gallant dead.” 

VA-run national cemeteries are places 

where the grounds are a beautiful and 

inspiring tribute to those who sacrificed 

for the nation’s freedom. The “National 

Shrine Commitment,” begun in 2001, is a 

VA initiative to enhance appearance and 

maintain a respectful setting in VA national 

cemeteries. Through 2002, VA had renovated 

98,000 gravesites and cleaned or 

aligned 356,000 headstones or markers. 

———————— 

False Rumor Concerning 

Military Personnel Files 

Note — The following notice was distributed 

by the National Archives and 

Records Administration and is reprinted 

here at their request. 

There is a false rumor circulating on the 

Internet, in e-mails, and among veteran 

service organizations that Official Military 

Personnel Files (OMPFs) at the National 

Personnel Records Center, operated by 

the National Archives and Records 

Administration, will be digitized and then 

destroyed. This rumor is NOT TRUE. 

Neither the Department of Defense 

(DoD) nor the National Personnel 

Records Center intends to destroy any 

OMPFs stored at the Center. The purpose 

of any electronic scanning would be 

to help preserve the originals and 

increase efficiency in handling reference 

requests. 

The National Archives and Records 

Administration preserves and protects 

OMPFs that were transferred from the 

military service departments because 

they are permanently valuable records 

that document the essential evidence of 

military service for the veterans of our 

nation. NPRC generally stores and services 

OMPFs for retired, discharged, or 

deceased military personnel. 

The National Personnel Records 

Center responds to approximately 4,000 

requests pertaining to military records 

each day, totaling more than one million 

requests each year. Many of those 

requests are for Separation Documents 

(usually DD Form 214) and the Center 

answers the majority of those inquiries in 

ten days or less. 

Requests resulting from this rumor will 

have a negative impact on NPRC’s ability 

to respond to requests from veterans with 

real immediate needs, such as medical 

treatment, employment, retirement, etc. 

JANUARY, 2005 — 3


Wash Up 

Since the flu vaccine is not available, 

we are being asked to follow a strict 

method to wash our hands, etc. Here are 

the recommendations of the VA: 

How and When to Clean Your Hands 

When your hands are not visibly soiled, 

alcohol-based hand rubs are the most 

effective way to clean them. A study cited 

by the CDC shows that these hand rubs 

can reduce more than 99 percent of bacteria 

on the hands. This is better than 

antimicrobial soap and much better than 

plain soap. And alcohol-based hand rubs 

are less drying to the skin than antimicrobial 

soap. 

How do you clean your hands? 

Using an alcohol-based hand rub (gel 

or foam), you: 

■ Apply to palm of one hand 

■ Rub hands together vigorously, covering 

all surfaces, until dry. 

Using antimicrobial soap, you: 

■ Wet hands with water 

■ Apply soap 

■ Rub hands together for at least 15 

seconds 

■ Rinse and dry with disposable towel 

■ Use towel to turn of faucet 

When should you clean your hands? 

Probably more often than you do now. 

If you are in health care settings, use 

alcohol-based hand rubs* before and 

after touching patients or touching items i 

patients’ rooms. When your hands are 

visibly soiled, use antimicrobial soap. 

Otherwise, when you are not in health 

care settings, use antimicrobial soap and 

water or alcohol-based hand rubs (the former 

if hands are visibly soiled): 

■ Before eating 

■ After using the restroom 

■ After coughing or sneezing 

■ After being near someone sick or 

someone coughing or sneezing 

■ After touching trash 

■ After touching pets 

Do you remember from May 6, 1942 to 

August 15, 1945 how many times you 

could follow their advice? How may times 

were you able to use warm water to wash 

your hands, face, take a bath? 

When you had dysentery, you had a slit 

trench for your comfort and had to hope 

you had some paper in your pocket. 

Or when we had from 100 to 500 in one 

building hips to hips, sleeping in the same 

clothes we worked in, maybe have a 

chance to wash in a month or two. 

Temperatures were down to 30 or 40 

degrees below zero. 

I many times wonder how in the world 

any of us got back, someone was looking 

out for us. 

Take the VA advice and “wash your 

hands.” 

*Alcohol-based hand rubs do not kill 

certain infectious agents, including 

norovirus and the bacterium Clostridium 

difficile. If these two are a problem in your 

THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON 

Navy and Marine Corps veterans who served in combat in or after World War II 

are now eligible to receive the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR). 

In order to be eligible for the CAR, veterans must have participated in ground or 

surface combat after December 6, 1941, but before March 1, 1961, and you must not 

have already been recognized for the same participation. 

Under Public Law 106-65, the Fiscal Year 2000 Defense Authorization Act, the 

Secretary of the Navy can award the CAR to veterans retroactively. The time period 

required for submission is being waived in all cases. Two blocks of time have been 

designated for eligibility of the CAR — World War II: December 7, 1941-April 14, 1946, 

and Korea: June 27, 1950-July 27, 1954. Navy veterans who served during these 

periods may write directly to the Navy Awards Branch at: 

Chief of Naval Operations (N09B33) 

2000 Navy Pentagon 

Washington, D.C. 20350-2000 

Former members of the Marine Corps should send their requests to: 

Commandant of the Marine Corps 

Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps 

Manpower & Reserve Affairs 

Code MMMA 

3280 Russell Road 

Quantico, VA 22134-5103 

The following information must be provided: Standard Form 180 Request 

Pertaining to Military Records, or cover letter with the following information: full name, 

social security number, service number (if applicable), period of eligibility, combat unit 

assigned at the time, complete dates (from/to) associated with assignments to the 

combat unit, and mailing address, and copy of Naval Personnel Form 553 or Defense 

Department (DD) Form 214; DD-215 (if applicable). Additional substantiating documentation 

(optional): copies of combat awards substantiating ground or surface combat; 

muster sheets or orders showing assignment to the unit for the period requested. If 

documentation is not available showing time served in combat unit, specify dates in 

your correspondence. 

A special section will handle these requests, but no other awards may be 

requested in conjunction with the CAR. Only CAR requests dated after March 15, 2000, 

and in accordance with the prescribed guidance will be forwarded to the board for 

decision. Any prior requests must be resubmitted. 

If you cannot provide the required documentation, a request for personal record 

information must be submitted to National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Ave., 

St. Louis, MO 63132 before submitting the request to the Navy Awards Board. 

If you desire to address a different period of time, a request to review the period 

may be sent, with substantiating documentation, to the Navy Board of Decorations and 

Medals at the above address. 

———————— 

LOCAL TREASURES, CULINARY PLEASURES 

Cincinnati’s restaurant scene serves up a world of flavors to meet the most 

demanding culinary palate, whether you prefer fine French dining, ethnic fare or 

Cincinnati’s own eclectic edibles. No matter your tastes — and budget — you’ll find 

tasty meals and one-of-a-kind dining experiences in Cincinnati, from restaurants with 

spectacular city and river views to eateries with chili the likes of which you won’t find 

anywhere else in the world. 

Check out our guide to city’s restaurants, divided by region, and don’t forget to try 

a meal at an historic Cincinnati landmark during a meal at the Rookwood Pottery 

Restaurant, Sherman House Restaurant, Golden Lamb Inn or Arnold’s Bar & Grill 

downtown. 

Key 

CC = credit cards Lq = liquor served 

W = wheelchair access RR = reservations recommended 

* = Mobil star B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner 

$ = under $5 $$ = $5-20 $$$ = over $20 

★ = Cincinnati Magazine Top 25 Fine Dining Restaurant 

facility, use antimicrobial soap, plenty of 

water, and lots of hand rubbing. Your 

facility’s infection control professional can 

advise you further.

Administration Expands 

Benefits for Ex-POWs 

WASHINGTON (Oct. 2, 2004) — 

Continuing its commitment to former prisoners 

of war, Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced that 

the Bush Administration will expand benefits 

to all former POWs with strokes and 

common heart diseases. 

“This is an issue that has been studied 

and debated too long,” Principi said. “We 

have scientific studies supporting the 

association of these illnesses to the military 

service of our former POWs.” 

The Administration’s decision benefits 

former POWs with strokes and most heart 

diseases. Those veterans will be automatically 

eligible for disability compensation 

for those common ailments, and their 

spouses and dependents will be eligible 

for service-connected survivors’ benefits if 

these diseases contribute to the death of 

a former POW. 

In September 2003, Principi launched a 

nationwide outreach effort to identify and 

provide benefits to the estimated 11,000 

former POWs who were not receiving VA 

disability compensation or other services. 

There are about 35,000 living ex-POWs. 

The secretary also has urged Congress 

to change federal law that required that 

former POWs must be detained for at 

least 30 days to qualify for the full range 

of POW benefits. 

The Administration’s new decision will 

add to the list of 16 medical problems that 

VA presumes to be linked to the military 

service of former POWs. The new rules 

should have taken effect on October 7, 

2004. 

HELP 

I am requesting any information available 

on my father from the time of the fall 

of Bataan in April 1942 until his death in 

January 1945: 

Capt. David Gustaf Erickson 

U.S. Army Quartermaster Corp. 

Station: Manila, Philippines as of 

December 1941 

Serial No.: ASN 0 311 623 

Captured: April 9, 1942 on Bataan 

Died: January 31, 1945 Fukuoka POW 

Camp on Honshu or Kuyuu Island (not 

sure) of colitis 

Requested by: 

David K. Erickson (son) 

2502 South 18th Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19145 

Phone: 215-467-7235 

Can You Help? 

From: Bernadette Hair [hairbernadette@hotmail.com] 

Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 

2004 2:43 PM 

To: questionpoint@ocic.org 

Subject: RE: Library Question — 

Answer [Question #529621] 

Importance: High 

My grandfather, Hershel Lee Covey, 

was a prisoner of war in a Japanese 

POW camp in WWII and died at Camp 

Cabanatuan after surviving the Death 

March and Damp O’Donnell. For years, I 

have been looking for any information on 

my grandfather or anyone who might 

have known him. 

Hershel Lee Covey was born Jan. 9, 

1915 in Bedford, Indiana. I can’t find 

where he attended high school, though. If 

he did, he would have graduated in 

1932/33. He first entered service in 

Greencastle, Indiana on January 18, 1933 

and re-enlisted last on October 15, 1937. 

My father has hardly any information or 

pictures of his father. According to the 

medical examiner’s report (for life insurance) 

on 12/11/1940, he was 5’7.5” tall 

and weighed approximately 143 lbs. 

According to the document issued by 

the Adjutant General’s Office at the War 

Department, Hershel “suffered in a beleaguered 

status (from that first week in 

December, when Bataan fell) from Dec. 8, 

1941 to and including May 6, 1942, and 

absent in “missing in action status” on the 

subsequent to May 7, 1942, and until 

such absence was terminated on May 11, 

1945 on which date evidence considered 

sufficient to establish the fact that he died 

on July 17, 1942 in a prisoner of war 

camp in the Philippine Islands, received 

by the Secretary of War from a 

Commander in the Southwest Pacific 

Area.” 

It has been virtually impossible to 

retrieve any of that documentation. The 

paperwork that I did receive indicates that 

Hershel suffered and died from “Cerebral 

Malaria.” I am trying to get any information 

possible — what the evidence was or 

names of fellows in his group — anyone 

that might have known him. He may have 

been a crewchief/mechanic. 

———————— 

US Battleships of the US 

Navy — Iowa Class at 60 

USS Iowa (BB-61) first commissioned 

February 22, 1943 

USS New Jersey (BB-62) first commissioned 

May 23, 1943 

USS Missouri (BB-63) first commissioned 

June 11, 1944 

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) first commissioned 

April 16, 1944 

Seeking Information 

34 Nathan Drive 

Enola, PA 17025 

October 1, 2004 

Dear Mr. Vater: 

I received your name and address from 

Chuck Towne. I contacted him regarding 

my uncle Ralph Mertz who was a PFC 

with the 7th ordnance. He is listed as 

KIA/MIA September 18, 1042, in the 

Philippines. My grandparents received 

conflicting reports; one said as a POW he 

was shot trying to escape, another that he 

died in camp of malaria, and another that 

he died on the death march. I know it was 

a long time ago and memories are quite 

fuzzy, but is there any chance that you 

knew him or knew of him? Chuck said the 

name sounded familiar but he didn’t know 

why. Chuck also indicated that you produce 

a newsletter and perhaps something 

could be printed in that seeking information. 

Ralph’s younger brother is still living 

and it would be nice if he could correspond 

with someone that knew his brother. 

Thank you for your time. You can contact 

me at the address above or at tjackson@state.pa.us. 

Sincerely, 

Tracey L. Jackson 

———————— 

University of Utah Press 

1795 E. South Campus Drive, Suite 101 

Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402 

WE REFUSED TO DIE 

My Time as a Prisoner of War 

in Bataan and Japan, 

1942-1945 

By Gene S. Jacobsen 

Publication Date: November 11, 2004 

Cloth $24.95, ISBN 0-87480-806-5 

200 pp., 6 x 9, 14 photographs, 

23 illustrations, 4 maps 

For more information, contact Marcelyn 

Ritchie by phone at (801) 585-9876, by 

fax at (801) 581-3365, or via email at 

mritchie@upress.utah.edu. 

———————— 

Seeks Information 

I am seeking information on my uncle: 

P.F.C. Robert I. Cox 

194 Tank Battalion 

Headquarters Co. 

c/o Supt. Army Transport Service 

Ft. Mason, California 

That was his address in 1941 and 

1942. I believe he was in the Philippines 

and in the Bataan Death March; having 

joined the Army in Brainerd, Minnesota. 

Thank you for any information available. 

Sincerely, 

James A. Cox 

1233 8th Ave. N.E. 

Brainerd, MN 56401 


GO TO TOWN IN CINCINNATI 

With three days and a sense of adventure, you can 

experience the finest in shopping, the arts and fine dining in 

the Queen City. Take your pick from our action-packed travel 

plans. 

Day 1 

MORNING/AFTERNOON 

Begin in the heart of the city at the historic Fountain 

Square, view the Tyler Davidson Fountain and the “Genus of 

Water” and head over to the Cincinnati Visitor Center to see 

“The Spirit of Cincinnati,” a film about the cultural heritage of 

the city. 

Take the Architreks guided walking tour of downtown 

Cincinnati and view 10-15 sites that focus on many architec - 

tural styles throughout the Queen city, including Italianate and 

Greek Revival styles and buildings from the canal era. (Allow 

two hours.) 513-721-4506 

Head to the top of the city at the Carew Tower, 

Cincinnati’s tallest building, and see Cincinnati at any angle — 

or enjoy the art deco of the building and the attached hotel, the 

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. 513-241-3888 

Talk into the water fountains at the Cincinnati Museum 

Center at Union Terminal in the city’s West End and hear your 

friend’s answer from all the way on the other side of the 

rotunda. Also be sure to check out the grand space’s mosaic 

tile murals by German artist Winold Reiss. 

Gaze at the stars through the oldest operational telescope 

in the country at the Cincinnati Observatory Center in the aptly 

named neighborhood of Mt. Lookout. Reservations recommended. 

513-321-5186. 

Admire the gargoyles at the Cathedral Basilica of the 

Assumption in Covington, a replica of Notre Dame complete 

with flying buttresses and one of the world’s largest stained 

glass windows, as well as murals by hometown artist Frank 

Duveneck. 859-431-2060. 

Day 2 

MORNING 

Visit Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, a 733-acre 

masterwork of landscaping art. One of the largest cemeteries 

in the country, Spring Grove contains gravesites of many 

historical figures and an expansive collection of both native 

and exotic plant materials as well as its state and national 

champion trees. 513-853-6819 

AFTERNOON 

Visit the Taft Museum of Art, recently re-opened after a 

two-year expansion and renovation, and see the superb collection 

of paintings, decorative arts, murals and Victorian interiors. 

Day 3 

MORNING 

Head north to Hamilton, Ohio and enjoy a tour of the city 

and Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, which contains more than 40 

unique sculptures, a stone pioneer cabin and an abundance of 

wildlife, flowers and lakes. 513-868-8336 

LATE AFTERNOON 

Take a tour of Glendower, one of the finest examples of 

residential Greek Revival architecture in Ohio. Glendower was 

built between 1836-1840 and furnished with elegant Empire 

and Victorian furniture. 513-932-1817 


After his capture, 

Lee continued to 

write verse in the 

pages of this 

album, which he 

kept hidden from 

his captors and 

later entrusted to 

his fellow in - 

mates at 

Cabanatuan. 

Sorry 

In the midst of the 

1941 Japanese 

invasion of the 

Philip pines, 

Lieutenant Henry 

G. Lee (left) found 

time to write moving 

poems in his 

journal recounting 

his impressions 

of the un - 

folding disaster. 

2109 South Bay Lane 

Reston, VA 20191-4156 

Bruce Meredith in his letter to you wanted to now if anyone 

remembers anything about his uncle, Sgt. Otto Wellman, who 

was killed at Clark Field on December 8, 1941. He was indeed 

killed, but his remains evidently were not recovered, which is 

why he is listed as MIA. Jim Bibb knows the circumstances of 

Wellman’s death (and I have included them in my book, 

December 8, 1941: MacArthur’s Pearl Harbor). If you could 

send me Bruce Meredith’s address, I could respond to his 

query. 

With best regards, 

Bill Bartsch 

Editor’s note: I can’t find Bruce’s address.

Robert Heil 

Bill Galos 

Clarence Rutz 

Friends We Miss 

Lou Elliott 

John Sandor 

Dom Giantonio 

Dan DeNobile 

Andrew Bumgardner A.T. Baggett Joe Barna John Goodrow 

John McCort Herman Hausmann 

Demetri Doolos 

Dan Frantz Henry Quick Mario Pozzani John McKowisky Manny Lawton 


Heroes Of a Generation 

World War II Veterans Honored at Valley of Cincinnati 

The spring reunion at the Valley of Cincinnati was not just another reunion. Billed 

as the “Heroes of a Generation” class, the reunion honored World War II veterans. 

The heavier-than-usual attendance attracted many members who had not 

attended a reunion in recent years. There were 120 WWII veterans participating in the 

day’s activities. 

In the months leading up to the reunion, veterans were asked to submit photos 

and other memorabilia, which were included in a multimedia presentation. As each 

veteran was called upon, a special commemorative medal was presented by Ill. 

Chester G. Burton, 33°, Active Member for Ohio and a member of the Valley, and a 

personal tribute appeared on the screen. 

The medal was suspended from a red, white and blue ribbon. The Latin words 

“Fidelitas, Sacriftum, Fiduciaque Officium Equitas Sunt” (Fidelity, Sacrifice and Trust 

are a knight’s service) encircled a double-headed eagle. The phrase relates to both the 

knights of the Consistory and the military service of the veterans. Other members were 

able to purchase the medal with a black and white ribbon. 

The keynote speaker at the evening banquet was Ill. Everett D. Reamer, 33°, who 

enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 at the age of 16. Stationed in the Philippines on the 

island of Corregidor, Reamer was taken prisoner at the fall of Corregidor in 1942. He 

was assigned to a POW camp in Osaka, Japan. During this time, he was forced to 

work as a slave laborer without adequate food, clothing or medical attention. 

Enduring repeated beatings and 28 days of continuous abuse, Reamer was forced 

to stand motionless for 132 hours without food, water or relief. He is listed in the 

Guinness Book of World Records for standing at attention longer than any other human 

being. He eventually collapsed and was sentenced to solitary confinement in Osakam 

Sakai Prison, where Reamer remained until the end of the war and his release in 1945. 

Said Ill. Brother Reamer, “My God and our flag, which represent all that our 

country embraces, gave me the strength to endure and sustain my life from day to day 

until my liberation — and continues even today.” 

A number of years ago, Ill. John M. Cutter, 33°, wrote a play, “Nightmare House: 

Truman at Pottsdam,” which was produced by the Valley of Cincinnati. For this reunion, 

he prepared a monologue, which featured the words of President Truman and the 

personal reflections of the man who led the nation during the war. 

Portraying Truman was Ill. Charles A. Brigham III, 33°, Commander-in-Chief of the 

Consistory and general chairman for the reunion. Brigham had spent many hours 

studying tapes of the former president so that the appearance and the actions brought 

life to the character. Some members of the audience were convinced that Truman was 

actually in attendance. 

The idea of honoring the World War II veterans came to the Commander-in-Chief’s 

mind at the time of his father’s funeral in February 2003. The elder Brigham, a Past 

Grand Master of Ohio, was a veteran of the war, and someone commented that there 

were not many veterans left from “The Greatest Generation”. 

Chip came up with the plan and turned it into one of the most memorable reunions 

in the history of the Valley of Cincinnati. 


C-130 AIRCRAFT MARKS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE 

The legendary C-130 Hercules has reached a 50-year 

milestone since its first flight August 23, 1954 from Burbank to 

Edwards Air Force Base in California. 

Gen. John W. Handy, present commander of U.S. 

Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, said the 

familiar aircraft is as important today as ever. 

“As a career mobility pilot, I am convinced that the C-130 

is one of the greatest aircraft ever built,” General Handy said. 

“The ‘Herc’ has earned its place in history through its enormous 

contributions to crisis response for 50 years. With our 

C-130 fleet and the dedicated active duty, Air National Guard 

and Air Force Reserve aircrews that fly them, we are a tremendous 

force multiplier in the global war on terrorism.” 

With its first flight, a YC-130A prototype, tail No. 53-3397, 

inaugurated a half-century of continuous C-130 service to the 

Department of Defense. Test pilot Stanley Beltz and co-pilot 

Roy Wimmer used only 855 feet to make that first takeoff. 

Normally, an airplane with a gross weight of 100,000 pounds 

requires thousands of feet of runway. Mr. Beltz is said to have 

Keynote speaker, Everett D. Reamer, 

33°, related his experiences as a POW 

during the Second World War. 

quipped: “She’s a real flying machine. I could land it crossways 

on the runway if I had to.” 

Since that historic day, more than 2,200 C-130s in 70 

variants to five basic models have been produced, and 676 are 

in service with the Air Force today. The U.S. Armed Forces fly 

C-130s, as do the armed forces of 66 other nations. 

The newest C-130 in the inventory, the “J” model, entered 

the Air Force inventory in February 1999; and since then, the 

Air Force received 34 more “Js.” The basic design remains true 

to the original, but adds 40% more range, flies 24% faster than 

previous models, can take off on shorter runways, and has 

greater cargo and passenger capacity. Its new avionics will 

also allow for better data capability and control, and requires a 

crew of three rather than five. 

From the 1991 Gulf War through the crisis in Kosovo to 

peacekeeping operations in Africa, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq 

and Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian relief operations at 

home and around the world, the resilient C-130 answers the 

nation’s call.

Citizen of the Year 

Survivor, leader, hero 

There are great people, and then there’s 

Tony Reyna. 

He’s a survivor, a leader, a hero. 

A survivor of the Bataan Death March in 

the Philippines during World War II, Reyna 

returned not to wander the streets as so 

many war survivors do, but to thrive and 

become a beloved member of the Taos 

community. 

For Reyna, the Bataan Death March was 

as bad as war atrocities come. 

As the Japanese subjected sur rendered 

American troops to a torturous 65-mile 

march to a prison camp in 1942, Reyna 

was made to bury his Taos Pueblo comrade 

Fernando Concha. 

Many prisoners suffered from disease 

and starvation during the three-year 

internment. 

“Those who survived were determined to 

survive,” he said. “One man next to me just 

plain gave up. He quit seeing the future.” 

But Reyna didn’t flinch. 

Even after the Russians set them free in 

August 1945, an airplane hit their compound. 

The hospital ship that carried them 

to Okinawa hit a mine. In Okinawa, the 

wheel of their airplane fell off. 

Only six of 11 from Taos Pueblo 

survived. 

Concha, Big Jim Lujan, Jerry and Lupe 

Lucero, and Joe I. Lujan did not make it. 

Santana Romero, Jimmy K. Lujan, Henry 

Lujan, Mike Romero, Onofre Montoya and 

Reyna survived. 

Only Reyna and Mike Romero are still 

alive today. 

Reyna weighed 100 pounds when he 

came home. After regaining his strength in 

a Santa Fe hospital, he resumed his life at 

Taos Pueblo. 

Honors 

Now 88, Reyna reflects on decades of 

community service. For 54 years, he has 

run his own art shop on the pueblo. He 

helped to bring a health clinic to the pueblo. 

He was instrumental in getting the pueblo 

designated an official United Nations World 

Heritage site. Father of four children with 

wife Annie Cata Reyna, he was Taos 

Pueblo governor twice and has served on 

numerous boards and commissions and 

received numerous awards and honors. 

Greatly admired by his fellow Taoseños, 

Reyna was born to Hilario and Crucita 

Reyna February 1, 1916. A graduate of 

Taos Day School, he attended Santa Fe 

Indian School, graduated from Santa Fe 

High School and from Bacone Junior 

College in Muskogee, Okla. 

After he married Annie Cata of San Juan 

Pueblo, who was working at Taos Day 

School at the time, Cata and Reyna built a 

home and shop for Indian arts along the 

main road to the pueblo. 

Staff Report — The Taos News 

Tony Reyna 

Reyna’s dream was to provide an Indianowned 

venue for Indian arts, something that 

encourages pueblo residents to do the 

same. It’s a dream that continues after 

more than a half-century. 

But there were challenges. 

He said the bank was not giving G.I. 

loans to American Indians back in the late 

1940’s when he made the first effort to build 

a store of his own. His big break came with 

a loan from hardware store owners Max 

Ilfeld and Saul Hartberg. 

“I paid them all back in two years’ time,” 

Reyna said. “My shop was built on trust and 

I have maintained that trust with people.” 

Some say he trusts people too much. But 

for more than a half century, that trust has 

paid off. It was just this year that Reyna 

became victim to shoplifters for the first time. 

Reaping the Rewards of Business 

The shop opened in 1950, and over 54 

years, it has carried paintings from 

Oklahoma and Colorado, Hopi art and plenty 

from Taos Pueblo. 

Reyna’s clientele, from all over the world, 

has included President Jimmy Carter, 

Princess Anne and Vincent Price. He said 

that only about a tenth of his clients are 

from the Taos area. 

“It’s a beautiful occupation,” he said, 

adding that he has a “deep satisfaction for 

doing something worthwhile, representing 

Indian crafts people.” 

He has greatly influenced many of his 

brethren. 

“I got started through his gallery there at 

the pueblo,” said Taos Pueblo sculptor John 

Suazo, 53. “I sold some of my art in his 

store. He really helped me out a lot in the 

beginning by buying my art. He opened the 

doors for many people here by being a role 

model in a business venture.” 

Reyna was Taos Pueblo secretary in 

1975 and lieutenant governor in 1977. He 

was governor in 1982 and 1992. 

During his second term as governor, he 

helped accomplish a task which he sees as 

his greatest contribution to his community. 

Global Recognition 

The United Nations wanted to bestow 

upon Taos Pueblo one of its most 

prestigious honors: World Heritage Site 

recognition. 

But there were strings attached, Reyna 

said. 

The UN wanted a say in how the pueblo 

handles its visitors. 

“They would have gotten control of Taos 

tourism. It’s our place, and we wanted our 

control,” Reyna said. 

Reyna put his foot down, and told United 

Nations representatives that he would 

rather forego the honor than accept it with 

any kind of condition. 

“They then gave us the recognition 

without conditions,” Reyna said. 

Following his return from World War II, 

Reyna became part of a modernization 

boom at the pueblo, which saw the paving 

of roads and connection to the electric grid. 

He started a program to hire college-bound 

youths to give tours in the village and give 

them scholarships. 

He was part of an effort to open an Indian 

Health Service clinic on the pueblo. 

He served as Town of Taos police commissioner, 

a member of the Taos Muni cipal 

Schools Board, Millicent Rogers Museum 

board, the Board of the Museum of New 

Mexico, the Helena Wurlitzer advisory 

board and the Taos Pueblo School Board. 

He was chairman of the celebration of the 

return of the sacred Blue Lake to the tribe in 

1970. 

In 1997, he was awarded the New 

Mexico Distinguished Public Service award 

and he has been an official Living Treasure 

of the Town of Taos and the City of Sante 

Fe. 

Lineage 

He is very proud of his children: John 

Anthony, tour guide and retired director of 

the native American Prep School near 

Rowe, N.M.; Diane, producer of the 

Peabody Award-winning documentary 

Surviving Columbus; Marie, the director of 

the Oo-oonah Art Center at the pueblo; and 

Phillip, who helps his father run the store. 

And he is proud of his grandchildren, who 

include a graduate of the Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology and Stanford 

University. 

His son Phillip said the community 

admires him for his age, energy and “the 

way he carries himself,” even though he is 

88 and has his military history. 

Phillip said his father’s contribution to his 

family was “just providing the basics. A roof 

over our heads. There was always food. 

Just being a father figure, that’s all it is.” 

In the end, Reyna said, his passion in life 

boils down to enriching the lives of others. 

”I’m not rich,” he said, “but I have the 

satisfaction of doing what I’m doing and 

helping other people.” 



Painting Honors World War II 

Hero Colin Kelly 

Lest anyone in the town of 

Madison fear that the world has forgotten 

about its favorite son, the 

first bonafide national hero of World 

War II, along comes a retired Miami 

businessman to reawaken the 

pride. 

Capt. Colin P. Kelly Jr. was eulogized 

by President Franklin 

Roosevelt himself when Kelly’s feat 

of courageous aviation in the 

Philippines gave the nation hope in 

its darkest hour. 

Eugene Eisenberg, retired owner 

of the Yellow Cab Co. of Miami, the 

largest cab company in the state, 

never forgot Kelly. He commissioned 

a 4-by-8 painting of an 

action scene of Kelly and his 

bomber crew. 

In a public reception from 2 to 5 

p.m. July 18, 1998, the painting by 

renowned Philadelphia aviation 

artist Gil Cohen was unveiled at the 

Smith Mansion, a large antebellum 

historic home on U.S. 90 in 

Madison. 

On December 9, 1941, two days 

after the Japanese attack on Pearl 

Harbor, B-17 bomber pilot Kelly 

was killed returning from a raid that 

inflicted heavy damage on a 

Japanese naval task force headed 

for Manila. 

On the return trip, Japanese fighters 

strafed the bomber and set it 

afire. Kelly’s crewmen testified that 

he held the plane steady so they 

could escape. But he could not 

escape when the plane exploded. 

The bomber’s direct hit on a 

Japanese cruiser was the first good 

news the nation had after Pearl 

Harbor. Kelly’s name became legendary. 

A song about him became a 

national hit, and a national fund was 

started to build a monument to him. 

Posthumously, Kelly was awarded 

the Distinguished Service Cross, 

second only to the Medal of Honor. 

The monument, called The Four 

Freedoms, was erected in 1944 in 

the town square in Madison. The 

rural county seat in North Florida is 

56 miles east of Tallahassee. 

Attending the unveiling besides 

local dignitaries was Emy 

By Bob Phelps 

Times-Union staff writer 

A painting depicting World War II hero Capt. Colin P. Kelly Jr. was 

unveiled today in a ceremony in Madison. Kelly was killed only two days 

after the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Howerton, Kelly’s sister who still 

lives in Madison; Eisenberg; the the 

artist; two of Kelly’s crewmen; and 

his U.S. Military Academy roommate. 

Howerton, 78, was shown 

Cohen’s preliminary pencil sketch 

of the painting a month prior, and 

she said it stunned her. 

“That artist had never seen my 

brother, and my brother was quick 

as lightning, and you could tell that 

by the movement in the sketch,” 

Howerton said. “He looked so much 

like my brother that it really startled 

me for three days.” 

Cohen is former vice president of 

the Society of American Aviation 

Artists and is current chair of the Air 

Force Art Program of the Society of 

Illustrators. He chose to depict a 

scene of what happened before 

Kelly’s death. Eisenberg said military 

records show that Kelly had 

just returned from a mission when 

word was radioed of an approaching 

Japanese air raid. 

In the scene at Clark Air Base in 

the Philippines, Kelly is sprinting to 

his bomber while shouting to his 

crew members to get aboard. 

To aid Cohen’s work, Eisenberg 

conducted extensive research to 

get the old World War II-era photo - 

graphs of the crewmen who were 

aboard the plane, writing and call- 

ing families and the National 

Archives to round them up. 

Eisenberg said he was inspired 

by a twist of fate to commission the 

painting. When he was a small boy 

in New York City during World War 

II, he met two women who were 

mourning the loss of a bomber pilot 

in the Philippines. In reading a book 

on Kelly four years ago, he learned 

that those two women he met as a 

child were the mother-in-law and 

widow of Kelly. 

“I was sort of dumbfounded when 

I realized I had met Kelly’s motherin-law 

and knew his widow,” he 

said. 

Eisenberg, fascinated with aviation 

as a child, now is a major 

collector of World War II aviation 

art. He declined to say what the 

commission cost him. 

The painting will hang in 

Eisenberg’s private collection of 

more than 75 original works at his 

home in suburban Miami. 

He took the painting with him 

following the reception. 

He had 75 prints made to give to 

crewmen and families of the men 

depicted in the painting. 

“I’m just so thankful that people 

remember Colin for the wonderful 

person that he was,” Kelly’s sister 

said. “I am awed that people still 

remember him.”

Downtown Excitement 

Mark Twain once purportedly said he wished to 

be in Cincinnati when the world ended, since 

everything happened later in the slow-paced river 

city. America’s famous humorist and riverboat 

captain would undoubtedly be surprised by the city 

he would find today. 

Though steeped in history, Cincinnati has an 

eye toward the future. The town once known as 

Porkopolis because of the prevalence of pigs in its 

streets is home to one of the nation’s finest French 

restaurants, the record-holding five-star Maisonette. 

The oldest professional baseball team, the 

Cincinnati Reds, play in the major league’s newest 

stadium. The city that was home to the first general 

art museum in the “west” to have its own building — 

The Cincinnati Art Museum — is now home to the 

Contemporary Arts Center, the first art museum to 

be designed by a woman. 

The Ohio River not only creates a stunning 

backdrop, but is still a focus of the city's life and 

activities. Along the riverfront, Bicentennial 

Commons, with its whimsical flying pig sculptures, 

and the winding Theodore M. Berry International 

Friendship Park, offer year-round fun, from volleyball 

to bike rides to a stroll through the prehistoric past. 

Downtown offers all the fun and diversions of a 

much larger city with an unmatched convenience 

and affordability. Shoppers can pay a visit to the 

region’s only Tiffany & Co. or head over to the 

newly renovated Saks Fifth Avenue. Cultural types 

can find plenty to enjoy, from symphony performances 

to Broadway shows, from mainstream 

plays to experimental theater. Foodies will want to 

sample a world of dining opportunities, all within 

easy walking distance from downtown hotels — 

Scottish, Indian, Italian, German, Chinese, Thai 

—Cincinnati was the first city to establish 

a municipal fire department and can lay claim 

to the first fireman’s pole! 

—An episode of The Brady Bunch was 

shot at Paramount’s Kings Island when it first 

opened. It featured a cameo by hall of Fame 

catcher Johnny Bench. 

FAST FACTS 

and much more. True to its name, the Havana 

Martini Club has the city’s best selection of cigars 

and a martini menu sure to quench any thirst. And 

call ahead for reservations at Jean-Robert’s at 

Pigalls, picked by Esquire as one of the country’s 

best new restaurants in 2003. 

Just north of downtown, the premier neighborhoods 

of Uptown includes beautiful parks, historic 

homes, unique entertainment and businesses as 

well as international flavor, including the University 

of Cincinnati, the world-renowned Cincinnati Zoo & 

Botanical Garden and Cincinnati Children’s 

Hospital, one of the top-ranked pediatric facilities in 

the nation. 

Despite these cosmopolitan offerings, the city 

is still in the Midwest, where the weather can either 

set the scene or change your plans. Summer 

brings opportunities for scenic outdoor dining and 

enjoying one of the nation’s top city park districts. 

In the autumn, enjoy the largest Oktoberfest 

outside of Germany and plan to visit one of downtown’s 

many professional theater companies. In the 

winter, enjoy dinner at the Albee Restaurant in the 

Westin Hotel overlooking Historic Fountain Square 

and watch the ice skaters. Spring brings baseball’s 

Opening Day parade, a citywide celebration, and a 

fresh chance to enjoy historic Findlay Market, 

Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, 

where shopping is as much about the multi-cultural 

experiences as it is the amazing cheeses, specialty 

meats and exotic spices available year-round. 

Whether you know it as the Queen City, the 

Blue Chip City or the home of the mythical WKRP, 

downtown offers a rich history and plenty of exciting 

possibilities that won’t disappoint, except 

maybe Mark Twain. 

—The city’s tallest building, the Carew 

Tower, which is now home to Tower Place mall 

and the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, was 

the world’s first megastructure, combining office 

and retail space along with a hotel. 

—The Suspension Bridge looks familiar, it 

was John roebling’s prototype for the Brooklyn 

Bridge. 



Paul Reuter and Commander Silva 

Paul Reuter and Commander Silva at reception 

after the Arlington ceremony. 

Agapito and 

wife Socorro 

Commander Silva and 

Paul Reuter at the Tomb 

of the Unknown Soldier 

November 11, 2004.



Irving L. Beattie 

American Defenders of 

Bataan & Corregidor 

Joseph A. Vater PNC 


McKees Rocks, PA 15136 

November 16, 2004 

Dear Sir, 

I read in the current issue of The Quan 

— page 14 under ‘Quans Returned 

Marked Bad Address’, the name — Irving 

L. Beattie. 

I visited his grave on October 10 of this 

year. 

Irving was attached as a medic to the 

31st Infantry in the Philippines and saw 

duty on Bataan until the surrender, survived 

the death march and made it home 

after the war. He worked as an anesthetist 

after the war, played the organ and 

piano in his church, fell in love with an 

Army nurse, married her and became the 

father of one daughter and the grand - 

father of two. He lived in California and 

Oregon for most of his post war years. 

Irving was awarded the Silver Star as a 

result of bravery in action on Bataan. 

I was told the story of his action by 

Doctor Hibbs with whom he worked. Dr. 

Hibbs mentions Irving in his book — Tell 

MacArthur to Wait. 

Irving joined the Army in Denver, 

Colorado just a week before I did and we 

both signed up for the Medical Depart - 

ment and asked for assignment to the 

Philippines. Irving was sent to Luzon and 

I to Corregidor. Neither of us saw the 

other while overseas and met again in 

Denver after we were liberated. 

Irving’s health was never good after the 

war — having several surgeries on his 

back from injuries suffered at the hands of 

Japanese guards. 

Thank you for the opportunity to give 

you this information — I enjoy reading 

The Quan and look forward to receiving 

it. 

Arthur R. Thulson 

3108 East Long Circle South 

Centennial, Colorado 80122-3336 

303-741-3192 

———————— 

George W. Bollin, Jr. 


Dear Sir, 

I am not for sure that this is the place I 

need to write to you, but if you would 

please pass it on I would greatly appreciate 

it. I need to notify someone that my 

husband passed away September 17, 

2004. His name is George W. Bollin, Jr. 

His address is 779 Big Daddys Rd., 

Pikeville, NC 27863. I am enclosing a 

small obituary of his. 

~ Deceased ~ 

George W. Bollin, Jr. of Pikeville, NC 

passed away at the Fayetteville VA hospital 

in NC. He was 84 years old. 

George served in the U.S. Navy from 

1939 until 1950, of which he was a 

P.O.W. for 40 months in Japan during 

WWII. He was a member of the Veterans 

of Foreign War, Defenders of Bataan and 

Corregidor. He is survived by his wife 

Mary L. Bollin, 3 sons and 1 daughter and 

grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. 

Burial with military honors was in the 

National Cemetery at Salisbury, NC. 

Thank you for the paper and all the 

news that you published. 

mary L. Bollin 

779 Big Daddys Rd. 

Pikeville, NC 27863 

(919) 242-6702 

———————— 

Herman O. Carpenter 

FOREST — Herman O. “Humpy” 

Carpenter, 84, a retired poultry farmer, 

died Monday, November 8, 2004 at 

Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. Visitation 

was at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Forest. 

Services were at the funeral home with 

burial in Hillsboro Baptist Cemetery in 

Hillsboro. 

Mr. Carpenter was a native of Scott 

County and had lived there for most of his 

life except for 12 years which he lived in 

Holly Bluff. 

Mr. Carpenter was of the Baptist Faith 

and he was a U.S. Marine veteran of 

World War II. He participated in the Battle 

of Corregidor where he was captured and 

imprisoned in the Philippine Islands. Mr. 

Carpenter was a member of the Forest 

VFW Post 4974 in Forest and he was an 

avid fisherman and hunter and a member 

of the Cypress Bayou Hunting Club in 

Vicksburg. He was preceded in death by 

his wife, Beth Carpenter, in 1997. 

Survivors include: son Jim Carpenter 

and his wife Bobbye; daughters, Linda 

Stewart and her husband Bart, Debby 

Armstrong and her husband Gary, Susan 

Carpenter Poole and her husband Jimmy; 

grandchildren, Samantha Clinton, Brad 

Armstrong, Blake Armstrong, Justin 

Carpenter, Matthew Carpenter, Haley 

Carpenter, Christopher Easley, and 

Michael Carpenter; his sister, Doris Hester 

and his caregiver, Ruthie Pearl Finklea. 

———————— 

Clovis G. Chavez 

At last, God removed Clovis from his 

misery on October 1, 2004 at the Manor 

Care Nursing Home in Albuquerque, N. 

Mexico. He spent the last few months of 

his life locked in a flashback dealing with 

his Japanese demons haunting him and 

gnawing at his mind till the very end. Clovis 

became convinced that he was a POW in 

the nursing home when an Asian podiatrist 

came into his room and began to examine 

his foot for an ingrown toenail. What followed 

him next were paranoid delusions of 

internment, torture and death and caused 

him to deteriorate quickly after that. 

Clovis served as corporal in the 

Headquarters 1st Battalion Battery of the 

200th Coast Artillery. He worked in the 

communications field during the war until 

his capture in the spring of 1942. He survived 

the Bataan Death March and the 

horrors of the journey to Japan on the 

“hell ship” Noto Maru during August of 

1944. He would recall the harsh winter in 

the Ashio, Japan copper-zinc mines. “We 

would walk to our slave labor locations on 

barefoot, clad in skimpy shorts thru the 

freezing snow in the dead of winter,” 

Clovis recalled. Not until later in his life 

did he speak openly about his experiences, 

which we now know to be more 

horrific than anybody can comprehend. “I 

was knocked out with a knock on the 

head with a 2x4 board that had a nail on 

it, penetrating my skull,” Clovis reminisced. 

He brought it all into perspective 

and summed it all up when his primary 

care physician remarked that he can’t figure 

how you guys made it back home. 

Clovis simply responded, “By the will and 

grace from God, it was all a miracle.” 

Clovis was liberated in September 1945 

by the 7th Cavalry after the bombing of 

Hiroshima. He was so numb and weak 

that he no longer felt pain. “I had no feelings, 

no senses. It is only by the grace of 

God that the war ended when it ended 

because I could no longer go any further. 

My illnesses had become full-blown and 

in control of me, only God was not ready 

to take me.” He spent a year recuperating 

from this devastation at a veterans hospital 

in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 

Clovis is the recipient of many distinctions 

including the Purple Heart, Bronze 

Star, Presidential Citation and Prisoner of 

War Medal. He belonged to various veterans 

organizations. 

Clovis was the Postmaster in Peralta 

for 25 years and even ran the post office 

from his home, where he started a family 

and a legacy of community service. 

Enduring years of confinement arose from 

his struggles to be the most joyful, happy, 

Continued on Page 15

Chavez 


generous and loving man anyone could 

hope to meet. 

Clovis is survived by his sons, Clovis 

Chavez, Jr. and wife Diane and David T. 

Chavez. Clovis leaves behind three 

grandchildren and five great-grand - 

children. 

All services were held at Sangre de 

Christo Church in Valencia, New Mexico. 

Interment took place at the Valencia 

Catholic Cemetery. 

———————— 

Dorothea Engel 

HAMILTON, MO — Dorothea “Dot” 

Daley Engel, 88, of Hamilton, an Angel of 

Bataan, died on July 2, 2004 at the 

Missouri Veterans’ Home, Cameron. 

She was born on May 7, 1916 in Hamil - 

ton and graduated from the Hamilton High 

School in 1934. She graduated from 

nurses training at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 

1937. In 1938, she entered the Army 

Nurses’ Corps at Ft. Riley, KS. During 

World War II, Capt. Engel served in the 

Philippines and later in the German 

occupation. 

She married Emmanuel “Boots” Engel 

in the Philippines on February 19, 1942. 

Her husband died a prisoner of war. 

Dorothea was honorably discharged from 

the Army in 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New 

Jersey. Dot held various stateside duties, 

including her years of nursing in the 

Hamilton office of brother Frank R. Daley, 

M.D., from 1951 to 1987. 

She was preceded in death by her 

parents; her husband; her sister, Mary 

House; and two brothers, Frank and J.W. 

Daley. 

Survivors include sister-in-law Helen 

Daley; brother-in-law Charles O. House; 

four nieces, a nephew, and numerous 

great-nieces and great-nephews. 

———————— 

Chester K. Fast 

SPRINGFIELD — Chester Kelly Fast 

died peacefully at his home in the afternoon 

of Thursday, October 21, amongst 

his family and friends. 

Born February 10, 1919, in Pittsfield, 

Ill., to Everett Fast and Cora (Elliott) Fast, 

he grew up in the Midwest and California, 

graduating from high school in 

Greensburg, KS, in 1936. World War II 

interrupted his college studies to enlist in 

the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Stationed 

in the Philippines, Chet was taken prisoner 

of war in January 1942, when the 

country fell to the Japanese. As POW, he 

survived 44 months of internment and 

was liberated at the end of the war by 

Russian troops from his last prison camp 

in Manchuria. 

Returning to the States, he married 

Marjorie Krueger and raised three surviving 

sons, Philip, Kenneth and Ronald. Chet 

made his first career in the Navy, serving 

in several posts in the U.S., including the 

Navy’s Medical Detachment in the U.S. 

Capital Building, Washington, D.C. 

Upon retirement, he began a second 

career in the field of education. He earned 

an M.S. of Education degree and became 

Assistant Headmaster and coach at the 

Collegiate School in Wichita, KS. He 

divorced and married Jane Hougen Davis 

in 1969 and moved to Springfield where 

he opened the well-known framing shop 

that bears his name: Fast Frames and 

Gallery, now owned by son Ron and 

co-worker Renne Myers. 

During his years in Springfield, Chet 

was a strong community supporter, serving 

as referee in local basketball and football 

games, and was a major contributor 

to Ducks Unlimited and to the arts. 

His wife, Jane, and children Scott and 

Kimberlee survive him. The family memorials 

services will be held later. 

———————— 

Bernard T. FitzPatrick 

Bernard T. FitzPatrick, age 89, of St. 

Paul, died on November 8, 2004. He was 

known as “Bernie”, “B.T.”, “Fitz”. He is survived 

by wife Corinne; eight children, Brian 

(Evy Fernandez), Kevin (Tina Blomer), 

Dennis (Judith Voight), Ellen Kane, Colleen 

(Kevin Murphy), Sheila (Franklin Moore), 

Patrick (Mary Pat), Maureen (Douglas 

Armstrong); twelve grandchildren, Conor 

and Padraic FitzPatrick Murphy, Brendan 

Seamus and Miles Kane, Kaitlin and Ryan 

Voight-FitzPatrick, Timothy, Daniel and 

Joseph FitzPatrick, Daniel and Natasha 

Pagan; brother Raymond (Lois); sister 

Colleen (Russell) Laughlin; many nieces 

and nephews. 

Born in Waverly, MN, he was a proud 

graduate of the University of St. Thomas 

and a past alumni president. He was a 

member of the U.S. Army 194th Tank 

Battalion in World War II and a Bataan 

Death March survivor. The Hike into the 

Sun, his memoir of his war experiences, 

received a Minnesota Book Award. He was 

a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of 

War and other service groups. 

Bernard had a career in insurance 

associated with the Principal Life 

Insurance Co. He was an avid reader of 

history and a great lover of music. He was 

a past member of the Twin Cities Catholic 

Chorale. 

The family wishes to thank the staff of 

the Highland Chateau for their loving care 

of Bernard. Mass of Christian Burial was 

at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. 

Clinton S. Jennings 

On October 28, 2004 Clinton S. 

Jennings was called home after a long illness. 

Esther stated that Clint received 

excellent care at the VA Hospital in San 

Francisco until his passing. 

Clint served as Commander of our 

Western States Chapter, two separate 

terms: 1995-96 and again in 1999-2000. 

With the help of his devoted wife, Esther, 

Clint was always ready to serve the cause 

of American Defenders of Bataan and 

Corregidor. Clint also had a variety of other 

interests which he served with distinction, 

among which was the Sojourners. 

On March 31, 1941, at San Francisco, 

California, Clint boarded the United States 

Army Transport Republic enroute to the 

Philippines, arriving in Manila April 20, 

1941. He was assigned to the 59th Coast 

Artillery in the Headquarters Battery on 

Corregidor. He served honorably until his 

capture by the Japanese on May 6, 1942. 

In spite of his advanced years and failing 

health, Clint and Esther made several 

trips backs to Corregidor and Bataan. 

We will miss Clint. Let us pray that we 

all close ranks as our own day nears 

when we will be called to join him. We 

also pray that God will continue to protect 

and comfort his beloved Esther. 

———————— 

Bobby Spears Jones 

He always told me if anything happened 

to him, the first thing was to send 

in to The Quan about his death. He 

enjoyed The Quan so much. It kept him 

in touch with the WWII vets. 

Bobby Spears Jones, age 83, passed 

away September 1, 2004 in Altus, 

Oklahoma. Bobby was born on August 

30, 1921 in Altus, Oklahoma. 

He served two years in the Altus unit of 

the Oklahoma National Guard. On 

February 5, 1940 he enlisted in the United 

States Marine Corps and served aboard 

the heavy cruiser Chicago before transferring 

to the Fourth Marines in Shanghai, 

China and served with them after the 

bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Fourth 

Marines served in Bataan and Corregidor 

until they were surrendered after months 

of combat on Corregidor. 

He became a Prisoner of War on May 6, 

1942. He spent three and a half years 

doing severe labor in prison camps in the 

Philippines and Japan. He was liberated 

from Japan September 5, 1945. He was 

returned to the United States, hospitalized 

for three months, and medically discharged 

after six years of honorable service. 

On April 24, 1948 he married Myrtle 

Barton. They have two children; a daughter, 

Shirley Ann Updegraff and a son, Gary 

Lynn Jones. On April 24, 2004 Bobby and 

Myrtle celebrated fifty-six years of marriage. 

Bobby was very active in politics. He 

was Jackson County Republican Chair man 

Continued on Page 16 


for six years in Altus, Okla homa, a life 

member of the American Defenders of 

Bataan and Corregidor, Disabled Ameri can 

Veterans, Blinded Veterans Asso ciation, 

and many more. 

He was preceded in death by his 

parents, an infant sister, Para Lee, a 

brother, Gravis Jones, and a son-in-law, 

Kenney Updegraff. 

He is survived by his wife, Myrtle of the 

home in Altus; a daughter, Shirley Ann 

Updegraff; a son, Gary Lynn Jones, and a 

granddaughter, Holly Day and her husband, 

Dale Day, all of Oklahoma City. He 

is also survived by a brother, Harold Jones 

of Altus. 

His family loved him and will miss him 

and so will all of his friends. 

———————— 


Jones 


Albert A. Katool 

Albert A. “Fred” Katool, 82, expired Fri - 

day, September 17, 2004. Mr. Katool had 

been a patient in the Biloxi, MS VA Medi cal 

Center extended care unit, since he suffered 

a heart attack and stroke in 1996. His 

home was in Bay St. Louis, MS and he was 

often able to spend weekends at home. 

A WWII veteran, he served with the Army 

Air Force, 48th material squadron, attachment 

of the 27th bomb group. A survivor of 

the infamous Death March on Bataan, he 

was a POW in Japanese prison camps for 

three and a half years. He spent a year in 

the Northington General Hospital in Tusca - 

loosa, Alabama after his release from the 

Hiro Hato Prison Camp in Japan at the end 

of WWII. The recipient of numerous service 

connected honor awards, it was not until 

1985 the 27th bomb group received the 

much awaited bronze star award in special 

ceremonies at Keesler Air Force Base, 

Biloxi, MS. 

On returning to his home in Jackson, MS 

after his release from Northington General 

Hospital, he received his 1st class engineering 

license from Cook’s Radio and 

Communications School. He was sales 

manager in Radio sales in Galveston, TX 

for a number of years and in news and 

broadcasting in numerous parts of the 

country, but he most enjoyed the position of 

“dee-jay” and the contact with the audience 

on request calls during his shows. He had 

been a member of the Kiwanis, Rotary, 

Elks, Moose, V.F.W. organizations, etc. 

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie C. 

Katool; a number of nieces and nephews, 

greatnieces and nephews and great 

great-nieces and nephews and his 

beloved poodle, Chree. 

Visiting hours for family and friends 

were from 11:30 a.m. till 12:30 noon on 

Wednesday, September 22, 2004, at the 

Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford 

O’Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. Military 

graveside services were at 1 p.m. at 

Biloxi National Cemetery. 

David J. Levy 

David Levy, a resident of Martinez, died 

October 25 at the age of 87. Levy was born 

in San Francisco on July 1, 1917 and 

gradu ated from Polytechnic High, San Fran - 

cis co City College and the University of San 

Francisco Law School. While attending 

USF, he was a letter carrier for the Post 

Office. Anticipating that he would be drafted, 

he volunteered for the Army in April, 1941. 

He was stationed at Hamilton Field with 

the 680th Ordnance Company, Aviation 

Pursuit and then assigned to the 

Philippines. He was captured during the 

fall of Bataan in 1942. After surviving the 

Death March, Levy was held prisoner in 

Manchuria where he spent the remaining 

3-1/2 years of the war, for which he 

received a Bronze Star in 1986. 

His career in law spanned more than a 

half century. He was a California Highway 

Patrolman from 1947-49, then served as a 

Deputy District Attorney for Contra Costa 

County from 1949-59. He was City Attorney 

of Pittsburg 1959-67; City Attorney of 

Concord 1967-81; and City Attorney of 

Pinole 1972-97 in addition to maintaining 

his private practice. In 1978, he was elected 

President of the California State Bar. 

He and his late wife, Corinne, were 

married in 1946. Levy is survived by his 

three daughters, Diane Levy, Lynn 

Lindsey and Gayle Eidelson and seven 

grandchildren, Michael, Joel, Ben, Aaron, 

Nathan, Adam, and Leah Eidelson. Levy 

married Phyllis Robinson in 1978. He is 

also survived by Phyllis, her daughters 

Alice Simikic, Pamela McDowell, Barbara 

Foxcroft, Marjorie Beachill and Phyllis’ 

two grandchildren, Aaron Posner and 

Kassandra Robinson. 

A memorial service was scheduled on 

November 7 at 1:15 p.m. at Temple 

Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 

———————— 

Susano Madril 

By Lloyd Jojola 

Journal Staff Writer 

Susano Madril, a World War II veteran 

who survived the infamous Bataan Death 

March, died recently at his home in 

Albuquerque. He was 87. 

“He was very compassionate, loving, 

understanding,” said his niece Fanny 

Montoya of Encino, N.M. 

Madril was the youngest of seven children 

born to Cristobal and Juanita Madril 

— ranchers in Duran, a Torrance County 

town about 15 miles south of Vaughn. His 

mother died when he was 9 months old, 

and his paternal grandmother helped raise 

Madril and his siblings, Montoya said. 

Madril graduated from Encino High 

School and then enlisted in the service, 

she said. 

He would serve in the 200th Coast 

Artillery, a regiment sent to the Philip - 

pines in September 1941 to provide 

anti-aircraft support for Clark Field and 

Fort Stotsenberg on Luzon Island. 

The field and fort were under siege 

hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked. 

The 200th Coast Artillery, later split to 

form the 515th Coast Artillery, was made 

up of more than 1,800 men from the New 

Mexico National Guard — men who 

helped fight the Japanese until Bataan 

and Corregidor fell in 1942. 

Many of the captured took part in the 

Bataan Death March, a forced march of 

tens of thousands of American and 

Filipino soldiers and civilians. It covered 

more than 60 miles and many of the prisoners 

were starved, beaten and killed. 

Madril was one of those forced to 

march. He was held captive and performed 

forced labor during the war, his 

family said. He was a prisoner of war for 

more than three years. 

“Very rarely did you get him to talk 

about it,” his niece said. “It was something 

that he, I think, tried to block.” 

He did recall some of the experiences 

to his family, such as how, if one fell 

during the march, “they would just put a 

bayonet through you”; how prisoners who 

died during transport by ship were pushed 

overboard; and how he worked in coal 

mines as a prisoner. 

“One time he told us they made 

wooden shoes in sort of a little factory, 

and then he would talk about how they 

were treated. They were beat up with ax 

handles and stuff like that,” Montoya said. 

Madril was discharged in 1949, his 

family said. 

Later he worked for the federal government, 

inspecting cattle at ranches, before 

returning to Duran, his niece said. 

“He went into the ranching business, 

sheep and cattle,” Montoya said. “He 

loved that — just being out.” 

Montoya described her uncle, who 

moved to Albuquerque about 25 years 

ago for health reasons, as someone with 

an “outgoing” personality, very funny and 

could be outspoken and opinionated 

about some things. 

Madril liked to go to the Coronado 

Shop ping Center to visit with people. He 

loved to eat huevos rancheros at his 

favorite spots. And he was a real news 

hound. 

“He loved to read,” Montoya said. “In 

fact, he read the Journal every day from 

cover to cover, word by word — even the 

legal section. And he could retain what ever 

he read. He loved to talk about any of the 

news that he would see in the paper.” 

Madril was a member of St. John’s 

Catholic Church in Duran, where he also 

belonged to the San Jose Society. In 

Albuquerque, he attended Queen of 

Heaven Catholic Church, and served as 

an usher there for years. 

He is survived by numerous nieces, 

nephews and friends. 

A noon Mass was celebrated at Queen 

of Heaven. Internment, with military 

honors, followed at Santa Fe National 

Cemetery.

John Macynski 

John Macynski, age 84, passed away 

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at Riverside 

Methodist Hospital. He was a graduate of 

The OSU; a retired architect, State of 

Ohio; a member of St. Matthias Catholic 

Church; and a decorated veteran of WWII, 

served with the U.S. 5th Army-Air Corp. 

He survived the Bataan Death March and 

Japanese Prison Camp. John was a member 

of the DAV and ADBC, and a 4th 

Degree member of the Knights of 

Columbus. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 

years, Frances; children, David (Mary) 

Macynski, Karen (Michael) O’Brien and 

Susan (Sherman) Smith. 

———————— 

Joseph A. Mihok 

Joseph A. Mihok, 87, of Louisville, formerly 

of Bridgeport, CT, passed away 

Friday, November 19, 2004, at Mt. Holly 

Nursing Center. 

He was a retired industrial engineer for 

General Electric. He was a World War II 

veteran, a prisoner of war for three-and-ahalf 

years in the Philippines and a survivor 

of the Bataan Death March. 

He is survived by his wife, Louise T. 

Mihok; a son, Philip J. Mihok and his wife, 

Anna, of Scottsdale, AZ; two stepchildren, 

Rossi Etscorn and Larry Taylor; and several 

grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Visitation was from 2-7 p.m. Monday, 

November 22, 2004, at Pearson’s, 149 

Breckenridge Lane. Burial was private. 

———————— 

Curtis B. Norris 

A WWII veteran of the Philippine 

Islands, known to many as Chuck, passed 

away on September 30, 2003, at the age 

of 73, with residence at 45 Bayless Road, 

Taunton, MA 02780. 

Chuck served as a U.S. Army Airborn 

Sergeant in the Philippines from 1940-1946. 

He was a Death March survivor, with imprisonment 

at Camp O’Donnell. He took part in 

the liberation of Manila, served at Fort 

McKinley, and Camp Dau, Pampanga. 

He was a non-fiction mystery writer and 

newspaper columnist, having written 

fourteen such books. 

He was a member of the U.S. Coast 

Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 11-8 of Cape Cod. 

He is survived by his wife, daughter 

Suz anne Norris-Silvia, and two additional 

sisters. 

———————— 

Helen Rozmus 

Helen Louise Gardner Rozmus, wife 

and widow of Henry Anthony, died 

September 7, 2004, aged almost 90. She 

lived an active, healthy, productive and 

spiritual life. She practiced nursing til the 

age of 78, including 3 years as a U.S. 

Army nurse P.O.W. (WWII “Angel of 

Bataan-Corregidor”). 

She has four children: Mary, Susan, 

Patrick and Cathy; and five grandchildren: 

Brian, Adele, Irene, Kevin and Mary-Helen. 

She has many friends of all ages, some 

from the 1930s. Helen was always ready 

with words of encouragement and praise. 

———————— 

Harry Rosenberry 

Harry died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 

Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday, November 

11, 2004. He was born January 1, 1919, in 

Basin, Wyoming, the son of Harry and 

Myrtle (Sisk) Rosenberry. Harry was 85 

years old. 

Celebration of Life of Harry Rosenberry 

with Military Honors by VFW Post #541 

and Ernest Love American Legion Post 

#6, Al Tercero, Commander, were held at 

11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 16, 2004 

at the Arizona Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel, 

Prescott Valley, Arizona. 

Officiating were Rev. Chris Schutte and 

Deacon Kimball Arnold at St. Luke’s 

Episcopal Church. 

Burial with Military Honors by Luke AFB 

Honor Detail was at 11:00 a.m., 

Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at the 

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. 

Harry is survived by Nancy, his loving 

and caring wife of 56 years; daughter and 

son-in-law, Nancy Gayle and Gary 

Poffenroth; son and daughter-in-law, John 

“Chris” and Doris Rosenberry; grandchildren, 

Vicki and Jeremy Stemen, Maggie 

Jo and Bobby Walker, and Lindsey 

Rosenberry and great-grandson, Tristen. 

Harry graduated from Basin High 

School in 1937, where he was well known 

for his happy and winning personality and 

athletic ability. 

Harry enlisted in the Army Air Corps and 

was deployed to the Philippines on 

December 7, 1941. He was MIA until April 

1942, when he was discovered to have 

endured the Bataan Death March. He was a 

POW of the Japanese for three and a half 

years. Harry remained in the Air Force and 

retired as a Master Sergeant in 1960. 

During his Air Force career, he was stationed 

at Luke AFB, Nellis AFB, and Tripoli, 

Libya. While in Tripoli, Harry organized the 

riding club for the base and good old-fashioned 

rodeos which were enjoyed by all. 

After his military retirement, he managed 

a cattle ranch in Virginia, retiring to 

Colorado where he farmed and worked 

construction. He enjoyed the rodeo circuit, 

from Little Britches to the professional circuit 

time, and had many friends in the 

business. 

Harry enjoyed volunteering at the V.A. 

Hospital in Prescott, where he recently 

received a 4,000-hour pin award. He was 

a member of the VFW, the Moose Lodge, 

Elks, and the American Legion. He was a 

member of the POW group “Battling 

Bastards of Bataan.” He made a point to 

attend the yearly reunion with his former 

prison mate, Dr. Dave Davidson, of 

Denver, Colorado. 

Walter Franklin Swope 

Walter Franklin Swope, 89, formerly of 

Republic, MO, died Wednesday, April 14, 

2004, in El Paso, Texas. He was born 

October 8, 1914, in Kirksville, MO, the 

son of Frank J. and Lottie May 

(Edmondson) Swope. He was united in 

marriage to Alma Jean Milnor in January 

1945. She preceded him in death on 

August 12, 1995. He was also preceded 

in death by his parents; three sisters, 

Katherine Ishmael, Anna Mary Elmore 

Orcutt, and Helen Rumple; and a brother, 

Warren S. Swope. 

Walter leaves behind a son and his 

wife, George F. and Marie Swope; three 

grandchildren, Samuel, Eileen and 

Heather; a great-grandson, Jordan; a 

special friend, Ruth H. Heimann; a sister 

and her husband, Carol and Floyd Moss; 

and many other friends and family. Walter 

was loved by all who knew him and 

appreciated for his friendliness, caring 

and loyalty. 

Walter was very active in, and a life 

member of, the American Legion. He was 

a veteran of Korea and World War II. He 

retired from the United States Army at Ft. 

Bliss, Texas, in 1957 after more than 20 

years of service, which included over five 

years and combat and time as a 

Japanese Prisoner of War. Walter served 

his country well and in his own words, 

”God Bless America forever!” 

———————— 

Carlos Yap 

Carlos Yap passed away peacefully in 

the presence of his wife of 49 years, Rose, 

on September 21, 2004. Born in Pototan, 

Iloilo, Philippines, May 15, 1922, he enlisted 

with one of his younger brothers in 1941 

as a Philippine Scout with the 12th 

Quartermaster, which was attached to the 

U.S. Army “B” Co. 91st Coast Artillery in 

Corregidor. He was captured by the 

Japanese in 1942 and made a POW in the 

same camp where his brother had died a 

month earlier. After his release he became 

a very proud and highly decorated 

Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He retired honorably 

in 1961 and, afterward, he and Rose 

settled permanently in Tacoma. 

Carlos was beloved by all who met and 

knew him. His gracious, tender, loving spirit, 

incredible generosity and infectious 

laughter will be greatly missed. He always 

loved and lived life to the fullest. A very talented 

man, in his youth he was extremely 

athletic, creative, inventive, musical and 

adventurous. In his later years, Carlos 

mostly enjoyed playing the harmonica and 

spending as much time as he could with 

friends and family, especially his grandchildren. 

He found joy in life every day and 

was likely unaware of his quietly profound 

and inspiring effect on the lives he touched. 

He accomplished many great things in life, 

but his sweet humility was unparalleled. 

Continued on Page 18 



Yap 


Carlos was a true modern day hero whose 

strength of character, integrity, thoughtfulness 

and unbelievable humility would be 

hard to match. 

Carlos is survived by his wife, 4 children, 

14 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren 

and numerous family who will all 

miss him deeply. He was preceded in 

death by his parents, Jose and Dionicia, 

and 7 of his 12 siblings. 

———————— 

Deceased — No Details 

James Markham 

3634 Morlan Street 

San Diego, Ca 92117-1038 

Charles W. Stover 

5380 Country Road 209 

Green Cove Springs, FL 

———————— 

Can You Correct 

These Addresses? 

John Fischer 

12 Ransom Street 

Dolgeville, NY 19329-1333 

Francis I. McGuire 

PO Box 60208 

Grad Junction, CO 81506-8758 

William Van Orden 

101 Mapletree Road 

Toms River, NJ 08753-8331 

Carl J. Wittfield III 

2211 NE Scandia Dr. #D211 

Kansas City, MO 64118-5823 

———————— 

Anywhere-Anytime 

By Col. John E. Olson 

This history of the 57th Infantry (PS) 

contains maps, rosters and photos. You 

may purchase it for $17 including postage. 

O’Donnell, Andersonville of the Pacific 


This book provides detailed documentation 

of the Japanese POW camp in 

which thousands of Filipinos, including 

over 2,600 Philippine Scouts, and hundreds 

of Americans died of disease and 

malnutrition. $12.00 (includes postage) 

The Guerrilla and the Hostage 


This is a novel about two brothers — a 

Philippine Scout Officer and an Air Force 

pilot — who served on Bataan and the 

adventures during and after the collapse 

of the Fil-Am defenses. The cost is $17 

and includes postage. 

To order any or all of these informative 

books, please send a check or money 

order made out to the author: 

John E. Olson 

The Towers, #510 Parklane 

San Antonio, TX 78209 

Seeking Information 

Dear Mr. Vater, 

I need help from any soldier or anyone who might know of this flag being raised at 

Hiro Hata, Japan. 

Melvon N. Carnes, 34th Pur. Sqd., #35th Gr. Prison Camps: O’Donnell, PI, April to 

May 1942. Salicots (work camp), PI, May to June 1942. Capas, PI, June 7 to June 28, 

1942. Cabanatuan, PI June 28 to September 18, 1943. Hiro Hata, Japan, October 6, 

1943 to September 9, 1945. 

He was engaged in combat as a rifleman, in defense of Bataan. From 3 January 

1942 to surrender on 9 April 1942. He suffered brutality as a Japanese prisoner from 9 

April 1942 to 9 April 1945. He built bridges, farm work, unloaded camp provisions, 

worked in steel mills. 

He was liberated after formal surrender of Japan. He joined Americans at 

Yokohama, Japan. 

War ended for these men August 14, 1945. Food and supplies dropped from 

planes of America with parachutes. They took these parachutes and made this 

American Flag. When they took the Japanese flag down and raised this American Flag 

… they knew they were truly free!! He said it was close to September. He was not sure 

of the date. 

He came home October 1945. I re-captured him August 14, 1946 and never 

released him until he passed away May 28, 1995, Memorial Day. We had two boys, 

Ron and Gary Carnes and Deborah Smith, our daughter. They gave us nine grand - 

children; they all adored their grandpa. 

He was never bitter, never complained. His saying was, “I was at the wrong place 

at the wrong time. Our VFW in Shawnee, Oklahoma named their post in his honor — 

Melvon N. Carnes Memorial VFW Post 1317, Shawnee, OK 74801, 811 E. MacArthur. 

If you happen to be passing through, stop by and say hello. You’ll meet a great group 

of caring people. 

God bless each and every one of you! Any information about this picture will be 

deeply appreciated. One fellow veteran thought this flag may still be in existence. Write 

or call me with any info. 

Sincere thanks, 

Melba Carnes Bryan 

RR3, Box 2030 

Checotah, OK 74426 

OK — 918-689-3971 or CO — 970-247-3939 

I travel alot: Cell Phone — 970-759-2554 

If you know what camp this is, let her know.

The Chaplain’s Corner 

“An Unexpected Martyr Falls; Everybody’s Loss” 

Martyrs often come from unexpected places; their appearance tends to catch 

people by surprise and the element of surprise contributes to the effectiveness of their 

causes. Still, the price they pay is often the gift of life itself. 

Several years ago the attention of the entire nation was focused on a book 

entitled, “The Rape of Nanking” by Iris Chang. She became committed to obtaining 

accuracy of history of Japan’s actions in China. After years of research about Japanese 

atrocities performed in China during the 1930’s, she compiled this book which was to 

bring her great fame; it would also lead to her death by her own hand. 

“The Rape of Nanking” was bound to create controversy because the Japanese 

were (and still are) in a state of denial of the millions of people who were victimized by 

the Japanese in their quest for the “Greater Southeast Asia Co-prosperity Sphere”. The 

world learned that the extent of the cruel acts done in China was many times greater 

than the holocaust performed on the Jewish people by the Germans. The human mind 

cannot comprehend that much cruelty; the Japanese people could not comprehend 

what their military had done in China. Iris Chang brought all of this out in the open, 

where the world could know the truth. She brought great pressure to bear on the 

Japanese to admit to and to pay some penalty for their sins. 

Unfortunately, Iris Chang would also feel the pressure of resistance to the story 

she revealed to the world. She is reported to have been doing research on treatment of 

POWs by the Japanese Army, which path could have involved major Japanese 

companies; the circle of atrocities spread larger and eventually the search for justice 

would consume her. This can serve as a warning for others. 

We mourn Iris Chang’s death as one of our own. She may be the last civilian 

victim of the Japanese. Our feeling of loss is quite personal, too, because she may 

have been the last person who could have told the world the ways in which the 

Japanese maltreated us. 

”May Light Perpetual Shine upon Her.” 

In His service, 

Fr. Bob Phillips SSC + 

National Chaplain and Web Site Chairman 

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. 

———————— 

Many Thanks 

Dear Mr. Vater, 

On May 29th, the magnificent National World War II Memorial you and I labored 

long and hard to build was finally dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It 

was the culmination of more than 10 years of effort, and truly an unforgettable event. 

I’ve enclosed your final newsletter from the Memorial Campaign. It conveys the 

words and images from that glorious day. But just as important, I want to take this 

opportunity to express to you, as one of our Charter Members, my sincerest personal 

thanks for all you have done to make the Memorial a reality. 

It is no exaggeration to say that the Memorial could not have been built without 

your support. It is a gift you have given to the nation, and the nation is grateful. With the 

Memorial’s dedication, the American Battle Monuments Commission has nearly 

completed the mission given it by the Congress in 1993. After some final touches and 

landscaping, the Memorial will become a permanent part of the National Park System, 

administered and operated by the National Park Service. 

The ABMC will quietly step aside. Our mission will continue as it has before the 

Memorial campaign, maintaining America’s military cemeteries, monuments and 

memorials on foreign soil. But we will always look with great pride on the National 

World War II Memorial and know that it will always be a part of us. I’m sure you feel the 

same way. Thank you and God bless America! 

Most respectfully, 

P.X. Kelley 

General, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) 

Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission 

FREE STUFF TO DO 

—Take a stroll through the Cincinnati 

Art Museum in Eden Park. Explore the 

beautiful, park-like setting of this great 

museum and don’t miss the newly 

opened Cincinnati Wing. Through March 

7, visit ‘African American Masters: 

Highlights from the Smithsonian American 

Art Museum ” on exhibition. In Septem ber, 

see amazing Jordanian artifacts in “Petra: 

Lost City of Stone.” Museum closed Mon. 

www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org; 513- 

721-5204. 

—Venture south from downtown into 

Newport — or cross from the Levee to 

downtown’s riverfront parks — via the 

Purple People Bridge. You can’t miss the 

brightly colored pedestrian bridge, which 

offers tremendous views of both sides of 

the Ohio River as well as a scenic overlook 

of passing river traffic. 

—Solve a riddle when you pass through 

Paddlewheel Park just behind the Great 

American Ball Park. Underneath the park’s 

gigantic and authentic riverboat paddlewheel 

— it’s 30 feet in diameter! You can 

explore the Steamboat Monu ment, where 

you’re rewarded with a calliope of steam 

whistles when you follow the directions written 

in stone at the monument’s base. 

—Tour the city’s grand concert hall, 

Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine, completed 

in 1878. An architectural eccentric, with 

its garrets, turrets, gables, insets, nooks 

and broken surfaces and planes, Music 

Hall was designed by the Cincinnati firm 

of Hannaford and Procter and built in a 

style that has been “modified modernized 

Gothic,” “romantic eclecticism” and even, 

in homage to the city’s German heritage, 

“Sauerbraten Byzantine.” Tours by 

appointment. 513-744-3344. 

—Drive or take a long walk through the 

winding roads of Spring Grove Cemetery, 

one of the nation’s largest botanical 

gardens and final resting place for many 

of the city’s most famous founders, 

including Tyler Davidson of downtown’s 

Tyler Davidson Fountain fame. 

—Go eclectic on the Final Friday walk 

along downtown’s Main Street and 

Pendelton Art Center, where you’ll see 

the latest in all kinds of art on display as 

galleries open their doors for a late-night 

peek in this historic neighborhood. Final 

Friday of every month, 6-10 p.m. 

—Don’t leave town without taking a tour 

with the experts at Architreks, a program 

of the Cincinnati Preservation Asso - 

ciation. On weekends from May-October, 

tours depart from the Cincinnati Visitor 

Center at Fifth Third Center on Fountain 

Square, 513-721-4506. 



Available through 

ISBN: 1-4184-0867-0 

Recommend retail Price: $15.50 

Order from authorHouse at 

www.authorhouse.com 

Contact the author at: 

Phone: (757) 405-1206 

Fax: (757) 673-0282 

Email: rdaniels26@cox.net 

Or visit his web site at 

http://members.cox.net/1220days/ 

HomePage.htm 

INTRODUCING 

1220 DAYS 

The story of U.S. Marine Edmond Babler and his experiences 

in Japanese Prisoner of War Camps during World War II 

By Robert C. Daniels 

This 135 page 6” x 9” paperback, including a bibliography, an index, 4 maps, and 9 

pictures, is the true story of a U.S. Marine’s day to day struggle during nearly 50 

months in brutal captivity in Japanese POW camps during World War II. 

Not written in the typical historical context, but in a biographical view, this account, 

transcribed from his own narrative, is Edmond Babler’s story from the time he joined 

the Marine Corps until his return from 1,220 days of captivity in Japanese prisoner of 

war camps. It is intended, in Ed’s own words, as “A true history of my struggle for 

survival in Japanese Prison Camps in the jungles of the Philippine Islands, on air-fields 

and a coal mine in Japan.” 

About the Author 

Robert C. Daniels grew up in Waupun, Wisconsin. After graduating from Waupun 

Senior High with the class of 1976, he joined the U.S. Navy at age 18. Upon his 

retirement from the Navy in 1995 as a Chief Petty Officer, he attended and graduated 

from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia with a BA in history and is currently 

studying at the American Military University for his MA in military history. Remembering 

as a youth listening to Edmond Babler talk about his ordeal as a Japanese held POW 

during WWII while Ed and his wife Jeanette visited the Daniels family home in Waupun, 

the author was inspired to write this account using Ed Babler’s own narrative, which Ed 

aptly entitled “1220 Days in Hell.” Robert currently lives with his wife Rebecca and their 

cherished pets in Chesapeake, Virginia. 

HELL SHIPS MEMORIAL — status December 2004 

The Hell Ships Memorial is one way for those of us who lost fathers, family or friends on these ships, and those who survived 

them, to remind others of those POW days. Several of us have been actively soliciting funds for the establishment on the shores of 

Subic Bay in the Philippines of a permanent memorial to remember those estimated 3800 POWs who died and those who survived, 

these unmarked POW ships. Neglect, medical indifference and friendly aircraft and submarine action added to these deaths. 

Many of us will be unable to travel to the Philippines. For those of us who have been able to walk some of the paths of our 

fathers and family who died, there we see this Memorial as a fitting reminder to those men who suffered, some to die, others to 

return. 

We are studying artistic renditions from American and Filipino artists. The selection process is still ahead. We are hoping for 

a Memorial dedication in January 2006. Those desiring to contribute towards this Memorial might want to check website @ 

www.hellships.com. All contributions are IRS tax deductible and are being received by check by FAME, Inc., c/o Alex Keller, 535 

Rolling Rock Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255. Funds are also being raised in the Philippines. 

We have received over $9000 to date (November 2004) and anticipate the need for $20,000 overall which will include 

perpetual maintenance at this prominent and protected location on the shores of Subic Bay possible. Memorial construction is 

expected to commence summer 2005. The western setting sun will backlight the Memorial. 

We have reserved space within an expanding nearby Museum to properly display pictures, memorial dedications and 

appropriate items to help visitors understand the history many of us know and some of us participated in. More information of 

Museum items will follow in future articles. 

Please call or mail questions you might have. I would be pleased also to mail you a brochure which describes more, 

including showing the specific location and several ADBC members who were involved in the Memorial ground breaking ceremony 

in January 2004. 

We need your help. POW descendants are rightly taking the lead in these efforts. However, we encourage any financial 

support from ALL. None of your money is being used for Memorial money raising. All time and effort in fundraising is donated help. 

Duane Heisinger 

7401 Bull Run Drive 


(703) 222-2480 

Email: heis56@aol.com

Reservation for 

American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, Inc. 

2005 National Convention 

April 5-10, 2005 

Please reserve the following accommodations at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza: 

Name: ____________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________ 

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

City/State/Zip Code: _________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Day Phone:________________________________________________ Arrival Date: _____________________________________ 

Sharing Room With: _________________________________________ Departure Date: __________________________________ 

Signature: _________________________________________________ 

ACCOMMODATIONS: Circle preferred room type and corresponding room rate below. All room reservations are on a request basis only. 

ROOM TYPE: RATE: 

SINGLE $79.00 

(one person/one bed) *no additional bedding may be added 

DOUBLE $79.00 

(two persons/one bed) *no additional bedding may be added 

DOUBLE/DOUBLE $79.00 

(two persons/two beds) 

REQUEST FOR NON-SMOKING ROOM __________ (YES OR NO) 

Reservations must be received by March 7, 2005. Reservations received after this date will be accepted on a space and rate available 

basis. To make your reservation by phone, call 513-421-9100 or fax this form with credit card information to 513-421-4291. 

Reservations will not be held beyond 4:00 pm on the day of arrival, unless guaranteed by credit card or advance deposit. 

_____ Check enclosed for first night’s room rate 

Credit Card Type: ___________________________________________ 

Credit Card Number: ________________________________________ Exp. Date:_______________________________________ 

Make check or money order payable to the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Advanced deposits must be received 10 business 

days prior to arrival — DO NOT SEND CURRENCY. 

DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!! To avoid being charged for a guaranteed reservation, a cancellation number must be obtained from a 

reservation agent prior to 4:00 pm on the day of arrival. To cancel your reservation, call 

513-421-9100. A $10 processing fee will be charged for refunds of advance deposits. 

35 West Fifth Street 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 

ADBC Web Site Grows 

The ADBC Web Site continues to grow and now contains more than 700 pages of 

helpful information. You can visit our Site by entering the following URL into your 

browser: . 

We invite you to visit our Site and meet some old friends, make some new ones, 

send us your biographical sketch (digital photos welcome). Read about future conventions, 

reunions and meetings; find out how you can find help with your VA claim; many 

more things. Go there for names and addresses of all of your elected and appointed 

officers. Send us your e-mail address, etc. so we can post your name on the Web Site. 

For more information e-mail me at: frphillips@sprintmail.com or other Committee 

members; we will make sure that our WebMistress receives the information: 

Martin Christie: , 

Warren Jorgenson: or 

Don Versaw: 

IN GOD 

WE TRUST 


Pre-Convention Registration 

For the ADBC National Convention in Cincinnati during April 2005, we must have advance information concerning each 

person that will attend. NOTE: At the Orlando Convention in May 2004 so many people arrived at the convention without 

having pre-registered that we did not have adequate space in the banquet room to seat everybody and some persons 

had to be seated in an overflow room. Please submit the requested Pre-Convention Registration Form so that we 

can reserve meeting and banquet rooms of adequate size, order the correct number of banquet meals and print name 

tags in advance of the convention. Your cooperation will greatly assist in making the Cincinnati Convention a happy 

occasion for all. 

Pre-Convention Registration cut-off date is March 14, 2005. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

ADBC MEMBER — REGISTRATION CARD 

(Please Print Legibly) 

to Duane Heisinger 

7401 Bull Run Drive 

Centreville, Virginia 20121 (or) 

E-mail pre-registrations are encouraged or call (703) 222-2480 

First Name: _________________________________ M.I.: ____ Last Name: _________________________________ 

Nickname: (Submit if you want it on Name Tag) _________________________________________________________ 

Street (or P.O. Box): ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City:________________________________________________ State: ________________ ZIP: _________________ 

Phone #: ( _____ ) _______________________________________________________________________________ 

E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Your Unit in the P.I.: ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Name of one POW Camp to go on Name Tag:__________________________________________________________ 

List of persons attending with the member: 

Full Name Relationship 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

Yes, I do wish to make the bus trip to the Air Force Museum. 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Non-Member — REGISTRATION CARD 

(Please Print Legibly) 

(For use by Widows, Descendants and Others) 

First Name: _________________________________ M.I.: ____ Last Name: _________________________________ 

Street (or P.O. Box): ______________________________________________________________________________ 

City:________________________________________________ State: ________________ ZIP: _________________ 

Phone #: ( _____ ) _______________________________________________________________________________ 

E-mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ 

Full Name of former POW Relative/Friend:_____________________________________________________________ 

Your relationship to the former POW: _________________________________________________________________ 

The former POW’s Unit in the P.I.: ___________________________________________________________________ 

List of persons attending with you: 

Full Name Relationship 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

Yes, I do wish to make the bus trip to the Air Force Museum if there is room. 

________________________________________________________ __________________________________ 

22 — THE QUAN

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. 

(including any unit of force of the Asiatic Fleet, 

Philippine Archipelago, Wake Island, Mariana Islands, 

Midway Islands and Dutch East Indies. 12/7/41-5/10/42. 

For Dues: For Merchandise Sales: 

Edward Jackfert, PNS Mrs. Jean Pruitt 

Nat’l. Treasurer 109 Young Dr. 

201 Hillcrest Dr. Sweetwater, TN 37874 

Wellsburg, W.VA. 26070 

304-737-1496 

Life Membership — $25.00 

Subscription — Quan — $25.00 Yr. 

Fill in all Blanks 

Name (Please Print) _______________________________ Highest Rank _________________ 

Address __________________________________________________________________________ 

City _________________________________________ State __________ Zip Code ___________ 

Organization Complete Unit ________________________ Ser. No. ______________________ 

SS No. ____________________ Wife’s Name ___________ Tel. __________________________ 

Life ____ Pt. Life ____ Subscription ____ Last POW Camp ____________________________ 

Bo-Lo-Ties — W/Logo......................... 12.00 Tie Tacks............................................... 7.00 

Belt Buckle Decal................................. 4.00 Tie Bar .................................................. 7.00 

License Plates....................................... 4.00 Decal — Window .................................. 2.00 

Pins 3” X 2”........................................... 6.00 Decal — W/Logo ................................... 2.00 

Overseas Caps only sizes 67 ⁄8, 7.......... 28.00.....Caps, White W/Logo............................. 8.00 

All items shipped require 15% postage 


VA Information 

Director (00/21) In Reply Refer To: 211A 

All VA Regional Offices and Centers Fast Letter 04-27 

Presumption of service connection for heart disease 

and strokes in former POWs 

1. An interim final regulatory amendment to 38 CFR § 3.309(c) was published in 

the Federal Register, pages 60083-60090, on October 7, 2004. This amendment adds 

atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease (including hypertensive 

heart disease) and their complications, and stroke and its complications, to the list 

of conditions for which entitlement to service connection is presumed for former 

prisoners of war (POWs) under § 3.309(c). This regulatory change is based on 

scientific and medical research findings. 

2. The amendment adds atherosclerotic heart disease, which includes ischemic 

heart disease, without regard to whether localized edema was present in service. 

Accordingly, the presence of edema is no longer required in order to establish service 

connection for ischemic heart disease for POWs. Section 3.309(c) has been amended 

accordingly. 

3. There is no minimum internment requirement for atherosclerotic heart disease, 

hypertensive vascular disease, or stroke. 

4. The amendment also adds a new section, 38 CFR § 1.18, which establishes 

guidelines for establishing presumptions of service connection for diseases associated 

with service involving detention or internment as a prisoner of war. 

5. This regulatory amendment is effective October 7, 2004. 

6. Attached is an explanation and additional information regarding the change to 

§ 3.309(c) along with the text of the regulatory amendment. 

7. If you have questions concerning this regulatory amendment or this letter 

please contact the person listed on the Calendar page for this date: 

http://vbaw.vba.va.gov/bl/21/calendar/index.htm. 

8. This letter is rescinded effective October 7, 2005. 

CINCINNATI ICONS 

TYLER DAVIDSON FOUNTAIN 

The heart of Cincinnati is undoubtedly 

Fountain Square at the corner of Fifth and Vine 

Streets. The square’s Tyler Davidson Fountain 

was erected in 1871 by Henry Probasco in 

memory of his friend and business partner. 

JOHN A. ROEBLING 

SUSPENSION BRIDGE 

When the John A. Roebling Suspension 

Bridge was completed in 1866 it was the longest 

such span in the world. The bridge’s innovative 

form and engineering served as models for 

Roebling’s later masterpiece, the Brooklyn 

Bridge. 

UNION TERMINAL 

The art deco Union Terminal, topped with the 

largest half dome in the Western Hemisphere, 

was finished in 1933. Today, the former railroad 

terminal is home to the Cincinnati History 

Museum, Cinergy Children’s Museum, and the 

Museum of Natural History and Science. 

LOIS & RICHARD ROSENTHAL 

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART 

Opened just last year, architect Zaha Hadid’s 

Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contem - 

porary Art was hailed by the New York Times as 

the most important building completed since the 

end of the Cold War. 

CAREW TOWER 

Built in 1930, Carew Tower is the tallest building 

in Cincinnati at 49 stories and 574 feet. Its art 

deco style and mixed-use “city within a city” 

design was mimicked by New York’s Rockefeller 

Center several years later. 

MUSIC HALL 

Music Hall in Over-The Rhine was built in 1878 

to serve as both an exhibition center and performance 

hall. The beautifully ornate brick building 

is home to the nation’s second oldest opera company 

as well as several other arts organizations. 

VONTZ CENTER FOR 

MOLECULAR STUDIES 

Frank Gehry’s Vontz Center for Molecular 

Studies and the Aronoff Center for Design and 

Art by Peter Eisenman are just two reasons why 

the University of Cincinnati has garnered international 

attention for incorporating contemporary 

architecture into its campus. 

PNC TOWER 

When the temple-topped, neo-classical PNC 

Tower (formerly called the Central Trust Tower) 

was completed in 1913, it was the fifth tallest 

building in the world and the tallest outside of 

New York City. Fourth & Vine Streets. 

EDEN PARK 

Take in river views, stop and smell the roses 

and get a taste of Roman culture in one stop. The 

park’s overlook marks the midpoint of the Ohio 

River; its Krohn Conservatory always has flowers 

in season and stone versions of Romulus and 

Remus serve as appropriate reminders of 

Cincinnati’s Italian sister city, Rome. 

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD 

FREEDOM CENTER 

The National Underground Railroad Freedom 

Center, slated for completion this summer, is a 

$110 million museum complex commemorating 

the system of underground “stations” that helped 

transport thousands of slaves northward to 

freedom. 


MOVING SOON? 

Please let us know six weeks before you 

move what your new address will be. Be 

sure to supply us with both your old and 

new address, including the address label 

from your current issue. Copies we mail to 

your old address will not be delivered by 

the Post Office and we must pay 70 cents 

for each returned Quan. 

ATTACH OLD ADDRESS LABEL HERE 

My new address will be: 

NAME ________________________________ 

ADDRESS _____________________________ 

CITY _________________________________ 

STATE ________________________________ 

ZIP ___________________________________ 

Mail to: 

JOSEPH A. VATER 

Editor, the Quan 


McKees Rocks, Pa. 15136 


American Defenders of 

Bataan & Corregidor, Inc. 

18 Warbler Dr. 

McKees Rocks, Pa. 15136 

*Change Service Requested* 

Please Use Form 3547 

NON-PROFIT ORG 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

PITTSBURGH PA 

PERMIT NO 2648

Jan. 2005 - Philippine Defenders Main

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