In Sept. 2007 - Philippine Defenders Main

Volume 62 Wellsburg, West Virginia - September 2007 Number 2
65 th Anniversary
Mukden
POW Camp
Tour
This sign stands at the entrance
to the Mukden Museum.
The uprights of the sign represent
the strength of the men who
survived the Battles of Bataan
and Corregidor, the Bataan
Death March, Hell Ships, and 3
1/2 years as POWs where they
suffered from senseless brutality,
medical experimentation, malnutrition, and disease.
The upward angles of the sign represent the perseverance of
those who survived this treatment. The men all seem to have had
faith, a sense of humor or friendships to carry them through these
horrible times. They were always there for each other. It also showed
in their attempts to sabotage the Japanese war efforts. Hiding tools
or burying machinery at the Mitsubishi plant, they continued to
fight the war, each in their own way.
The signs, which say the same thing in Japanese, English and
Chinese, tell us that we are one in this world. We all say the same
thing even if it looks a little different. As the signs say, “we must
learn the lessons of our past so we don’t repeat these horrors again.”
Contributed by Pat Wang -Full Report Page 7
Inside this issue:
ADB&C ADB&C Members, Members,
Members,
Descendents Descendents -
-
Welcome Welcome to to Louisville Louisville
Louisville
Reservation Reservation Forms
Forms
in in This This Issue!
Issue!
Do You
Remember?
Advance Advance News News on
on
San San Antonio Antonio Antonio From
From
Joe Joe Alexander
Alexander
Mukden Mukden Revisited
Revisited
Convention 2008 - Louisville,
Kentucky!
General Information
on the 2008 ADBC
National Convention
This information comes from
PNC Joe Alexander and PNC Joe
Vater who asked me to submit it
for this issue of The QUAN.
1. Consider planning your
arrival in Louisville for the 2008
ADBC National Convention
plenty early so that you do not
miss out on some important convention
events. Departure for
the river cruise and on-board
lunch will be at 11:30 a.m. on
River Ride &
Special ADBC Race
at Churchill Downs
Wednesday, May 7 th . Following that will be a 2:00 p.m. trip to Churchill
Downs where the group will watch the “ADBC Memorial Race”.
These events will be some of the highlights of the convention, so
don’t miss them. The main group will leave the hotel by bus at 11:30
a.m., go on the river cruise (including lunch) and then go on to
Churchill Downs. Individuals may arrange to attend only one of
these two events if they do not want to attend the other. Make your
desires known when you make your reservations. Reservations
and advance payment are required for these events. Details concerning
reservations and payment will be announced by Paul Ropp.
2. Convention fees (to be paid at the registration room) are as
follows:
Note: This fee includes a ticket to the Convention banquet
on Saturday, May10 th
- ADBC Members and Widows of former POWs – no
charge
- All others - $25.00
3. The Widows’ Luncheon will be at noon on Thursday, May
8 th . There is no charge for widows of POW’s to attend this
luncheon.
Submitted by John B. Lewis
Story Story on on the
the
Duck Duck Page Page 8
8

Everett D. Reamer
Commander
London Bridge Town
2301 S. Jamaica Blvd.
Lake Havasu, AZ 86403
John H. Oliver
Adjutant
1400 Ocatilla Drive
Marble Falls, TX 78654-4525
Joseph A. Vater. PNC
Consultant
Convention Site
Quan Publication
18 Warbler Dr.
McKees Rocks, PA 15136-1858
Members Of The Investment Board
Edward Jackfert, Secretary Joseph A. Vater, Consultant
Executive Board
Charles Dragich (Elected )
All Incumbent State Commanders -
All Past National Commanders
J.W. George Wallace
Editor, The Quan
319 Charles St.
Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591
2 - The Quan
Dr. Lester I. Tenney
Senior Vice-Commander
1963 Silverleaf Circle
Carlsbad, CA 92009-8407
Edward Jackfert, PNC
National Treasurer
201 Hillcrest Dr.
Wellsburg, WV 26070-1941
* Harold Spooner
* Thomas A. Hackett
Arthur Beale
* Rev. Albert 0. Talbot
* Bernard Grill
Andy Miller
* James McEvoy
Louis Scahwald
* Joseph Matheny
* M/Gen.E.P.King Jr.
* Jerome A. McDavitt
* George Wonneman
* Simme Pickman
John M. Emerick
* Frank Bigelow
* Albert Senna
* Joseph I Poster
* Charles L. Pruitt
Commander Everett Reamer’s Message
As is customary, your commander
and his wife were invited
to a breakfast reception at the
White House and a visit to Arlington
National Cemetery for
the laying of the wreath at the
tomb of the unknown on Memorial
Day.
Before departing Arizona on
May 20, I became ill, but decided
to continue with our plans to go
to D.C. By the time we arrived at
our stop in Cincinnati on May
Martin S. Christie
Necrology Committee Chrmn.
23424 Mobile St.
West Hills, CA 91307-3323EE
Mrs. Jean Pruitt
Merchandise Sales
109 Young Dr.
Sweetwater, TN 37874-3130
23, I was in complete kidney failure
and had to be hospitalized
on an emergency basis. While
in hospital an arterial blockage
was discovered and a stent procedure
was done in addition to
the kidney dialysis. Against all
good judgment, I insisted on
being discharged on Saturday at
2 p.m. After receiving dialysis.
Bernice drove us to Washington
and we arrived safely late Saturday
and rested up all day on
PUBLISHED 4 TIMES A YEAR
Paul Ropp
Executive Secretary
504-B North Thomas St.
Arlington, VA 22203-2488
703-527-6983
Andrew Miller
Historian
1605 Cagua Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87110-6611
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--2154
PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS
Sunday. On Monday morning
(Memorial Day) we took a cab to
the White House for breakfast
and a photo with the president
(when we receive the photo, we
will share it with you). He was
very cordial to both of us, but he
gave the big hug to Bernice! We
had a brief exchange of pleasantries
and I mentioned to him
about the 52 flyers that were
assassinated in 1945 at Japanese
Army Headquarters and said that
* Maurice Mazer
* John Bennett
Melvin L. Routt
Joseph A. Vater
* James D. Cantwell
James R. Flaitz
Lewis Goldstar
Ralph Levenberg
* John Koot
* Albert C. Cimini
* Elmer E. Long, Jr.
* Roy Y. Gentry
* Samuel M Bloom,M.D.
* Philip Arslanian
Edward Jackfert
* Kenneth J.Stull
* John Rowland
Joseph L. Alexander
* Harry P. Menozzi
* John Crago
* Joseph Ward
* John F. Ray
Edward Jackfert
Omar McGuire
* Samuel B. Moody
* John R. Lyons
John H. Oliver
* Arthur A. Bressi
* Ken Curley
* Agapito E. Silva
* John E. Le Clair
Henry J.Wilayto
Harold A. Bergbower
* James Cavanaugh
* Charles Bloskis
* DECEASED
his dad was very fortunate to
have been reduced before his
capture and the president replied,
"yes, if he'd been captured,
I wouldn't be here."
Continued on Page 4-
Please see
‘Commander’s Message’

The Editor’s Notes
When Joe Vater decided to accept a well- deserved retirement
from editing and publishing the Quan, I received one of
the greatest honors of my life in being asked to take over.
I accepted the tremendously important responsibility because
I am ashamed and angry that I, like most Americans, have allowed
myself to be kept unaware of the incredible courage of
those who qualify for membership in the ADB&C.
Learning their stories and getting to know men like Ed Jackfert,
Abie Abraham, Joe Vater, the late Harold Finer, and so
many others at my two conventions, has been a major blessing
in my life.
As I fill the pages of the Quan with obituaries of members I
feel as if I know them. And I am saddened.
As I edit the Quan, I hope that you POWs still with us and
reading my work will know I am saying a heartfelt “thank you”
before you go. You are truly my heroes.
I extend a challenge to those who are descendents or associated
in any way with the ADB&C to do whatever it takes to
see that these stories are nourished, that they are told, and that
the members and their great contribution to our freedom are
never forgotten!
To do less would be unforgivable. ByGeorge
quan - When you are one with
something. Suggests unity or
completion.
NOTE:
Items for publication in the Quan may be
sent to Editor, the Quan, 319 Charles St,
Wellsburg, WV, 26070.
OR email to thequan@comcast.net
We are firming plans for the 2008 Convention, 6-10 May, at the
Downtown Holiday Inn, Louisville, Kentucky. The event will get
off to a quicker start than in the past with a 7 May lunch cruise on
the Ohio River followed by an ADBC Memorial Race at Churchill
Downs. The day will also mark the start of registration. Joe
Alexander has made arrangements for special bus service to the
lunch and the races. We will begin accepting reservations for the
lunch/race bus in January. Those who wish to go to the ADBC
Memorial Race only can make arrangements to use the hotel shuttle
to Churchill Downs.
Louisville is restoring its downtown area and has succeeded
in recreating the vibrant atmosphere of an old-line river town. It
has numerous museums, such the Louisville Slugger facility, offer
guided tours; restaurants (on both sides of the Ohio River) with a
wide variety of cuisines and a range of prices; a minor league
baseball team; and shops of every kind imaginable. The town’s
To Be Displayed, Digitized
Museum Now Accepting
Memorabilia, Materials
Items for display in the ADBC
Museum in Wellsburg, WV, are
now being accepted, according
to Mary Kay Wallace, director
of the Public Library which currently
houses the collection.
During the 2007 Annual Convention
in Washington, the
Brooke County Public Library
was formally named the official
repository for items relating to
the experiences of the membership
of ADBC.
“There are many fine World
War II Museums,” Mrs. Wallace
said in a newspaper interview,
“but this is the only repository
in the world dedicated solely
and exclusively to those valiant
Americans who gave so much
for our Nation.”
The Museum was established
in 2001 when Ed Jackfert
of Wellsburg chose his local library
for the placement of his
precious collection of materials
relating to the experiences of
ADB&C members as POWs to
Japan during World War II; and
to the activities conducted in the
years since the war to gain acknowledgment
and compensa-
LOUISVILLE IN 2008!
tion for the years of abusive enslavement.
Announcement of the collection
was made in The Quan and
members began to send their
memorabilia, souvenirs and
other items saved and collected
through the years.
Since that dedication, the
collection has been named the
ADB&C Museum and a major
capital funds campaign will be
conducted to generate funds to
build an exclusive facility to
house these materials.
More than 10,000 items have
been catalogued and professionally
archived and the dedicated
staff and farsighted board of directors
of the library have moved
ahead with plans to construct a
multimillion dollar home for
ADB&C members’ materials.
It is the only repository in the
world dedicated solely and exclusively
to the membership of
ADB&C and will be formally
known as the American Defenders
of Bataan and Corregidor
Museum.
The West Virginia community
has given its full support.
trolley system, which will be extended to the Downtown Holiday,
will offer frequent, economical transportation through the restored
area with stops convenient to Louisville’s many amenities.
Through the Louisville Convention Bureau we are receiving information
on sites and activities of possible interest, ranging
from specialized museums to an indoor paint ball and shooting
range.
For attendees with cars, this “Bluegrass” area has numerous
horse farms and state parks. Ft. Knox is about 30 miles from the
hotel.
As usual, we are making arrangements for VA participation,
complete with a health fair for veterans. We hope attendees will
again volunteer to make special presentations on topics of interest
to veterans and descendents. It’s never too early. Please
contact Paul Ropp with suggestions and ideas:
pwropp2@earthlink.net or 703-527-6983.
September 2007 - 3

‘Commander’s Message’ from page 2 How Many?
We veterans were seated directly behind President Bush
during the laying of the wreath ceremony. I was somewhat
weak from standing; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs liaison,
Kevin Secor, saw my condition and escorted me to a seat in a
box occupied by the Vice Commandant of the Marine Corps
and Kevin asked him to see after me. They were very considerate.
I didn't pass out, but I came close. When the ceremonies
and speeches were concluded, Kevin escorted me back to my
wife on the bus and we returned to our hotel. Then on Tuesday,
Bernice and I headed back to Cincinnati for my early morning
dialysis at the hospital on Wednesday. Dialysis is not the
end of the world, but it certainly does change your life: many
food restrictions, limited fluids, travel restrictions, etc. but all
in all it is certainly better than the alternative! Bernice and I
intend to carry on and continue to work for our deserving
group until the birds sing for us and God calls us home. May
God bless you all.
Everett & Bernice Reamer
Our sincerest condolences to Nancy Kragh
Kevin Kragh, 44, of Corpus Christi, TX, died July 22, 2008,
following a lengthy battle with poor health.
His mother, Nancy Kragh, had been named chairman of the
Descendents’ Group at the Washington (DC) Convention in May.
We hope she will be able to resume participation at some
future date and in the meantime we offer our sincerest sympathy
in her loss.
ADBC Web Site Changes
The ADBC Web Site lists many names, addresses, e-mail
addresses, phone numbers, etc. which enables members to locate
old friends and to send them email messages, e-mails or phone calls.
If you want your name and/or address listed, contact your ADBC
National Chaplain for help. My email address is
frphillips@sprintmail.com.
The URL for our ADBC Web Site is:
http://www.west-point.org/family/adbc/
We invite you to visit our Site at its new location, meet
some old friends, make some new ones, send us your biographical
sketch (digital photos welcome). Read about future conventions,
reunions and meetings; find out how you can find help with your VA
claim; 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 email me at: frphillips@sprintmail.com
or other Committee members; we will make sure that our Web Master,
John Lewis, receives the information:
Martin Christie: ,
Warren Jorgenson: or
Don Versaw:
4 - The Quan
While I was editing the QUAN I was asked many times “how
many of us are still alive?” Now that I have time and because I
too am interested, I will give it a try .To do this I will need the
cooperation of all the men and women who made it back and are
lucky enough to be alive.
We ask the care givers to reply the following information :
Name _________________________________ Age _____
Address ________________________________________
City and State ____________________________________
Unit in Philippines ________________________________
Where Captured __________________________________
P.O.W. Camps ____________________________________
Ships you were on ________________________________
Life since returning ________________________________
_______________________________________________
We will publish the names of all who sign up on this survey
and with a little luck one of us will be picked out of the list and
will be given $100 prize at the Louisville, KY, Convention.
If you know of some more not receiving the QUAN, send
their information.
Please send information to Joseph A. Vater
18 Warbler Dr.
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Please reply. We need your cooperation.
Helen and I wish to thank the many members who sent their
best wishes on my retirement from duties of ADBC.
Signed Joe
Vets Not Seeking Benefits Due
The San Luis Obispo (CA) Tribune (9/9, Cuddy) reports that
Mike Piepenburg, veterans service officer for San Luis Obispo
County, would “like to see more veterans come in and ask for the
benefits to which they are entitled. ... The question of taking care of
veterans is no small matter in San Luis Obispo County. There are
26,000 veterans here - about one of every 10 residents.” Demand by
Iraq veterans, on top of that by other veterans, “is creating a tremendous
backlog. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates
that vets filing for disability, for example, wait on average six
months for a response, and sometimes a year. For those appealing a
decision on a claim, the wait is 657 days. ... But many vets do take
advantage of what is available. In San Luis Obispo County, 4,189
patients were seen last year at the VA Clinic at 1283 Morro St. in San
Luis Obispo The office files 1,200 claims or appeals a year, and at
any given moment there are 600 of them pending. The new outpatient
clinic in Santa Maria also is making things easier for local
veterans, who no longer have to travel to Santa Barbara to obtain
care.”

Coorespondence
Coorespondence
I am looking for a survivor of the Bataan march, H. Wayne Miller;
as of a few months ago he was still alive, for he was interviewed on
an NPR segment on the history of the Bataan march aired on June 1.
He was my English teacher in high school, over 50 years ago,
and was also a fraternity mate of my father. I was very gratified to
hear his voice and know that he is still alive and feisty. I would like
to contact him if possible.
If you have any idea how I might track down Mr. Miller's current
contact information, I would be very grateful. I didn't find his name
on the ADBC website, but you may have contacts with other groups
and could point me to them. In particular, I was not able to find any
information about the "Truth Committee" mentioned in my email to
NPR.
Thanks very much for any information you can provide.
Best wishes,
Harlan J. Smith Centennial Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus
College of Natural Sciences - University of Texas at Austin
Austin TX, USA -
Adjunct Professor of Statistics - College of Engineering
and Mathematical Sciences
University of Vermont Burlington, VT USA
Carmen Morelli
4040 Joshua Rd
Lafeyette Hill PA 19444
Looking for Sam Boghosian of Montclair, NJ
Do we have a Buffalo Soldier Historian?
Just so everyone knows, I use the term "Buffalo Soldier" with
the utmost respect to a group of very extraordinary and fine individuals.
The Chaplain’s Corner - “Letting Go” - Revisited
In the last issue of The Quan we thought
about losses in our lives, and asked ourselves
about dealing with those losses. This
issue examines the effects of not dealing with
them at all.
It has been my experience that many
things that I wanted to have or to do, slipped
through my fingers. The harder I tried to keep
something or to attain to it, the looser my
grip and the greater chance of failure. I think
I may have been pushed too hard or in the wrong direction; maybe
the way I wanted things to happen was not exactly the way God
would have them to happen
We try to make things in our own images; He makes thing perfect
in His Image.
In such cases I have learned to relax my efforts and ask
Him to show me His way; ironically, then is when things tend to go
right for me. The goal I had set was being realized, but on His terms
and in His likeness. The resulting product looked a little less like me
and a lot more like Him. I was not to be glorified, but He was being
glorified.
Mr. Chase of St. Augustine is the only Buffalo Soldier I know
and he is 87 years old. and does not get out much as he has a hard
time.
If you do know someone personally or know of someone, Please
contact me at misam@aug.com.
Thanks,
Michael Isam
Hi Father Bob
My name is Bill Durette and I'm from Boston. I am the chairman
of the Charlestown Veterans History project. I'm researching all the
men who served in WWII from my neighborhood ( Charlestown ) in
Boston. I've come across a Major Joseph J Hughes who died in
captivity on Jan 31 1945. He was part of the ADBC...... He is the
recipient of the DSC and Bronze Star, I was looking to get more
information on him. Could you help out ?
Thanks and Regards Bill Durette Charlestown Veterans History
Project "Honoring our Veterans and Preserving their History"
Bill Durette
6 Concord St Charlestown Mass 02129
617-337-5383 bill5195@hotmail.com
The New Testament prophet, John, the Baptist, once
said it this way: “I must decrease, in order that He may increase”.
At this time of “Letting Go” of the ADBC, it may help
all of us to ask ourselves if it isn’t going to be better that we
turn over to Him this message: “We have served God by serving
our Country; my He be glorified in that we have done”. He
who is the perfect example of sacrificial giving had to let go in
order to achieve His purpose, which is the salvation of all mankind
who turn to Him.
So we learn to let ourselves decrease that He may
increase. We pray that Divine Wisdom will guide us and use
our sufferings to His glory.
In His service,
Fr. Bob Phillips SSC
National Chaplain and Web Site Chairman
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.
September 2007 -5

Can you help with Information on these POW’s?
Dear Editor;
Ralph Levenberg suggested that I contact you regarding my
attempt to get any information on my uncle, Dionicio R. Pena, who
was killed on the Shinyo-Maru hellship on 9/7/1944. I am currently
researching my family ancestry & because Dionicio never married &
all of his siblings plus his Mother & Father are deceased, I am trying
to bring the honor & respect to my Uncle that he so much deserves.
This is what I know from documents I have discovered online:
Dionicio R. Pena (from Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New
Mexico) was an anti-aircraft gunner in the New Mexico 200th-515th
Coast Artillery Regiment, F Battery, who participated in the defense
of Clark Air Base in Manila on 12/8/1941 during the Japanese air
attack.
On May 7, 1942, documents indicate that he was a prisoner of
the Japanese & sent to Camp O'Donnell.
In early September 1944, he along with 749 other U.S. prisoners,
was loaded on the Japanese "Hellship" the Shinyo-Maru off
Mindanao (this ship was torpedoed on 9/7/1944 by the U.S. Submarine
-- USS Paddle --and sunk).
Reports indicate that my Uncle & others were shot by the Japanese
gunner on the stern of the ship (I believe that only 83 of the
prisoners originally survived).
I would really like to know if anybody you can put me in contact
with, was in Camp O'Donnell or survived the sinking of the Shinyo-
Maru who might remember anything about my Uncle. War records
indicate that his body was never recovered.
If you could print my request in the next issue of the Quan that
would be great! And, any information will be most appreciated!!
THANK YOU.
Eleanor Jacuez Aguilar
3741 West Phelps Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85053
(602) 938-6712
I am seeking information about my uncle, Arnauld Joseph Ricard
Jr., born 7/5/1921 in Slater, Mo.
He enlisted in the Army program, "The Flying Sergeants", but
was dropped and put into the AAC, service #17015370, After enlistment,
he was sent to Pearl Harbor, but just before the bombing,
he was sent to Corregidor: assigned to the 6th Air Base Squadron in
the Philippines, (according to what information my dad had).
On May 15, 1942, The War Dept. said that Jr. was MIA as a
result of the fall of Corregidor. A news article from the Kansas City
Star in late 1945 stated that he had died in a Japanese prison camp.
(Army & Navy Official Reports has his last name spelled as Rickard,
other spellings made it Richard).
My dad, Earl W. Ricard, still doesn't want to talk about his
brother, and I can understand this. I feel some sort of connection to
my uncle that I can't explain. I was born 30 years and the same week
after he was.
Any information of any kind would be a great help. My dad will
be 84 this next week, and I would like to let him know something
about his brother while he is still here, and to let my kids and
grandkids know about him also. Thank you so much for your time
reading this, and for any help you can give me.
Sincerely, Lynda Ricard Rood 260 Itasca Rd. S.E. Rio Rancho,
NM. 87124 Ph. 505-892-0261 e-mail- nanasaurasl@aol.com
6 - The Quan
My name is Dave Miles and I
seek information on the service
and death of Corporal Harvey
Lee Goff, serial number 19016290,
of the 228th Signal Operations
Company stationed in the Philippines
at the outbreak of World
War Two. Harvey is listed on the
Walls of the Missing at the
American Cemetery in Manila as
dying June 11th, 1942 but also as
missing in action or buried at sea.
Can anyone shed any light on the
228th Signal Operations Company
and Harvey's cause of death
and location. I have found he was
a P.O.W. at the time he died. I live
at 505 South 15th Street, Bethany,
Mo. 64424. My phone is 660-425-
4428 . Thank You
Quans returned
‘Undeliverable’
The Quan addressed to
the following were returned as
“undelverable’ by the Post
Office.
Does anyone have an accurate
address?
Donald E. Abbott,, Bend, OR
Eddie Espanol, Seattle, WA
Mrs. Cora Fields, Tyler, TX
Charles Frances,
Kelseyville, CA
Clarence Leonard,
Jamesport, MO
Rondelle McCaffrey,
East Granby, CT
Albert Sims, Delray Beach, FL
Russell Smith, Kirkland, HI
Archie Stever, Peoria, IL
Mrs, Josephine Strouse,
Lakeside, CA
David Tellez, Las Cruces, NM

65 th Anniversary Mukden POW Camp Tour
104, 190, 229, 277, 362, 552, 578, 610, 1066, — These numbers are
seared into the minds of the 9 men associated with them. In Japanese.
They can still tell you their Prison camp number. In Japanese.
Who are they? Members of the “Greatest Generation”. Men held
under brutal conditions by the Imperial Japanese Army in Mukden
(now Shenyang), China, for 3.5 years during WW2. Bob Brown,
#190, the youngest at 82; Randy Edwards, #104, the oldest at nearly
90; Bob Wolfersberger, #229; Erwin Johnson, #277; Oliver Allen,
#362; Ralph Griffith, #552; John Lippard, #578; Roy Weaver; #610,
and Wayne Miller, #1066.
What do the numbers mean? Only the order that the Japanese
entered each man into the camp log. But if any man couldn’t recite
his number in Japanese at any moment it was requested, he would
get a severe beating. Or something worse.
With them, was Hal Leith, one of the OSS men who parachuted
in near the camp to explain to the local Japanese commander that
Japan had surrendered, and they were not to follow the standing
NIH Renews
Alcoholism Study
Grant Led By VA-
Affiliated Doctor.
The Yale University Office Of
Public Affairs (9/17) reported,
“The National Institutes of
Health (NIH) has renewed a $7
million grant to Yale School of
Medicine to speed research discoveries
from the laboratory to
the clinic for individuals at risk
for becoming alcoholic, or for
patients who already suffer from
alcoholism.” Principal investigator,
John Krystal, M.D., professor
and deputy chair for research
for the Department of Psychiatry
and the VA Connecticut
Healthcare System, said, “The
gap between basic research advances
and new clinical insights
and treatments remains a critical
obstacle to progress in the field
of alcoholism research. This mission
is the enduring focus of the
Center for Translational Neuroscience
of Alcoholism (CTNA)
at Yale.”
order to kill all POWs. Hal was
himself taken a prisoner, and it
took a frightening 1.5 days to get
through to the Japanese commanders
that they needed to call
headquarters in Japan, verify
what he was telling them, and
keep the POWs safe.
Recently, these men returned
to the place they were held as
“guests of the Japanese” during
WW2. Thanks to the generosity
of Ted Leonsis (producer of the
Movie “Nanking”) and several
others, the former POWs who
were assigned these numbers
over 65 years ago, were able to
return to the site of the prison
camp where they were held, to
see the museum being developed
there to honor them.
The museum is being funded
and developed by the governments
of Liaoning Province and
the City of Shenyang. It also recently
got an infusion of cash
from the National Chinese government.
This unique museum
honors the men held prisoner
there 65 years ago and also Chinese
American friendships which
See Mukden Visit -
Page 19
Descendents’ Group Organization
At the April Convention the ADBC asked the Descendants’ G roup (DG) to take an increasingly
active role in putting on the conventions, culminating in 2010 when the DG will take full responsibility
for the convention In order to fulfil this expanded role, the descendants are moving forward
to develop a more formal organizational structure and relationship with the ADBC.
During the coming year, we will develop a proposal to be presented to the DG at the next
convention for a new organization including nonprofit tax status, mission statement, board of
directors, etc. The name of the organization is the "Descendants' Group, an auxiliary of the
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor." We will begin accepting membership applications
(see form below) immediately with annual dues of $25.00. The ADBC has generously donated the
proceeds raffle to our fledgling group ($925) to give us a start. In addition to supporting the ADBC,
the organization's ultimate purpose/mission will be related to educating Americans about the
Japanese invasion of the Philippines and men and women who subsequently became Japanese
prisoners of war. I encourage all relatives and friends of the ex-POW's to become involved in this
new group and help us begin a great organization which can carry on the legacy of these exceptional
men and women.
Judy Pruitt has offered to act as our treasurer so please send all checks to her at the address on
the form. For other suggestions or comments, please contact me at kragh@hotmail.com or to
thequan@comcast.net.
Descendants' Group Chair
Membership Form
Descendants’ Group, an Auxiliary of the American Defenders fo Bataan & Corregidor
Name (please print) _________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________
CIty ________________________________ State _________ Zip Code ____________
Phonr ______________________ email _______________________________________
POW Relative / Friend - Name, Rank __________________________________________
Service Unit (if known) _____________________________________________________
Do you want to be included in the DG email list? Y ____ N ____
Annual dues $ 25.00 Send to: Judy Pruitt - 25 Windsor Rd. - Brookline, MA 02445-2110
September 2007 -7

62 Years Later: World War 11
and the "Ruptured Duck"
By Major Micki Sotta
(Edited for past tense)
In today's world, a ruptured
duck might sound like a broken
cartoon character, but World War
II veterans and their families know
the "Ruptured Duck" as a badge
of service and honor which represents
a job well done.
The Honorable Service Lapel
Pin, affectionately nicknamed by
returning GI's as the "Ruptured
Duck" pin, was issued to every World War II service member honorably
discharged between September 1939 and December 1946.
The small badge was earned by more than 12 million Soldiers, Sailors,
Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Merchant Mariners
who returned to civilian life after WWII.
Young men and women who served during World War II are
now in their 80s and 90s. Accordingly, 60 years later, the Department
of Defense hosted an event honoring all World War II veterans,
family members and homefront workers for their outstanding
service and sacrifice.
The ceremony was held at the World War II Memorial, located
on the National Mall. On September 2, 1945 Japan surrendered,
bringing WWII to an end During the ceremony all military services
and the Merchant Marines were represented and honored for their
service. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and WWII
veteran, General John Vessey, shared his thoughts on the "greatest
generation". There was music, fireworks and a live performance by
the Liberty Belles, a USO 1940s-style show. Seating, including
disabled access, was arranged to accommodate more than 6,000
attendees. The free event was open to the public. Additionally, all
WWII veterans attending were presented with an authentic Honorable
Service Lapel pin, or "Ruptured Duck!' pin to thank them again
for their service to their country.
The origins of the term, "Ruptured Duck" are unknown, but the
prevailing theory is service personnel thought the eagle looked
more like a duck and, because it meant they were going home, the
popular saying was, "They took off like a Ruptured Duck," hence
the nickname.
The "Ruptured Duck" initially had to be made out of plastic
because all brass available in the country was restricted to wartime
needs only. Unfortunately, the blue plastic pin could not be seen
against a blue suit jacket so it was adjusted to gold-plated plastic.
Later, when metal restrictions were lifted, the button was produced
in gold-plated brass.
As veterans earned their "Ruptured Duck" pin and returned
home, they found
American textile manufacturing completely geared toward making
uniforms and other service-related items, causing a significant
clothing shortage, which today is hard to imagine.
Editor’s Note: Today it is legal for any honorably discharged veteran
to wear and display the “duck’, and many proud younger
veterans honor both their service, their country, and - especially -
World War II Veterans by doing so.
8 - The Quan
Hellships Memorial
In-Remembrance Plaques
In January 2006, I returned to the Philippine Islands for the first
time in sixty five years to take part in the dedication of the Hellships
Memorial at Subic Bay to honor many brave and courageous men.
Among the heroic men honored was my father, Captain David G.
Erickson, who managed to survive six Hellship voyages only to
perish two days after arriving in Japan in January 1945. At the dedication,
it was brought to our attention that a Phase 2 to the Memorial
in the form of In-Remembrance Plaques was planned. The plan
called for thirty Black Galaxy Granite plaques to be subscribed by
families and friends to have a permanent place of memory, recognition
and honor dedicated to their loved ones. Upon my return from
the dedication,
I immediately contacted FAME INC who oversees the administration
and maintenance of the Memorial to order one to honor my
father. I recently checked with FAME INC and found that there still
over twenty plaque spaces available for subscription.
I would like to encourage members or the ADBC Desendants
Group other next of kin and friends of loved ones associated with
the Hellship history to obtain information on the In Remembrance
Plaques and seriously consider subscribing. Information can be
obtained from the following:
FAME INC c/o Alex Keller 535 Rolling Rock Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255 Phone: 513-231-1275
Email aljokeller@fuse.net Or Randy Anderson
Hellships Memorial Email: randy99@gmail.com
This is not only a way to honor our loved ones but is also a way
to keep alive the memory of the many brave and heroic men of
Bataan and Corregidor and the Hellships that history seems to have
forgotten.
Northwest Chapter ADBC
Bataan Survivors, Marines Meet
By Ed Kemmick Of The Billings (MT) Gazette Staff
The 3rd and 4th Defense Battalion Marines aren't in the habit of
having joint reunions with other groups of veterans, but this year
they're making an exception.
In January, when Bill Van Wieren of Fromberg was making arrangements
to hold the Marine reunion at the Billings Holiday Inn
this summer, he learned that representatives of the Northwest Chapter
of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor were making
similar plans. They started talking about a joint reunion almost
immediately. "I thought it was a splendid idea," Van Wieren said,
and none of his Marine colleagues had any objections.
For one thing, the Marines had nothing but respect for the members
of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.
All of them had spent time in Japanese prisoner of war camps,
and many of had survived the Bataan Death March, one of the most
infamous episodes of World War II.
The joint reunion would also give the Defense Battalion Marines,
who manned antiaircraft and shore batteries all over the South
Pacific, an opportunity to view a unique pictorial history of the
death march and Japanese POW camps
Please see Marines/ADBC - Page 20

By Marcia Schonberg
Earl Morse was working as a physician
assistant in 2004 at a U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs medical clinic in Springfield,
OH, when he asked a simple question that
changed his life. Morse asked one of his
patients, 78-year-old World War II veteran
Leonard Loy, whether he’d thought about
visiting the National World War II Memorial,
which recently had opened in Washington,
D.C.
Loy shook his head sadly. “Mama’s
been sick and we don’t have the money,” he
said. “And we don’t have any way to get
out there.” Morse, himself a licensed pilot
and former U.S. Air Force captain, had just
rented a private Cessna plane and was going
to fly his father, a Vietnam War veteran
to the nation’s capital to see the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. He had an idea, a casual
invitation that didn’t seem like such a big
idea at the time. “My dad and I are renting a
plane,” he told Loy. “If you’d like to go, it
won’t cost you a penny.”
Loy didn’t say anything, but the tears in
his eyes spoke volumes. “That’s when it hit
me, “This means more than I thought,” says
Morse, 48. In the months that followed,
Morse’s casual invitation to help a fellow
military veteran turned into a nationwide
quest. For more than two years now, he’s
been flying World War II veterans to see the
memorial erected in their honor on the National
Mall. Since founding his nonprofit
Honor Flight Network in 2005, he has taken
more than 1,000 veterans from around the
country to the memorial—and it hasn’t cost
any of them one red cent.
“I’ve had a lot of veterans tell me this trip
was the greatest day of their life,” Morse
says.
After that first trip in the Cessna with his
father and Loy, Morse enlisted the help of
some pilot friends in Dayton, Ohio, and organized
more day trips. The grass roots effort
grew as word spread and donations increased,
and Morse soon was purchasing
blocks of tickets on commercial flights for
larger groups, and coordinating flights from
across the country.
“So far, we’re in 11 states,” says Honor
Flight’s director of operations, Al Bailey, 60.
HONOR FLIGHT
Taking World War II veterans on the
trip of a lifetime
“Setting up Honor Flight hubs will help us
reach our goal.”
That goal is to ensure that all living World
War II veterans get a chance to see the memorial
that was erected to honor their service
and sacrifice.
Morse remembers a call going out in the
late 1990s for World War I veterans in the
central Ohio area to give them special recognition
medals. Only two were located, and
the thought of “too little, too late” stays
with Morse to this day. “I didn’t want World
War II vets to not be able to see America’s
thank-you to their service,” he says.
Honor Flight is volunteer-staffed and
donation-funded. Morse gave up his Veterans
Affairs job and now works part-time at a
medical clinic in Enon, Ohio. He devotes at
least four days a week to Honor Flight and is
the program’s only paid employee. His wife,
Clarice, as well as his mother, father, brother,
sister and sister-in-law, are among the 15 volunteers
who help operate the national network,
based in Dayton.
Honor Flight coordinates dozens of
flights each year from Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Michigan, New York, North Dakota
(which also represents South Dakota and
Minnesota), North Carolina, Ohio and Utah.
“We have 30 to 50 applicants per day from
veterans as far away as Alaska,” Bailey says.
On an Honor Flight trip, every expense is
covered, including meals, ground transportation,
and oxygen tanks and motorized
wheelchairs for veterans who need them. Volunteers
pay for their own tickets, and each
flight has a medical attendant.
Natalie Kindt, 34, of Atlanta, volunteered
on a flight and it was an experience she’ll
never forget. “Now I’ll never pass another
veteran without saying thank you,” she says.
Morse steadfastly refuses all offers from veterans
who ask if they can help pay their way,
which typically costs several hundred dollars.
“They’ve done enough already,” he
says.
“When we arrived at the airport, we
didn’t even have to buy our breakfast,” says
Dayton resident Jim Eby, 85, a World War II
pilot who took a flight with his brother
Harold, 92, also a veteran, this spring. “They
gave us a sack of food.”
Before each flight from Dayton, Morse
meets departing veterans at the airport, greeting
each one personally. When the airplane
lands in Baltimore, Md., typically meeting
up with Honor Flights from other cities, he
assembles the group into waiting chartered
buses and heads into nearby Washington,
D.C.
At the memorial, located between the
Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,
veterans gravitate into the large circular
pavilion ringed with elegant columns
representing each state. Many are moved
to tears. Dozens of other visitors are anxious
to meet the veterans, shake their hands
and express their thanks.
“A young female sailor came up to me
and asked what branch of the military I was
in,” says Fern Metcalf, 84, a U.S. Navy
WAVES veteran from Troy, Ohio. “When I
told her the Navy, she grabbed my arm and
asked another sailor to take a picture of us.
Then she stayed with me as I walked all
around the memorial.”
“Here I am, 84 years old, with a smile I
can’t wipe off,” Metcalf adds. “It gives me
goose bumps when I think about how special
we were made to feel.”
George Cordrey, 85, who fought in the
Battle of Iwo Jima, traveled from Cincinnati
to Columbus to connect with his Honor Flight
trip. “A couple approached me from out of
the blue.” He says. “They hugged me and
thanked me. I don’t know who they were or
where they were from, but we all sobbed. It
was so touching.”
“They’ll have a whole day of
people coming up to them, shaking their
hands, thanking them,” Morse says. “At
the end of the day, they’ll have a tremendous
understanding of how much this country
admires their service and their sacrifice.”
At the center of the memorial is a pair of
gushing, towering fountains—symbols, according
to the memorial’s official statement
of purpose, “of the moral strength and awesome
power that can flow when a free people
are united and bonded together in a just
cause.”
Please See Honor Flight
- Page 14
September 2007 -9

ADB&C Museum Visitors View Materials
Captain Guy Gruters, USAF,
retired, right, and Mrs. Gruters
listen as Wellsburg’s Ed Jackfert
(background) describes some of
the more than 10,000 ADBC items
being displayed and archived at
the Brooke County Public
Library in Wellsburg, WV.
The collection of materials has
been formally approved by the
American Defenders of Bataan
and Corregidor as its official
repository.
Gruters, a POW in North Viet Nam
for more than five years, and
Jackfert, a prisoner to Japan for
nearly four years, shared their
stories during the visit.
Capt. Gruters was a highly
decorated pilot, flying more than
400 missions in Viet Nam and is a
survivor of two shoot-downs.
He currently devotes his time to
addressing audiences on
"Surviving with God in a Vietnam
POW Camp."
Behind Mrs. Sandy Gruters is Dr.
Robert Doyle, professor of
history at the Franciscan
University of Steubenville (OH).
Brooke Review Photo
Joe Alexander
Reports On
San Antonio 2009
Convention
We’re making good progress
with the plans and arrangement
at the hotel, The Omni offers excellent
accommodations, spacious
and comfortable meeting
rooms and free shuttle to and
from the airport; and to locations
within five miles of the hotel.
The 2009 convention will be
the last arranged and committed
by the members of the ADBC;
the Descendents’ Group will
have the responsibility for planning
and arranging the 2010 convention.
10 - The Quan
1951 Annual Convention - Philadelphia, PA
Joe and Helen Vater supplied the names of those depicted above at the 1951 Annual Convention in
Philadelphia, PA. Starting lower left and going clockwise are: Chuck and Anette Bloskis, Ken and Mary
Curley, Harry and Bea Menozzi, Joe Minder, Morgan Jenkins and Joe and Helen Vater.
All but Anette Bloskis, Mary Curley, Bea Menozzi and Helen and Joe Vater are deceased. Photo now part
of the collection in the ADBC Museum in Wellsburg, WV.

Following is a letter sent on behalf of the ADBC by Senior Vice Commander Leter Tenney.:
To Date there has been no positive response from the Senator nor member of his staff. He has however, voiced
his opposition to a resolution demanding an apology from Japan over the sexual exploitation of young women in
Asia by the Japanese military during World War II.
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.
Including all of the Defense Forces of the Philippine Archipelago,
The Asiatic Fleet, Wake Island, Marianna Islands, Midway Island and Dutch East Indies
July 16, 2007
Dear Senator Inouye:
I have read with interest your comments as they appeared in the Kyodo News about the issue affecting the Comfort Women’s
Resolution, which is up for a vote by members of the United States House of Representatives.
Senator, you ask, “Why should we involve ourselves in a legislative act that would jeopardize a relationship as good as we share with
Japan? Is this how we Americans should conduct ourselves with the Japanese, our friends and allies?” Our answer to your question deals
with, morality, honor and dignity. We should not pay the price of acceptance of a wrongful act, committed against innocent people, just for
the privilege of continued friendship. The past should not be forgotten in order to gain a friendship with our former enemy.
You say the issue of compensation for Japan’s wartime crimes, “including the comfort women issue”, has been resolved by the
postwar peace treaties which Japan concluded with the United States and other countries. Senator Inouye, you allude to the fact that you
are aware of other wartime crime issues besides the Comfort Women controversy. I am sure you speak of the issue regarding we American
former Prisoners of War who were subjected to inhuman treatment, torture and forced labor by the Japanese Government and by many
Japanese companies.
Senator Inouye, the records of our Government, in the files of the U.S. Archives, reveal that 27,465 American military personnel became
prisoners of the Japanese in World War II, and that nearly 40 % of them died as a result of shooting, decapitation, starvation, beatings and
torture, all of this during the Bataan Death March and the ensuing three and a half years as prisoners of war of Japan. {No doubt you are
also aware, that Americans captured by the German Army during WW II had a death rate of only one-and-a-half percent.} During the time
period of WWII, there has never been a question as to the fact that Japan was in violation of the Laws of War, The Hague Convention of
1907 and the Geneva Prisoner of War Convention of 1929, and certainly in violation of all the rules of civility and humanity.
We former POWs of Japan never sought compensation or an apology from the Japanese Government, only an apology, and or wages
earned from those Japanese industrial giants who violated our basic rights of humanity. And Senator Inouye, in spite of our many requests
for an apology from the Japanese industrial giants that enslaved and utilized American prisoners of war as slave laborers, there has been
absolutely no response or remorse shown to us by these same Japanese companies. They forced the POWs to work under unsafe
conditions in their mines and factories, failed to provide the POWs with enough food, and allowed their workers to inflict severe bodily
harm to us American POWs. Is an apology from these wrongdoers not worth pursuing? What kind of friendship is this that dictates we
forget the past, while the wrongdoer forgets their responsibility?
Senator Inouye, when we former POWs sought justice in US courts our State and Justice Department filed a formal, “Statement of
Interest” document, stating that the Peace Treaty between Japan and the United States resolved the issue of forced labor, physical abuse,
and murder. However, if we believe in the value of life, in the importance of honor, and in the importance of decency of our fellow men, then
we must conclude that the issue of our wartime forced labor should not, and cannot, be resolved by the legal technicality of a treaty.
You also stated that six Japanese premiers have apologized on these issues in their official capacities since 1994, and you said, “I would
think that in the world of diplomacy, these words would suffice as official statements.” The apology made in the past by the former premiers
expressed regret, sorrow and remorse for the unhappy period of World War II, they expressed their view, not the view of the Japanese Diet.
But here we are 62 years since the atrocities were committed and we have still not heard a word of sorrow or remorse for the barbaric
treatment meted out to the American Prisoners of War by the Japanese military and the Japanese companies who enslaved us. Therefore,
Senator we must continue to ask for a sincere apology to we former POWs of the Japanese, by and for the Government of Japan as well as
by the Japanese companies involved in placing American POWs into slavery.
Senator Inouye, it would also be in the best interest of Japan if you were to encourage those Japanese companies that enslaved
American POWs to offer a strong, clear, and meaningful apology. The apology I speak of should be given as a moral obligation, not one that
has been demanded by others, but should become necessary because of the companies high values of honor, morality and honesty, which
carries with it the obligation of accepting responsibility.
We members of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor look forward to our country continuing a true friendship with Japan,
but this requires accepting responsibility. I hope you, Senator Inouye, are interested in helping to forge a meaningful relationship. We
former POWs are reaching the end of our lives, and wish for a closure to this prolonged and shameful event.
Sincerely,
Lester Tenney, Ph.D.,
Senior Vice Commander. the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
Former POW of the Japanese and Survivor of the Bataan Death March
September 2007 -11

Mukden Revisited
Photo right, his is most of us at the
Shenyang Marriott, which gave us a
lovely deal on the rooms and treated
us like royalty. From here we went to
Beijing, Most of us went on the new
fast train (250 KM per hour) only to
find out that it was not equipped to
handle luggage for 34 Americans who
don’t travel light. We saw the Great
Wall, some of us went to the Embassy,
but since the group was larger than
they could handle, some of us went
shopping. The energetic ones went
to the Forbidden City and the rest of
us went to a Lama Temple.
Our guests stand in front of a drawing,
which will become a wall with the
names of the men who died in the
camp. In the front row (l-r) are Wayne
Miller, and Oliver Allen. In the back
row (l-r) are Erwin Johnson, Roy
Weaver, Randy Edwards, Ralph
Griffith, Hal Leith, Bob Brown, John
Lippard, and Bob Wolfersberger
Right photo: American Counsel
General Wickman, the tall man in the
center, speaks during the opening
comments. Afterwards, the families
and others donated gifts such as
uniforms worn before or after
capture, letters, dog tags, books they
have written, drawings, DVDs made
by the families of the men reminiscing,
and many other treasures.
In the lower picture. Our guests stand
in front of a drawing, which will
become a wall with the names of the
men who died in the camp. In the
front row (l-r) are Wayne Miller, and
Oliver Allen. In the back row (l-r) are
Erwin Johnson, Roy Weaver, Randy
Edwards, Ralph Griffith, Hal Leith,
Bob Brown, John Lippard, and Bob
Wolfersberger
12 - The Quan

President George Bush
Honors National
Commander Reamer
On Memorial Day, National Commander
Everett and Mrs. Reamer were hosted by
President George Bush in a breakfast at the
White House in Washington, DC.
During the enjoyable conversation, according
to Everett, the President talked of the
assassination of captured pilots in 1945 and
the fact that his own father, George H.W
.Bush, had been rescued prior to the event.
President Bush praised the American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and
wished Everett and Mrs. Reamer well.
Tentative Agenda
ADB&C 2008 Convention
Holiday Inn Downtown - 6-10 May
Tuesday 6 May
7:30-9:30 AM –Breakfast – Ball Room
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM-4:30 PM – Registration
Wednesday 7 May
7:30-9:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM - Church
9:00 AM-4:30 PM - Registration
11:30 AM – River Cruise and On-Board
Lunch (reservations are required)
2:00 PM – Churchill Downs & ADBC Memorial
Race (reservations are required)
7:00-9:00 PM - Hospitality – Ball Room
Thursday 8 May
7:30-9:30 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM-4:30 PM – Registration
10:00 AM – Executive Board Meeting
10:00 AM – Descendents Brunch
12:00 PM – Widows’ Lunch
7:30 – 10:30 PM – Hospitality
Friday 9 May
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM – Registration
2:00 PM – Membership Meeting
5:30 PM – 4 th Marines Reception & Dinner
7:30 – 10:30 PM – Quan Party
Saturday - 10 May
7:30 – 9:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Registration
10:00 – 11:00 PM – Memorial Service
7:00 – 10:00 PM – Banquet
Sunday 10 May - Departure
ADBC Merchandise - Showing Your Pride
Decals (2)
4 1/4 “ X 3 1/2” &
WIndow 3.1/2 X 2 1/4
Lapel Pin Earrings
TIe Clip
Lapel Pin
Not Depicted - Ball Cap and
Bolo
License Plate
Descendents Membership and
Subscription - Quan - $25.00 /Year.
For Descendents Dues & Quan For Merchandise Sales:
Judy Pruitt Mrs. Jean Pruitt
25 Windsor Rd. 109 Young Dr.
Brookline, MA 02445-2110 Sweetwater, TN 37874-3131
To Place Your Order - 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 License Plates ..................................4.00
Tie Bar ......................................................7.00 Decal -W/Logo ................................2.00.
Decal - Window ......................................2.00 Pins 3" X 2 .......................................6.00
Overseas Caps only sizes 6 1/2 & 7 28.00 Caps, Blue W/ Logo ........................8.00
Items Shipped Require 15 % Postage
September 2007 - 13

Colonel Abe Garfinkel
I am sending in a picture of Colonel Abe Garfinkel and short summary-
I hope that you can use it in a future issue of the Quan.
He enlisted in 1900 at the age of 15. Sent to the Philippines, he was
assigned to a rifle company and was in the unit that captured the Philippine
guerilla leader, Aquinaldo. He remained as enlisted man and rose to
the rank of Sgt.
In 1917, he was commissioned as a 2d Lt. After WW I he returned to
the Philippines, and by 1935 was the military aide to the Governor General
Frank Murphy. As a Major, he was in command of Fort Hay, and
continued to rise in position. Prior to the war, he was a ranking Colonel and served as one of
the founding officers of the Philippine Scouts. Accordingly he was Sp Trs CO, Sp Trs Div &
Post Commander, , Fire Marshal Post Fire Warden, and OIC of the Post Guard.( TO&E
supplied by Lillian Jones). When war broke out he was the IG of II Corp. He was surrendered
by General King and was one of the few senior officers to make the full Death March.
According to Charlie Dragich - Mukden #226) he along with Capt Dyess were "inspirational
leaders on the march".
Kermit Lay had publicly gone on record as Garfinkel having saved his life on the March
by getting him "to get up and continue the march". Kermit survived 3 1/2 years of captivity
and often spoke about the Colonel. Major Rich Gordon also spoke highly of the Colonel
who spoke fluent Tagalog. The Colonel never forgot his 16 years as an enlisted man. As a
senior officer he was transferred to various camps by hell ships and trains. Initially at
O'Donnell, he was sent to Tarlac, where he was hospitalized, then to Karenko and then sent
to Shirakawa and Manchuria and then to Mukden where he was liberated. He appears in
several of Fortiers caricatures, with one drawn on June 14, 1945 celebrating both Flag Day
and his 45th anniversary in the Army. The OSS team jumped into Mukden on August 16,
1945. The camp was liberated by the Russian on the 20th. Abe was about 90 pounds. Upon
being liberated he was told that his youngest son, Lt. Harold Garfinkle was killed in action
just days before the war in Europe ended. Abe was sent back to the states to rehab, but in
early January, he was sent with now Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy to represent the
United States. They brought back the remains of Pres E. Quezon, where he was buried in
Manila with full honors. Abe and Murphy continued a round trip world tour and upon
returning to the USA was retired as a Colonel. He died April 1962, at Beale Air Force Base in
California and is buried in Arlington Cemetery a short distance from General Jonathan Wainwright.
If there are any men who have any knowledge concerning Abe Garfinkel, I would greatly
appreciate any information concerning his military career. Like many of the former POW's he
never talked about his captivity. When questioned about the many scars on his back, his
single pat answer was to say. " I am here, and that's all you need to know.
Shelly & Suzanne Zimbler
Abe is the great uncle of Suzanne
Honor Flight - from page 9
Morse says the torrents of water have a
rejuvenating effect on the visiting veterans.
“I call it the fountain of youth,” he says.
“There’s a transformation that takes place.
They get on the plane in the morning, they’re
in their 80’s. They get on that evening to
come back home, it’s like they’re in their 60s.”
Some 1,500 World War II veterans are on
a waiting list of upcoming Honor Flights and
Morse vows to keep working until they all
get to see the memorial that honors them.
And even then, he has no plans to stop.
“Once we get all the World War II vets,
14 - The Quan
we’ll get the Korean vets,” he says. “And
then we’ll help the Vietnam vets. . . and the
vets of Iraq and Afghanistan, if there’s a
memorial for that. This is going to continue.”
“This is the most honorable, noble thing
I’ve ever done in my life,” he adds. “It’s so
much further-reaching and meaningful than
I ever thought it was going to be.”
Marcia Schonberg is a writer in Lexington,
Ohio.
To contact Honor flight directly, call
(937)521-2400.
(Received from Judith Hersinger)
Seeking Information
Dear Editor of the Quan;
My name is Dave Miles and I seek information
on the service and death of Corporal
Harvey Lee Goff, serial number 19016290,
of the 228th Signal Operations Company stationed
in the Philippines at the outbreak of
World War Two. Harvey is listed on the
Walls of the Missing at the American Cemetery
in Manila as dying June 11th, 1942
but also as missing in action or buried at
sea. Can anyone shed any light on the 228th
Signal Operations Company and Harvey's
cause of death and location. I have found
he was a P.O.W. at the time he died. I live at
505 South 15th Street, Bethany, Mo. 64424.
My phone is 660-425-4428 . Thank You
Sincerely,
Dave Miles.
George Wallace,
I've a friend from the Philippines, Marcos
Soriano who is quite interested in the history
of the war in his country. He is much
too young to remember it, but his grandparents
do. He is an engineer in Singapore,
and my husband has worked on projects
with him with his company before he, my
husband retired.
Marc was a good source of info for me
when I wrote the article about my uncle M/
Sgt LeRoy Anderson, 192 Tank Company A
and his death on the hell ship Arisan Maru,
the worst sea disaster for allied men in
history with the loss of 1800 men. Marc
was able to give me valuable information
on the Tanks and roads of the peninsula.
My uncle received the Distinguished Cross
from Mac Arthur for his bravery on February
3, 1942 when he went behind enemy lines
and took out 5 gun positions. Marc was so
impressed by his actions, he has created a
model of this action.
The Filipino people love the Americans
so much, as you well know. When I was
there, I was treated with such love and respect
even from those who didn't know me
personally. They also revere Mac Arthur. I
wanted to let ADBC know about Marc and
his model.
Leelia Cornell

1st LT Jose S. Aquino
1st Lt Jose S. Aquino, 90 yrs. old, born
September 10, 1916, died Friday, August 24,
2007. His wife, Soledad V. Aquino passed
away April 27, 2007; and he was predeceased
in death by a son, Fred Aquino.
Joe is survived by his sons Renato, Robert;
daughters-in-law, Lavinia R. Aquino and
Terestia I. Aquino; and many grandchildren.
Joe enlisted in the 92nd Battery Coast
Artillery Corps (PS) February 4, 1935, and
was a life member of the Philippine Scouts
Heritage Society (PSHS), which he served
for several years as President. He also was
a founding member and first president of
the Golden Gate-Bay Area Chapter of the
PSHS. He was a life member of the Retired
Officers Association, ‘Disabled American
Veterans, America Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, The American Legion Post 1,
American Ex-Prisoners of War and also member
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Bobby T. Bacon
Bobby T. Bacon, 87, of Izoro, TX, died
June 10, 2007, in the Veterans Medical System.
Bobby was born September 11, 1919 in
Cisco, TX, to Ted and Ola (McCanlies) Bacon.
He proudly served his country for 20
years in the Marines entering the service
January 8, 1940, and retiring January 15,
1960. He was in the 3 rd battalion, 4 th marine
regiment on Bataan, during World War II
when captured May 6, 1942 in Corregidor.
He was released in Honshu, Japan, September
11, 1945. He also served in Korea.
After his retirement, he went on to become
a football coach for the San Angelo
School District, coaching at Edison and Lee
Junior Highs and was proud of having a
record of 5 undefeated seasons, 112 games
won, 32 games lost and 4 games tied. After
retiring from the school district, Bob ranched
for the next 27 years of his life. He was a
32 nd degree Mason and a member of the
Scottish Rite Order. Bob was a member of
the First Christian Church. Bob is preceded
in death by his parents; a brother and a sister.
Survivors include wife of 60 years,
Farene, of Izoro; daughter, Jamie Sterling,
of Kempner; grandson, Spencer Franklin
Sterling of Santa Fe, New Mexico; granddaughter,
Jessica Sterling, of Kempner;
brother, Joe Ed Bacon, of Breckenridge and
sister, Billie Beth Griffith of Rockport.
Graveside Services, with full military
honors, were held Friday, June 15, 2007 at
2:00 PM at central Texas State Veterans Cemetery
in Killeen.
Lt. Col. Clyde C. Childress
Childress, Clyde C., Lt. Col. USAR, Ret.,
90, of Tucson, died August 10, 2007. He
was born July 22, 1917, in Ft Worth, TX, to
James and Clyde Childress. Prior to retirement,
Mr. Childress was a sales representative
in the heavy equipment industry. A U.S.
Army WW II veteran, he received two
Bronze Service Stars, for his service in the
Philippines, one Silver Star Combat Infantryman
Badge, and was an Infantry Unit
Commander. He was a member of the V.F.W.,
life member of D.A.V., life member of the
American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor
#236, member of the 31st Infantry Regiment
Association, and the American Guerillas
of Mindanao. He is survived by his loving
wife of 50 years, Dee E. Childress.
James F. Drake
James F. Drake of Mobile, a survivor of
the Bataan Death March and 42 hellish
months as a prisoner of the Japanese in
World War II, died Wednesday at a local
nursing facility after a lengthy illness, officials
said. He was 86.
Drake survived slave labor camps in Japan
and returned to the United States after
the war weighing a corpse-like 89 pounds,
according to Press-Register articles.
Drake was a young mess sergeant with
the Army Air Corps' 27th Bomb Group when
he made the march.
On Oct. 20, 2000, Drake was inducted
into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor at
of Marion Military Institute in Marion.
Drake was born on Oct. 30, 1919, in rural
Collinsville near Gadsden, the oldest of six
children. The family soon moved to
Batesville, Miss., in north Mississippi where
he grew up. He eventually moved to Mobile
after he came home from the war.
Sgt. 1st Class Geoffray Dumaguit
Sgt. 1st Class Geoffray Dumaguit, 14th
Co “B” Engineers BN (PS), passed away
August 27, 2007.
Mr Dumaguit formerly lived in San
Franicsco and relocated to Cathedral City,
CA.
He was one of the founding members of
the Golden Gate-Bay Area Chapter in 1993.
R. Dumaguit enlisted in the 14th Co. Engineers
BN (PS) on March 2, 1941 as a machine
gunner. He was a POW Death March
Survivor,. Remained in the U.S. Army following
WWII and served in the Korea War before
retiring in 1961. His military decorations
included a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, POW
Medal, American Defense Service Medal,
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory
Medal, National Defense Service Medal,
Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service
Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, Philippine
Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit
Emblem, and Philippine Republic Citation.
Geoffray Dumaguit is survived by Alicia
Tejada Dumaguit, his wife for 57 years, sons
Geoffray Jr., Gerald and George, daughter
Grace; and two grandsons.
Valentine Gavito
Valentine Gavito of Houston, TX, died
June 29, 2007. He was the last survivor of
the detail that took down the flag at Corregidor
on May 6, 1942.
After surviving captivity at the Garage
area on Corregidor, he arrived at Bilibid
Prison. By June he was transferred to Cabanatuan.
In early October he and 2000 men
boarded the Tottori Maru, and arrived at
Mukden Manchuria on 11 November 1942.
Fifteen hundred left the vessel, while the
remaining 500 men departed for Japan.
He worked on many details at the camp,
and was liberated by the Russians on August
20, 1945. Like many of the former POWs
he reenlisted in the military and served until
the early 60's.
September - 2007 - 15

Deceased - continued
Nicholas R. Kalynych
Nicholas R. Kalynych, 90, who spent
most of World War II in Japanese prison
camps, died of heart failure Sunday at home
in Broomall, PA.
Mr. Kalynych joined the Navy in 1936,
two years after graduating from Hellertown
High School in Northampton County.
During World War II, he was assigned
as a machinist aboard the Canopus, a submarine
tender that was among the forces
that defended the Philippines in 1942.
After the war, Mr. Kalynych, who had
lost about 80 pounds, recuperated at the
Philadelphia Naval Hospital. In 1946, he married
Helen Turock who predeceased him in
2001.. The couple had no children.
Mr. Kalynych was discharged in 1952
as a lieutenant. Afterward, he worked as a
maintenance supervisor in Boeing's helicopter
division in Ridley Park.
He retired in 1982.
Col. Daniel Laureta Ledda
Daniel Laureta Ledda, a retired United
States Army Colonel and highly decorated
veteran of WorId War II and the Korean
and Vietnam Wars, passed away peacefully
in his sleep on August 10, 2007 in Sacramento,
California at the age of 88. Col. Ledda
was born in the town of Balaoan, La Union
in the Philippines on July 21, 1919 and raised
in Tondo, Manila. He graduated from the
prestigious Philippine Military Academy in
1942 at the outbreak of World War II and
received a commission to the United States
Armed Forces Far East. (USAFFE). As a
company commander at Bataan, the young
captain led his mounted cavalry troop in
the first counter assault against the Japanese
forcing them to retreat for the first and
possibly only time during the invasion.
During the assault Captain Ledda received
life threatening injuries from a fragmentary
hand grenade which peppered his head and
torso with shrapnel some of which he carried
to the end of his life.
A survivor of the Bataan Death March,
he was held until released from the camp at
Capas because of serious medical problems,
but upon his recovery joined the underground
and participated in resistance activities
against the Japanese until liberated
by the American armed forces.
16- The Quan
Col. Ledda retired from the military in
1974 after becoming the first Filipino born
American to attain the rank of full colonel.
He settled in Santa Maria, California with
his wife Cresenciana Lallana Ledda to whom
he was married for almost 57 years until her
death in 1998. He remained active as manager
of the Santa Maria Building Contractors'
Association for 8 years and with his
wife Cres, continued to be involved in many
church and community organizations, including
the Filipino Community, the Knights
of Columbus, the Elks and the Uno Club.
As a member of the St. Louis de Montfort
Knights of Columbus, he attained the rank
of Grand Knight and was recognized as
Knight of the Year in 1987. He also played a
key role in the building of the Santa Maria
Filipino Community's first community center
in which he took great pride. In 2005, he
moved to Sacramento to be near his son
Derek, with whom he resided until his death.
Clifford "Smokey" Martinez
Clifford "Smokey" Martinez, a survivor
of the infamous Bataan Death March who
has lived in Las Cruces the past 67 years,
died at Memorial Medical Center, Las
Cruces.
Born on Jan. 20, 1919 in Perrin, Texas to
Clifford and Phyllis Lanning,
Martinez jumped on a train when he was
11 and ran away from home. He lived as a
cowboy, alone during the Depression.
In 1933, Martinez was adopted by Pedro
and Antonia Martinez of Carlsbad. He
moved to Las Cruces in 1940 and enlisted in
the Army on Sept. 7, 1940, and was assigned
to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Bliss.
Smokey was a member of the Las Cruces
Chapter of Ex-POW's, VFW Post 10124,
American Legion Post 10, Disabled American
Veterans Chapter 10 and American Defenders
of Bataan Corregidor.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years,
Corine Barela Martinez, of Las Cruces.
Survivors also include five daughters:
a son, four sisters. 21 grandchildren, 33
great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces
and nephews.
“Gap” Silva, PNC
Agapito “Gap” Encinias Silva, 87 of
Albuquerque, NM, died at his home,
Sunday, June 17, 2007. The son of Isabel
and Mauricio Silva, he was born October
22, 1919, in San Marcial, NM.
In 1929 the family moved to Gallup,
NM where he graduated from Gallup
High School in 1939.
“Gap” enlisted in the New Mexico
Army National Guard and was inducted
into the regular Army in 1941, assigned
to the 200 th Coast Artillery and stationed
at Ft. Stotsenberg on Clark Field in the
Philippines. He was taken captive by
the Japanese after the fall of Bataan in
1941 and survived three and a half years
as a prisoner of war in Japan. He received
many honors, and medals for his
service, including the Purple Heart, Philippine
Defense, American Campaign,
Bronze Star, Asiatic Pacific Campaign,
Philippine Liberation, American Defense,
and Honorable Service while a POW.
After the war he worked at Kirtland Air
Force base and retired in 1973.
Gap as an unwavering advocate for
veterans and an active, life-member of
the Bataan Veterans Organization, American
Ex-POWs and the DAV, the VFW,
the Purple Heart Association, the American
Legion and American Defenders of
Bataan and Corregidor—of which he was
National Commander from 2005-2006. On
November 11, 2004 he was honored to
lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns
at Arlington National Cemetery
for Veteran’s Day. He was proud to be
an instrumental part in the design and
realization of Bataan Memorial Park in
Albuquerque, NM and was often a guest
speaker at local schools and events.

Deceased - continued
Nurse Earlyn "Blackie" Harding
Earlyn "Blackie" Harding, 82, one of the
last surviving woman prisoners of war in
Japan during World War II, died in August,
2007. She lived at Kerrville, TX.
She was one of only 66 U.S. Army
nurses serving in the Philippines. Many of
them, including Harding, were part of a small
group of 88 women POWs from World War
II, according to the Women in Military Service
for America Memorial Foundation.
According to Harding's son, Jac, his
mother grew up on a Texas farm in Limestone
County during the Depression. An
only child, she studied nursing at Baylor
University and became a registered nurse
in 1938.
She worked as a civilian nurse for a few
years before going to the Philippines in June
1941. Before the bombing of Pearl Harbor,
life on the island included sport activities
and nightly dances, Jac Harding said.
After World War II, Harding remained a
nurse reservist until 1950. Then, she stayed
at home and reared Jac and his sister, Sandra,
and developed an interest in weaving and
gardening.
Her place in history remains embedded
in the memories of other area veterans and
inscribed in several books. The cover of one
of the books, "We Band of Angels: The
Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped
on Bataan by the Japanese," includes a
photo of Harding and other nurses who
were released after nearly three years in a
Japanese prison camp.
Dario D. Gerola
Dario "Donald" Gerola, age 87, died June
11, 2007 in Greenwich, CT, where he resided
for nearly 50 years. He is survived by his
wife of 59 years, Bruna Gerola, and their three
children: Daria Rockholz of Brookfield, Connecticut,
Claudia Gerola of Ridgefield, Connecticut,
and Ronald Gerola of Belmont,
CA.in addition to five grandchildren - Jenna
Reinert, Wesley Rockholz, Stephanie
Frommer, David Stingle and Jesse Gerola.
Dario served in the Army Air Corps, stationed
at Clark Field, Manila, Philippines.
He was captured at Bataan and was a survivor
of the Bataan Death March, a Japanese
"Hell Ship," and t3 1/2 years of imprisonment.
He was a member of the ADBC and
American Ex-Prisoners of War.
Col. (Ret) Melvin H Rosen
Col. Melvin Herbert Rosen, 89, passed
away on August 1, 2007, at his home in
Falls Church, Virginia. He was born in
Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1918, the
son of Russian immigrants who met and
married in the U.S. The many relatives the
family left behind in what became Poland
after WWII, perished in the Holocaust.
Mel graduated as Captain of the Junior
ROTC and class valedictorian in high
school; attended MIT on a full scholarship,
before leaving and transferring to West
Point where he graduated in 1940.
Upon graduation, Lieutenant Rosen was
assigned to the 88th Field Artillery (PS) at
Fort Stotsenburg, Philippines.
He survived the Bataan Death March,
three Hell Ships and three and a half years
of Japanese prison camps. By January, 1945,
Mel weighed 88 pounds. He was finally
liberated from Inchon, Korea in September,
1945.
While on leave from a military hospital,
he met Olive Oppenheim, who he eventually
married. They celebrated their sixtieth
wedding anniversary in March.
Mel retired from active duty in December,
1970, having been awarded the Silver
Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Army Commendation Medal and numerous
other service medals. In December,
1990, the King of Norway awarded the Saint
Olav Medal to both Mel and Olive. The
medal is the highest given by the King to
non-Norwegians.
A memorial service was to be held at the
Ft. Belvoir, VA, post chapel on August 5
where the Rosen family attended Jewish
services since Mel helped found the congregation
in 1961. He is survived by his
wife Olive, son David (daughter-in-law
Jeanette), daughter Barbara (son-in-law Dr.
Gregg Powell) and four grandchildren and
two great grandchildren.
Mel’s actual funeral/burial will occur on
October 18 at 11:00am at Arlington National
Cemetery with full military honors. There is
an extensive waiting list for burials of this
type at Arlington.
Obituaries and
Death Notices
may be sent to:
The Quan
P O Box 591
Wellsburg, WV
26070
or email to:
thequan@comcast.net
Clarence Andy Freeman
Clarence Andy Freeman age 87 died September
28, 2006.
He joined the Navy in 1938 and remained
in the Navy to 1948. He married Wynonah
Freeman in 1948 and was married 58 years.
He was born September 2, 1919, in Cotton
Town, TN and had been a resident of
Orange since 1948. He retired from Gulf Oil
where he was a carpenter. A U.S. Navy veteran
of WWII, he was a POW from May
1942 until September 1945 and he received
the WWII Victory Medal.
Mr. Freeman was a member of Madison
Lodge 126 AF&AM, the Russell St. Church
of Christ in Nashville, TN and was an avid
fisherman and hunter.
A former member of the Orange County
Sheriff’s Posse, he was preceded in death
by his parents, James H. and Nellie (Young)
Freeman, and a brother James R. Freeman,
He is survived by his wife, Wynonah Freeman;
son and daughter-in-law, Steve and
Kelly Freeman; sister, Kathryn Kendig, all
of the McLewis Community; grandchildren,
Scott Freeman, Sara Lonadier; and one great
grandchild, Land Lonadier..
September - 2007 - 17

Deceased - continued
Harry Andrew Hansen, Jr.
On Sunday, May 13, 2007, Harry A. Hansen,
Jr., 84, passed away peacefully of natural
causes at the Silver Ridge Care Center in
Bullhead City, AZ. with his wife, son, and
daughter by his side. Harry was born July
8, 1922, in Arlee, Montana, the only child of
parents Harry, Sr. and Florence Hansen.
Following graduation from Arlee High
School he joined the Army. Captured at the
fall of Corregidor, he was a POW in a Japanese
prison camp for 3 1/2 years. Harry
married Norma Holt, on March 11, 1946,
and they had three children: Ron, Gary,
and Debbie. Harry and Norma lived and
raised their family in Missoula, where they
ran the family business of milk & egg sales.
He owned and managed the Amvets Club
at one time; and was an Army recruiting
officer for awhile.
In the 1970’s Harry began work as custodian
at Residence Halls at the University
of Montana. Harry was preceded in death
by his parents, Harry and Florence, and a
son, Gary. He is survived by his loving wife,
Norma, Bullhead City, AZ; children Ron
(Doreen) Hansen, Missoula; Debbie (Dave)
Evans, Missoula; Linda (Gary) Hansen,
Ronan;
five grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
John Lincoln Tuggle
John Lincoln Tuggle, age 91, passed away
on March 21, 2007, at the Armed Forces
Retirement Home in Washington, DC. Born
on March 3, 1916 in Chesterfield County,
VA, John was the sixth of seven children
born to Dudley Watkins Tuggle and Beulah
Elliott Tuggle. He was a 10th generation
Virginian, whose ancestors included Revolutionary
and Civil War soldiers.
The death of his father when John was
seven, and the Depression, forced him to
leave school early and take a series of jobs
to help support his family. He joined the
Civilian Conservation Corps shortly before
his mother’s death in 1934 and spent two
years in the Shenandoah Valley.
He enlisted in the US Navy in 1936 and
served as a Machinist’s Mate on the USS
Dobbin in San Diego and Pearl Harbor.
When he reenlisted in 1940, John was assigned
to Patrol Torpedo Squadron 3 and
shipped to the Philippines; he was stationed
at Cavite Navy Yard where Japan attacked
18- The Quan
on December 8, 1941. The members of PT
Boat Squadron 3 and their commander, Lt.
John Bulkeley, became the subject of the
wartime book, and later movie. They Were
Expendable.
When US forces in the Philippines were
ordered to surrender, John chose instead to
join a guerrilla resistance force in Mindanao.
Listed as Missing in Action for three years,
he engaged in guerrilla warfare until US
forces recaptured the Philippines. With no
support from the outside world, the guerrilla
forces lived off the land while conducting
raids on the Japanese.
In December, 1942, John met Esperanza
Page, a Filipino-American schoolteacher
whose family was in the Philippine resistance.
They were married within weeks and
stayed together through the war. John’s
siblings were surprised to discover in 1945
that their “missing” brother was returning
home with a new wife and two daughters.
John left the Navy and returned to
Lynchburg, VA , in 1947 with Esperanza and
their three daughters. In Lynchburg, they
owned and operated successful commercial
laundry and vending machine businesses.
John was a Mason, a Shriner, and a member
of the Elks in Lynchburg. The couple had
been married for over 55 years when
Esperanza passed away in September, 1998.
John relocated to Washington and became
a resident of the Armed Forces Retirement
Home in March, 1999.
HE is survived by a sister, Miss Inez
Tuggle of Richmond, VA; three daughters
and sons-in-law: Jean and Kiah T. Ford,
M.D. of Lynchburg, VA, Lorene and David
E. Fields of Alexandria, VA, Anne and William
D. Thorpe of Charlotte, NC; and seven
grandchildren.
Ralph W. Middlebrooks
Ralph W. Middlebrooks, 84, one of the
few remaining survivors of the American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, died
July 6, 2007. He was one of the thousands
taken prisoner of war when Corregidor was
surrendered to the Japanese on May 6, 1942.
As a POW for 3 ½ years, he survived transport
to Manila on the Big Ships, where men
were dumped 2 miles from shore and “if you
couldn’t swim, you drowned”, transport by
train to Cabanatuan, then aboard the Hell
Ships to the work camps in Mukden, Man-
churia. After marrying and moving to San
Diego, CA, in 1951, he worked for the County
of San Diego for over 20 years. He is featured
in the book “Corregidor: Saga of a
Fortress” by William and James Belote
He is survived by his son and daughter,
Larry and Denise Middlebrooks, his niece
Jane Baker (who was like a daughter), three
grandchildren, his brother Jack
Middlebrooks and his former wife, Pauline
Middlebrooks Sena. His daughter, LuAnne
Middlebrooks is deceased.
Larry R. Sandoval
Larry R. Sandoval, 84 died Tuesday, May
22, 2007.
He was initially in the 200 th CAC (AA)
and transferred to the 515 th Cac (AA) early
in the war.
He received numerous medals and honors
for his service including the Purple
Heart, Ex Prisoner of War Medal, Victory
Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, American
Theater Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon
with one Bronze Campaign Star, Asiatic Pacific
Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Campaign
Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon
with two Stars, Distinguished Unit Badge
with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Mr. Sandoval is survived by his wife of
61 years, Leonella Sandoval; nephews, Joseph
Trujillio and wife, Cathy, Joseph
Trujillio Jr., and Frank Guterrez and wife,
Viola; brother in law, Flavio Garcia, and numerous
nephews and nieces.
William H. Wise
William H. Wise, age 85, of Youngstown,
NY, died April 22, 2007, at Mount St. Mary’s
Hospital, Lewiston, NY. He was born November
16, 1921, in Stithton, KY, the son of
the late Jesse Bernard and Rosa Edith
(Brown) Wise. He served his country with
valor and honor as a Captain with the Army
Air Corps in WWII in the South Pacific.
Among the many medals he earned, his
most precious was the Purple Heart.
He was a prisoner of war in Japan for
nearly four years and a member of the American
Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
Mr. Wise received a B.S. Metallurgical
Engineering from the University of Kentucky
in l949 and enjoyed an outstanding
career working 31 years in production,
Continued - next page

Deceased - continued
William H. Wise - continued
engineering, research and development,
long range planning, logistics, metallurgy
and technology, both domestically and internationally.
Mr. Wise is survived by his devoted wife
of 60 years, M. Beverly (Hampton) Wise;
his children, James B. (Margaret) Wise of
Lewiston, Leslie K. Wise of Youngstown,
Nancy R. Pontigo of Houston, TX, Peggy
A. (Vincent) Grandinetti of Youngstown and
Carol L. (Dimitrios) Dandolos of Wimington,
DE; his grandchildren, Anna M. (Steven)
Thomas, Michael J. (Elizabeth Monroe)
Wise, F. Tony Pontigo (Kelly Johnson),
Carol A. (Marc) Arnaud and Niko Dandolos;
great-grandchildren, Brittany, Dylan and
Jenna Thomas and Dominick Arnaud; his
sister-in-law Peggy Forrester of Indianapolis,
IN, and his nieces and grandnieces and
grandnephews. He was predeceased by his
sisters, Dorothea Oldham and Lucille Martin
and his brother James Wise.
Abraham Berman
Accomplished artist and survivor of the
"Bataan Death March", former P.O.W., of
Malden & FL, on Aug. 24, 2007. Husband
of the late Gertrude (Weiner). Devoted father
of Robert M. Berman and his wife
Martha of So. Weymouth, and the late Edward
H. Berman, Also survived by Edward's
widow, Andrea Brown Berman of Revere.
Loving grandfather of Robert, Andrew,
Allison, and the late Nicole Berman. Greatgrandfather
of Ella Rose. Brother of the late
Harry and Joe Berman and Alean Zide.
Graveside services were held with private
memorial observance. By wishes of the family,
donations in Abraham's memory may
be made to the American Defenders of
Bataan & Corregidor, 9407 Fernglen, San
Antonio, TX 78240.
In In Memorium
Memorium
Donation made to ADB&C in memory
of Abraham Berman by Mary Jean Foley.
Gifts in memory of a loved one are
accepted and will be acknowledged.
Checks should be made out to ADBC
and sent to The Quan, 319 Charles
St., Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591.
Mukden Visit - From Page 7
developed when the men were held at
Mukden. The men have many stories of
Chinese who risked their lives and those of
their fellow workers to try to slip them some
extra food. Others tried to help 3 men in an
attempted escape, at huge risk to themselves
and their village.
The former POWs were also accompanied
on the trip by a group of 45 wives,
widows, sisters, children, grandchildren,
nieces, and nephews of men held in the
camp and others. Also part of the group
were a Japanese journalist, the daughter of
the Japanese American translator at the
Mitsubishi plant, who risked his life to give
the men he worked with extra food, as well
as members of the Oral History Society of
NY, who recorded as many of their stories
as possible, and members of the sponsoring
group, the Truth Council for WW2 in
Asia from Washington DC.
These former POWs survived the battles
of Bataan and Corregidor, the Bataan Death
March, the horrendous conditions of Camp
O’Donnel and Camp Cabanatuan in the
Philippines, a 3 day ride in a metal railroad
car with no water or sanitation as the tropical
sun beat down on them, weeks in the
Hell Ships, trains, as they were taken up
through the Korean Peninsula, and, at the
Mukden Camp, winters that reached 50 degrees
below zero while they were clothed
in the remnants of their summer weight
Philippine uniforms or the clothes they
could cobble together from those who died
or the parts of winter uniforms they were
given by the Japanese.
Trailed by 40 reporters and photographers,
they laid down on bunks of rough
planks, built to replicate the ones they slept
on 65 years ago, identified themselves in
museum photos taken in 1945 when they
were liberated, and pointed out important
places on the model of the camp on a huge
table within the museum. They wandered
the displays and answered endless questions.
In their few quiet moments, they were
seen contemplating the displays with misty
eyes. A Memorial Service, planned by Sir
Michael Hurst, Director of Taiwan POW
Camps Memorial Society, brought the formal
part of the visit to a close. Later they
were taken to the museum with no press
around to just wander the museum and collect
their thoughts.
The museum is the dream of Ao Wang, a
part time Iron Station resident, who has
worked for over 7 years locating people who
knew the site, helping make the governments
in Shenyang aware of the importance of this
historical site, and convincing former POWs
that their history is being preserved and that
they should go see it.
Several of the POWs and many of the
POW families donated items to the museum.
People who knew about the trip, but could
not join it, also donated items, from uniforms
men wore just before or after their time as a
POW, Japanese dog tags, stories, drawings,
postcards they wrote and received, photos,
to CDs loaded with all of the information the
families thought might be of interest. The
museum will also become a research center
for both English and Chinese speakers, as
well as Japanese.
In addition to visiting the Mukden Museum,
the group visited the 9.18 museum,
which documents the invasion of northeast
China by the Japanese on 1931, and honors
the people who fought so hard to defend
their country. They also the American Consulate
in Shenyang, and did a little sightseeing
at the palace and tombs in the city.
The group also went to a workshop run
by “Three Friends”, three Chinese men who
had worked with our POWs at the Mitsubishi
plant and also slipped them food to share.
While none of the faces were the same after
65 years, the mutual respect and friendship
were highly visible. After the museum, this
was the highlight of the trip.
Later, the group went to Beijing, where
they were received at the American Embassy,
went to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City,
and a Lamasary Temple.
It was a thoroughly memorable trip from
any angle, but best of all were the old friendships
renewed, new friendships formed, and
the joy of seeing history remembered.
Submitted by Pat Wang
(edited to fit)
September 2007 - 19

PA Township Names Street ‘Abie Abraham Way’
On September 11, 2007 a special flag pole
and street, Abie Abraham Way, dedication
was commerated at the Butler Township Park,
Butler, PA. It was in remembrance and honoring
the heroes and victims of Sept. 11,
2001; and hero, veteran and Butler resident,
Abie Abraham.
Presented by the Butler Township
Commisioners and the Woodmen of the
World Life Insurance Society of Omaha, the
program consisted of musical selections from
the Lyndora band, the Vagabonds, and musical
vocals by Art Lazar. The master of ceremonies
was Bill Davis from radio stations
WBUT/WISR.
A flag pole was dedicated by David Sinz,
area manager of the Woodmen of the World
and the presentation and raising of the flag
was done by the Bantam Marine Color Guard
and firing squad.
Marines from Washington County and
Fayette County Marines joined in the activities.
The National Anthem and Pledge of
Allegiance precluded a wreath placement by
Abie Abraham at the flag pole.
Certificates were given as well as a commemorative
letter to Abraham from President
Bush. Abie’s accomplishments and biography
were read. He was honored by AJ
Gales, US Marine Reserves Legislative Aide
to Rep. Brian Ellis; and David Virag, Butler
VA Medical Center Voluntary Services Officer,
thanked Abraham for his 33,000 hours
worked in volunteer service. Commissioners
Shirley Protzman, Donna Druga and Sam
Marines/ADBC From Page 8
Billings veteran Ben Steele's collection
of 93 paintings and drawings were to be on
display at the Holiday Inn.
Steele, a retired Montana State University-Billings
art professor, said 14 or 15
Bataan and Corregidor survivors and numerous
family members, were expected for the
reunion. The Northwest chapter of the organization
takes in Montana, Washington,
Idaho and Oregon, and veterans from the
Dakotas and Northern California sometimes
attend as well.
"This group is kind of a dying institution,"
said Steele, who turns 90 this year. "We
wonder every year if we should meet next
year."
The 3rd and 4th Defense Battalion Marines
will be coming from all over the coun-
20 - The Quan
Left to right above, Donna Druga, Butler (PA) Township Commissioner; Abie Abraham, Sam
Zurzolo, also a Butler Twp. Commissioner and a Marine; and David Sinz of Woodmen of the
World took part in the program Sept. 11 naming Abie Abraham Way.
Zurzulo dedicated the street sign and lane
for the honored guest, Abraham.
Abraham was the keynote speaker. He is
a Bataan Death March survivor and was held
in Japanese captivity nearly four years before
being rescued by the Army’s 6th Rangers
in “The Great Raid.”
Abraham’s experiences are recorded in
his best selling books, The Ghost Of Bataan
Speaks and Oh God, Where Are You?
A gun volley and taps by the marines
ended the program.
Woodmen of the World saluted America’s
heroes and not only the Sept.11,2001, victims
and heroes, but those who have lost
their lives-and those currently serving-in the
try, Van Wieren said, and only 18 veterans
are signed up this year, the first time the
group will have met in Montana. "We'll meet
every year until there's just two of us left,"
he said.
Veterans from both organizations will
spend most of Thursday and Saturday at
the Holiday Inn in informal gatherings, dinners
and a business meeting, and on Friday
they will go to Hardin for the Custer's Last
Stand Reenactment.
In addition to Steele and Van Wieren, local
veterans who will be attending the reunions
include Art Klein, a Marine who was
captured on Wake Island barely three weeks
after Pearl Harbor and spent nearly four years
in Japanese POW camps; and Bill Arnold of
Billings, who was taken captive in the Phil-
fight against terrorism. Woodmen also honored
the brave men and women who safeguard
our nation and our local communities
every day.
Woodmen members conduct volunteer
and charitable activities that benefit individuals,
families and communities. They have
presented more than 1.8 million US Flags to
schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations.
They have also presented American Patriot
Handbooks to schools, libraries, and
newly naturalized citizens, as well as, awards
to students for their proficiency in American
History.
ippines in April 1942 and was held as a POW
for three years.
Steele, like Arnold, fell into Japanese
hands after the surrender of American and
Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula in
the Philippines, though Arnold was too sick
to be sent on the death march. Corregidor
was an island bastion that guarded the entrance
to Manila Bay. Allied forces there
surrendered to the Japanese on May 6, 1942.
Steele was one of nearly 80,000 American
and Filipino troops who were forced to
walk more than 60 miles to a prison camp.
During captivity, some 37 per cent of
those being held died from sickness, malnutrition
or brutal treatment at the hands of
their Japanese captors..

Digitization Process Begins on ADB&C Materials
Digitization is the process by which materiasl are converted to digital data which
can be posted on the Internet and transmitted & replicated electronically.-
Computer equipment and software to
begin digitizing the “Defenders of the Philippines,
1941-45, Bataan/Corregidor POW
Collection at the Brooke County Public Library
has been acquired and the process
has begun, according to Mary Kay Wallace,
Director of the Library.
Thanks to the generous giving of the
ADB&C , the Brooke County Public Library
was able to purchase Millennium Media
Management at a cost of $15, 300 toward
the digitization project. Official training for
the staff began September 27 and 28, 2007.
Local librarians were invited to participate
in the training sessions. With private donations,
the Director was able to obtain additional
equipment including a computer
server, scanners, input computers, and network
connection at a total cost of $13, 967.
After the first year, there is a yearly maintenance
fee of $1,500. To date, the Director is
seeking sources to help finance the yearly
maintenance cost.
Brooke County Public Library has become
an important national institution for
the educational support of our WWII researchers
and is committed to excellence in
library service. The mass digitization of
bound print materials, photos, maps, manuscripts,
magazines, newspapers, artifacts,
audiotapes, videos, etc. will expand access
to the ADB&C informational resources over
the Internet. A special new website is in
the making.
Catalogers Dorie Tennant and Sarah
Stempien, as well as program coordinator,
Kim Harless, are working full-speed ahead
in order to provide students, scholars, military
service personnel, historians, artists,
researchers, teachers, retirees, and descendants
with the best quality access to vital
reference materials.
Reminder - ADBC Future
The challenge is there for descendents now as the membership
of the ADB&C dwindles.
We must depend on you for a vigorous effort to keep the
memories alive.
Many have expressed their commitment to assure that an unaware
America is made increasingly aware, and to work for justice
from those in government responsible for educating. informing
and, ultimately, realizing an apology and some degree of compensation
for the terrible ordeal our forefathers endured.
Mary Kay Wallace is determined to preserve
these cherished resource materials for
future generations. The ADB&C Library
has the largest collection of documents,
photos, and maps relating to the WWII Pacific
Theater and is the only repository devoted
exclusively and solely to the ADB&C
membership.
She and her husband, George, editor of
The Quan, are strong supporters of the
cause and are looking forward to the day
when the general public is aware of the true
accounts of the war in the Philippines.
“We salute the veterans who defended
the Philippine Islands during WWII and for
their loyalty and commitment to active duty,
as well as the vast sacrifices they made in
order to preserve our freedoms. Our veterans
who fought in the Philippines deserve
the highest respect for their courageous
acts of sacrifice.”
Editor’s Note: Edward and Henrietta
Jackfert donated to the Brooke County
Public Library on September 13, 2002 a
collection of WWII POW’s materials which
they entitled “Defenders of the Philippines,
1941-45 Bataan/Corregidor POW. The
collection has grown over the past five
years with donations of materials from Joseph
Vater, Abie Abraham, Col. John Olson,
Major Ralph Levenberg, Dr. Lester Tenney,
Mrs. Frank Shannon , ADB&C veterans
and descendants. Library Director Mary
Kay Wallace encourages all ADB&C veterans,
families, and descendants to consider
placing their materials in the WWII
special collection for posterity. Copies
are acceptable. More information may be
obtained by mailing inquiries/requests to
the Brooke County Public Library, 945
Main Street, Wellsburg, WV 26070.
Credits
Photos by George Wallace
and courtesy of various contributors..
Typing - Rebecca Bell
Proofreading - Joe Vater, Mary
Kay Wallace., Ed and Henrietta
Jackfert, Sandra Loar, and others.
Printing by Typecraft Press
Mailing by Direct Mail Services
Also Thanks for the free clip-art
to the Just A
Touch Art Studio of Jonesboro,
GA; www.justatouch.com
God Bless America
NOTE:
Items for publication in the
Quan may be sent to Editor,
the Quan, 319 Charles St,
Wellsburg, WV, 26070.
OR email to
thequan@comcast.net
As noted by Ed Jackfert in the last issue of the Quan, control
of the ADB&C will go completely to you, the descendents, for the
2010 convention.
George Wallace, volunteer editor of the Quan, has pledged his
complete and full support to your activities and Paul Ropp, your
executive director, will continue his hard work on our behalf.
Together we can assure that the world will never forget!
We must, we can, and we will.
September - 2007 -21

Pre-Convention Registration -- Please read:
For the ADBC National Convention in Louisville, KY during May 6-10, 2008, we must have advance information concerning
each person that will attend. NOTE: At previous ADBC National Conventions some people arrived at the convention
without having preregistered. This causes severe problems as we plan for the convention. Pre-Convention Registration
Forms help us to reserve meeting and banquet rooms of adequate size, order the correct number of meals and print name
tags before the convention. Please submit your preregistration form as soon as possible and NO LATER THAN three
weeks prior to the convention. Your cooperation will greatly assist in making the Louisville, KY Convention a happy
occasion for all.
The top form is for ADBC Members (former POWs) and persons accompanying them. All others use the second form.
Submit completed forms: By U.S. Mail to:: John B. Lewis
16415 Jersey Drive
Jersey Village, TX 77040-2021
Or by E-mail to: redlegs6@comcast.net
22 - The Quan
ADBC MEMBER - REGISTRATION CARD (Please Print Legibly)
FIRST NAME:____________________M.I________: LAST NAME __________________________________________________
NICKNAME: (SUBMIT IF YOU WANT IT ON NAME TAG) __________________________________________________________
STREET (OR P.O. BOX): ___________________________________________________________________________________
CITY _____________________________: STATE:_________ ZIP:_________
PHONE #: (_____) ________________ ATTEND BANQUET SATURDAY NIGHT? (Yes or No) _________
END BANQUET SATURDAY NIGHT? (YES OR NO) ______
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ____________________________________YOUR UNIT IN THE P.I.:_______________
NAME OF ONE POW CAMP TO GO ON NAME TAG: __________________________________________
LIST OF PERSONS ACCOMPANYING THE MEMBER:
Will attend Saturday night banquet?
Full Name Relationship (Yes or No)
________________________________________________________________________ ______
________________________________________________________________________ ______
________________________________________________________________________ ______
Non-MEMBER - REGISTRATION CARD (Please Print Legibly)
(For use by Widows, Descendants and Others)
FIRST NAME:_________________________ _M.I.: ______ LAST NAME: __________________________________________________
STREET (OR P.O. BOX): __________________________________________________________________
CITY:_________________________________________ STATE:______ ZIP:_________PHONE #: (_____) __________________
ATTEND BANQUET SATURDAY NIGHT? (YES OR NO) ________ EMAILADDRESS _________________________________________
FULL NAME OF FORMER POW RELATIVE/FRIEND: _____________________________________________________________________
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FORMER POW: ________________________________________________________________________
THE FORMER POW’S UNIT IN THE P.I.: _______________________________________________________________
List of persons attending with you:
Full Name Relationship Attend Banquet Saturday night? (Yes or No)
__________________________________________________________________________ _____________
__________________________________________________________________________ _____________
__________________________________________________________________________ _____________
DEADLINE : Please return by APRIL 15, 2008

ADB&C Members, Descendents -
Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky
American Defenders of Bataan And Corregidor
63 rd NATIONAL CONVENTION
MAY 5 – 11, 2008
HOLIDAY INN LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN
120 WEST BROADWAY
LOUISVILLE, KY 40202
RESERVATIONS:
Call the Hotel Direct – 502-582-2241- Ask for reservations
E-mail – elizabethscott@myholidayinndowntown.com
Mail in your reservation (Send to above street address )
Hotel Web Site – www.holiday-inn.com/sdf-downtown
Names ___________________________________________________
Addrress____________________________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip ___________________________________________
Arrival Date_________________Departure Date ________________
Room Choice____Two Beds___King____Handicapped
Credit Card Guarantee______________________ E xp Date _______
Our special group rate of $82 plus tax or $94.31 is valid 3 days prior
and 3 days after your reunion.
Cancellations: Rooms may be cancelled up until 6pm the day of
arrival without Penalty.
Tentative Agenda
ADB&C 2008 Convention
Holiday Inn Downtown - 6-10 May
Tuesday 6 May
7:30-9:30 AM –Breakfast – Ball Room
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM-4:30 pm – Registration
Wednesday 7 May
7:30-9:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM - Church
9:00 AM-4:30 PM - Registration
11:30 AM – River Cruise and On-Board
Lunch (reservations are required)
2:00 PM – Churchill Downs & ADBC Memorial
Race (reservations are required)
7:00-9:00 PM - Hospitality – Ball Room
Thursday 8 May
7:30-9:30 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – Church
9:00AM-4:30 PM – Registration
10:00AM – Executive Board Meeting
10:30AM – Descendents Brunch
12:00PM – Widows’ Lunch
7:30 – 10:30 PM – Hospitality
Friday 9 May
8:00 AM – Church
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM – Registration
2:00 PM – Membership Meeting
5:30 PM – 4 th Marines Reception & Dinner
7:30 – 10:30 PM – Quan Party
Saturday - 10 May
7:30 – 9:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM – Church
9:00AM – 4:30 PM Registration
10:00 – 11:00 PM – Memorial Service
7:00 – 10:00 PM – Banquet
Sunday 10 May - Departure
Welcome!
Don’t forget Christmas!
Christmas Greeting donations will again be accepted as in the past. Send by November 5 to
the Quan at 319 Charles Street, Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591 or email to thequan@comcast.net
September - 2007 -23

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
75 cents for each returned Quan.
ATTACH OLD ADDRESS LABEL HERE
My New Address is:
Name_________________________________
Address _____________________________
City, State, ZIp _______________________
Mail to:
Joseph Vater
18 Warbler Drive
McKees Rocks, PA 15136-1858
In photo right, West Virginia
Governor Joe Manchin listens
intently as Ed Jackfert of
Wellsburg describes the
horrors of life on Hell Ships
and in Japanese captivity
during World War II. Gov.
Manchin toured the ADB&C
Museum at the Brooke County
Public LIbrary in Wellsburg,
WV, with John Cole, board
chairman, and Mary Kay
Wallace, next to Ed, director
of the library and the museum.
Manchin, a native West
Virginian and long time
supporter of veterans and
veterans’ affairs, appeared
moved by the stories and
artifacts on display.
American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, Inc.
Joseph Vater 18 Warbler Drive
McKees Rocks, PA 15136-1858
*Change Service Requested*
Please Use Form 3547
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin Tours ADB&C Museum