June 2008 - Philippine Defenders Main

Volume 63 Wellsburg, West Virginia - June 2008 Number 1 

Inside 

Inside 

This 

This 

Issue 

Issue 

Conference 

Photos 

Conference 

Reports 

Descendants 

Message 

Veterans’ News 

63rd Annual Reunion 

Reports & Photographs 

Volunteers Made the Program a Huge Success

Dr. Lester I. Tenney 

National Commander 

1963 Silverleaf Circle 

Carlsbad, CA 92009-8407 

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 - 

Past National Commanders 

Ms Jan Thompson 

President 

3156 Myers Lane 

Makanda, IL 62958-5200 

janithompson@gmail.com 

Jim Erickson, 

Vice President 

1102 Santa Rita Ct 

College Station, TX 77845-6427 

Ms. Nancy Kragh 

Secretary 

51 Windrose Dr 

Ludlow, WA 98365 

nkragh@hotmail.com 

Mrs. JudyPruitt 

Treasurer 

25 Windsor Road, 

Brookline, MA 02114-2110 

Cel: 617-851-4387 

pruittja13@aol.com 

Page 2 - The Quan 

Everett D. Reamer 

Immediate Past Commander 

London Bridge Town 

2301 S. Jamaica Blvd. 

Lake Havasu, AZ 86403 

Edward Jackfert, PNC 

National Treasurer 

201 Hillcrest Dr. 

Wellsburg, WV 26070-1941 

Martin S. Christie 

Necrology Committee Chrmn. 

23424 Mobile St. 

West Hills, CA 91307-3323EE 

DESCENDANTS GROUP 

Caroline Burkhart 

Director 

of Communications 

2804 Elliott Street 

Baltimore, MD 21224 

Jim Wright 

Director of Development 

1866 Sunrise Dr 

Navarre, FL 32566-8542 

John Patterson 

At large 

721 N Quidnessett Road 

N Kingstown, RI 02852 

PUBLISHED 4 TIMES A YEAR 

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 

Andrew Miller 

Historian 

1605 Cagua Drive N.E. 

Albuquerque, NM 87110-6611 

Paul Ropp 

Executive Secretary 

504-B North Thomas St. 

Arlington, VA 22203-2488 

703-527-6983 

J.W. George Wallace 

Editor, The Quan 

319 Charles St. 

Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591 

Phone 304-737-0946 

thequan@comcast.net 

PAST NATIONAL COMMANDERS 

* Harold Spooner 

* Rev. Albert 0. Talbot 

* James McEvoy 

* M/Gen.E. P. King Jr. 

* Simme Pickman 

Albert J. Senna 

* Maurice Mazer 

Joseph A. Vater 

Lewis Goldstein 

* Albert C. Cimini 

* Samuel M Bloom,M.D. 

* Kenneth J.Stull 

*Harhy P.Menozzi 

*John F. Ray 

*Samuel B. Moody 

*Arthur A. Bressi 

*John H. LeClair 

*James K Cavanaugh 

* Thomas A. Hackett 

* Bernard A. Grill 

Louis Scohwald 

* Jerome A. McDavitt 

Arthur Beale 

John M. Emerick 

* Joseph I Poster 

* John Bennett 

* James D. Cantwell 

Ralph Levenberg 

* Elmer E. Long, Jr. 

* Philip Arslania 

* John Rowland 

*John Crago 

Edward Jackfert 

*John R. Lyons 

*Ken Curley 

Henry J. Wilayto 

*Charles Bloskis 

Arthur Beale 

Andy Miller 

* Joseph Matheny 

* George Wonneman 

* Frank Bigelow 

* Charles L. Pruitt 

* Melvin L. Routt 

James R. Flaitz 

* John Koot 

* Roy Y. Gentry 


Joseph L. Alexander 

*Joseph Ward 

Omar McGuire 

John H. Oliver 

*Agapito E. Silva 

Harold A. Beregbower 

J oseph L. Alexander 

Everett D. Reamer

National Commander’s Message 

Greetings from the Commander 

I accept the reins of this old and faithful military organization 

composed of many fine and patriotic friends who have served as I 

have on the battle-fields of Bataan or Corregidor. I am humbled to 

have been chosen to be your National Commander, and my hope is 

that I can fill the shoes as well as those who have come before me. I 

pledge to you that I will always be faithful to your wishes and will 

continue to fight for the justice denied us. 

As you may already know, this is our last year operating as the 

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. Our age is catching 

up with us, our trips to the doctors come more frequently and travel 

is starting to be a chore instead of a pleasure. So the net results was 

the need to disband, but hold on, it is not all lost, our descendents 

group, which number in the hundreds, has agreed to form a nonprofit 

corporation for the purpose of keeping our story alive. We 

meet the requirements for membership, and plans are underway to 

assure our POW survivors and the widow members that information 

of interest to us will be made available through a Descendents publication. 

Details of this plan will follow. 

Interesting, during these past 66 years it has been my goal to 

keep the story of abuse and torture, of honor and dignity and compassion 

and responsibility alive. Our story must not die with the 

death of ADBC, it must live on as a reminder of what can happen 

when men become animals, when dying for your leader is better 

than living for the future, and 

when being responsible for 

your actions is lost to greed. 

I shall remember our comrades 

as I say the prayer for 

them on Memorial Day aboard 

the USS Arizona, one of our 

Nation’s finest and most memorable 

Memorial Park. Then on 

to Japan where I shall tell our 

story of survival under the barbaric 

rule of the Japanese military, 

to the students at seven 

prestigious Japanese Universities. Yes, the cruel events of the 

Bataan Death March shall be prominently discussed during my talks 

with the Japanese students who have asked for historical information 

about events of WW II. 

My friends, the key to our continued survival is to keep an eye 

on the future, enjoy the present, and reflect on the past, for the past 

has given us wisdom that no amount of money could have bought, 

the present has given us hope, and the future shall give us fulfillment. 

God bless you, and God bless Americ 

Lester Tenney, National Commander 

Descendants Group Report - Jan Thompson, President 

Memorial Day 2008 

This past year’s ADBC Convention in Louisville saw the official 

establishment of The Descendants Group. As of this writing we 

have 196 members, is an impressive launch for a start-up organization. 

I’d like to thank the members that attended the Descendant’s 

Group organizational meeting. We had a terrific turnout and it helped 

convey to our ADBC members our commitment and unwavering 

dedication to our mission as the keepers of their legacy. 

As the Descendant’s Group takes over the reins of future Conventions 

we have a high bar to reach, the one set by the Defenders, 

their wives, and their widows. The Founders have been the backbone 

of the ADBC and they established the type of convention that 

accepts and welcomes all who want to participant in our important 

activities. 

The Descendants Group mission statement is: “…preserving and 

perpetuating the story of the men and women who defended the 

Philippines against overwhelming odds during the first months of 

World War II in the Pacific; through education, preservation of documents 

and artifacts, historical research and providing assistance to 

the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor as requested.” 

The Board of Directors are: President Jan Thompson; Vice-President 

James Erickson; Secretary Nancy Kragh; Treasurer Judy Pruitt; 

and three at-large Directors who include Caroline Burkhart, James 

Wright and John Patterson. 

Here are a few of our goals this year: increase our membership; 

identify resources and establish 

relationships that are related 

to our mission; create a 

list of educational initiatives 

that carry our mission statement; 

attain tax exempt status 

and begin fundraising; and 

plan and prepare for the 2010 

Convention. 

In addition, we will establish 

a variety of ways that our members 

can communicate with us 

and with each other. This will 

include a website and other 

internet means of communication. 

Remember, that anyone can join this organization. You need not 

be a direct descendant to join, just someone who shares our interest 

in preserving the ADBC legacy. 

In closing, I want to thank Kris Dahlstrom, John Lewis, Paul 

Ropp, Nancy Blakeslee Wood, Joe Vater, Jr. and to all the volunteers 

for their help in making this past year’s convention run smoothly. 

We welcome your comments and suggestions and you can contact 

me at JanIThompson@gmail.com 

June 2008 - Page 3

The Editor’s Notes - ‘They Were There’ 

When the call came, they 

were there. “They” are our parents 

and grandparents; they 

were vibrant young adults of 

the 1940’s. Maybe “they” are 

even a few of you who are reading 

this. 

They were young, freshfaced 

kids from the farms of 

Kentucky and Iowa; the streets 

of Brooklyn and Dallas....the 

small towns, big cities, and every 

in-between-place between 

the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 

With lives stretching before 

them to accomplish wondrous 

things, they instead left on busses 

and trains to gather in the 

blenders of Army, Navy and 

Marine Corps boot camps 

which had been hastily constructed 

and staffed all across 

America. 

Many had never held a 

weapon in their young lives and 

within days of leaving the serenity 

of the home and family 

they were detonating huge 

amounts of TNT and cordite; 

practicing, learning to kill and 

The The Chaplain Chaplain’s Chaplain s Corner Corner - “On Togetherness” 

Most of us like to be with other 

people, provided that the “other 

people” are pretty much like ourselves. 

We form communities; that word describes 

“togetherness”. 

Whether that “togetherness” is in a 

business relationship, a marriage, a veterans’ 

group such as the ADBC, in worship 

or in other groups, the dynamics 

of togetherness are much the same: 

(1) we become more than the simple 

sum of our parts. The Greeks call this ‘synergizing’ each other; 

working together to be more that the sum of our parts. For example, 

happily married couples bring out the best in each other 

and enable each other to become all that we can be. 

(2) we encourage and validate each other. By coming together 

in Convention we assure each other that our shared experiences 

as in our POW years, were honorable and that, even 

while in the hands of the enemy, we contributed toward the 

ultimate victory over Japan. Our suffering was not in vain. 


maim. They were given identical 

identities, stripped of individuality 

and prepared for the ultimate 

test of manhood called 

combat. 

And many thousands were 

being sent on a journey from 

which there would be no return. 

They were there in the shocking 

agonies of South Pacific 

beaches made red with blood 

and clotted with dismembered 

bodies; where pieces and parts 

and even life itself was blasted 

from them without warning, ceremony 

or apology. 

They raised the flag at Iwo 

Jima; bore the humiliation and 

brutality of Japanese captivity; 

and braved the wintry cold of 

France and Germany, and all the 

time they did as they were told 

and taught; and worst of all, 

they suffered and many died. 

They were there to halt the 

expansionism of an ambitious Japan 

seeking natural resources it 

lacked itself. They were there to 

halt the ethnic cleansing of an 

insane military machine led by a 

ByGeorge 

mad man. 

Of a population of 133 

million Americans, over 

16,353,000 were enrolled in 

the armed services, and 

nearly a half-million died 

and another 670,800 were 

seriously wounded. 

When the world cried for 

help, they were there. 

And on last Memorial 

Day, they were there, in my 

town and yours, and a 

thousand similar towns 

across America, marking 

the solemn loss of comrades 

at arms. They raised 

the colors, laid wreaths, 

played taps, and a line of 

seven fired a volley of three 

in salutation. 

They were joined by a 

few grateful citizens who 

cared enough to honor 

them along with those who 

died to protect our freedom. 

Were you there? 

Reprinted from a Memorial 

Day editorial By 

George. 

Joe Alexander Reports 

on San Antonio, TX - 

64th Reunion 

We’re making good progress 

with the plans and arrangement 

at the hotel, The Omni.offers excellent 

accomodations, spacious 

and conmfortable meeting rooms 

and free shuttle to and from the 

airport; and to locations wihtin 

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. 

When we come together to worship, as we do each morning 

of conventions, we minister to each other by similar dynamics: 

we assure each other that the God Who enabled us to survive, 

still cares totally about us. He loves us, and we need assurance 

of that truth. We are not alone in this earthly struggle. We have 

each other and we know that there is a loving God who calls us 

into community with each other and with Him. 

For this we give Thee eternal Thanks, O Lord, our God. 

In His service, 

Fr. Bob Phillips SSC 

National Chaplain and Web Site Chairman 

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc.

Coorespondence 

Seeking information 

on: Nolon Endsley, 

7, 002, 920, Army Air Corps. 

17th Bombardment Squadron 

27 Bomb. GP (L) 

Survived the Death March 

and died in Camp O'Donnell, 

supposedly July 14, '42. 1 am (or 

was) his first cousin. He has two 

sisters. The family was native to 

El Dorado, AR. They, and I, want 

to learn details of his story and 

fate. 

A serviceman buddy of Nolon 

survived and wrote the family. 

The buddy was Walter H. 

Truluck who wrote from Havana, 

FL, on a business letterhead of 

Sheffer & Ellinor Company. Apparently 

Mr. Truluck was an employee 

there, but all contact has 

regrettably been lost. 

I got some "official' stuff before 

the St. Louis record material 

burned, but it seems Nolon did 

not die of malaria as reported. I'd 

be so grateful for the rest of the 

story. 

Yours very t 

Julian E. Endsley 

1299 Briarwood Dr. # 319 

SAn Luis Obisbo, CA 93401 

Thanks for Help 

I would like to express my 

thanks to all the wonderful ladies 

who came to my aid when I 

took a spill on the cruise ship. 

Your kindness and compassion 

will be long remembered. 

Julia E. Brittan 

Tinley Park, IL 

Important Important Note: 

Note: 

ALL obituaries and 

submissions are forwarded 

to the ADBC Museum for 

inclusion in the digitized 

content and on the internet 

web site. 

We regret that obituaries 

and other items submitted 

for publication are edited 

due to limited space. 

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 e-mail messages, e-mails or 

phone calls. If you want your name and/or address listed, contact 

your ADBC National Chaplain for help. My e-mail 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 e-mail 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: 

Thank You For Helping 

Dear Volunteers: 

The reports received after the recent convention in 

Louisville indicated that registration, banquet seating and 

the silent auction/bag raffle at the Louisville convention 

went smoothly and was successful. It is important to 

acknowledge that without all the volunteers it would have 

never happened. We all pitched in and worked together. 

I want to tell you how much I appreciated your 

willingness to volunteer your time and your excellent help. 

Space is limited so I can’t list you by name but please 

accept my great big “THANK YOU VERY MUCH”. As I 

said, I couldn’t have done it without you! 

Hope to see you all in San Antonio! Thanks from the 

bottom of my heart! 

Kristin Dahlstrom 

bkonluau@comcast.net 

ADBC Museum, Website 

Make Forward Progress 

Jane Kraina of Weirton, WV, above, digitizer and webmaster of the 

ADBC Museum, records the precious materials donated to the museum 

in Wellsburg, WV. 

The collection increased dramatically in materials as attendees at 

the 63rd reunion brought items for the museum which is dedicated 

exclusively to the membership of the ADBC. The Museum is a nonprofit 

entity under the auspices of the Brooke County Public Library 

and audited by the State of West Virginia. 

To date nearly 30,000 items are in digitization process. 

The website address is philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us. 


Coorespondence 

Seek information on 

William J. Lynch, USMC 

Dear Mr.Wallace, 

My name is Yang Jing. I am a local historian 

at Shenyang University, in research of 

Mukden Allied Prisoner of War (POW) Camp 

in Shenyang, China. Shenyang was formerly 

known as Mukden, Manchuria. Mukden 

POW Camp was run by the Japanese during 

WWII where Allied prisoners of war were 

confined and enslaved there. I am looking 

for information of William J. Lynch, of 

Dorchester, MA, i.e. LYNCH, WILLIAM 

JOSEPH, USMC 256599, STSGT. 

Lynch was one of the 1500 US POWs 

there but he is still listed as Missing in Action, 

which means nobody knows what happened 

to him after the liberation of the camp 

in 1945. I wanted to know if you happened 

to know any of his family member or relatives 

so that you can put me through with 

them. I am in search of the fate of this MIA, 

and now have certain positive result that 

needs supportive information such as his 

photo from his family. I wanted to find his 

fate out, and thereby, to help the family of 

Lynch for his commemoration. 

Here is his home address back in 1945: 

57, Victory Road, Dorchester, MA. 

Please pass me along to whomever you 

think would be able to help. 

Thanks and best regards, 

Yang Jing 

Director/Associate Professor 

Mukden Allied POW Camp Studies 

Shenyang University 

21, South Wanghua Street 

Shenyang, China 110044 

Tel/Fax: 86-24-8684-0918 

Email: whyjing@mail.sy.ln.cn 


PFC George Carson 

Sir, if you have any information about PFC 

George R. Carson, USMC, I would be very 

greatfull. I sent the following email to Jack; 

First I would like to thank you and your 

father for the 4th Marines Chapter page, turning 

to the memorial page I was heartened to 

see my Uncle listed, I was afraid that I had 

reached another dead end. 

My Uncle, George Ray Carson, Jr., also 

Marine captured in the Philippines 9 April of 


42, later a prisoner in Mukden, China, if 

sources are correct. Unfortunately, I never 

met my uncle as he was killed in a car accident 

shortly after the war, ten years before I 

was born. When I was a youngster I would 

ask my dad, also a Marine, about his brother, 

but he refused the discussion - old wounds. 

Sir, I know there were many from the 4th 

Marines there, and with their depleting numbers, 

the chances of anyone who had known 

him are slim. Yet, is it possible to get word 

out that if any of the survivors have any 

recollection of my Uncle? 

With the greatest respect to my uncle and 

the other Marines held in captivity, it doesn't 

matter if the survivors had good memories 

of him or bad, he deserves to be remembered. 

Any help you could provide me would be 

greatly appreciated. 

I live in Southern California, so if there 

are any Veterans in the Barstow area (between 

Las Angeles and Las Vegas) that you 

know of that 

Father Phillips, 

The Telly Award winning film "A New 

Mexico Story: The Bataan Death March to 

the Atomic Bomb" now has it own home 

page at http://www.mcgaffeyfilms.com/. 

More information can be had at the site including 

a six minute trailer. If the link could 

be added to your site it would greatly be 

appreciated. 

Thanks for your time and consideration. 

Aaron Wilson 

McGaffey Films, LLC 


Cpl. Harvey Lee Goff 

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 

Dear Mr. Wallace; 

The Battle of Ising was fought by Filipino 

Guerrillas against the Japanese from 

May 3 to 10, 1945, while the US 24th 

Division’s 19th and 34th Regiment Combat 

Teams were liberating Davao, Mindanao, 

Philippines and surrounding areas. 

The guerrillas were of the 130th Infantry 

Regiment under the 107th Division, 10th 

Military District, Mindanao. They were the 

guerrillas who provided whatever support 

they could to the POWs of the Davao Penal 

Colony including the 10 who escaped. 

A large portion of northern Mindanao was 

unoccupied by the enemy, civilian lives were 

saved, and the liberation of Mindanao was 

greatly hastened as a result of the battle. 

There is a 30-ft. monument at the site to commemorate 

the courage and bravery of these 

men but the complete story is untold and 

undocumented. We are conducting a project 

to interview surviving veterans of the battle 

and conduct research in US, Philippine and 

Japanese archives and libraries to develop 

the complete story. 

There will be an exhibit at the Davao Museum 

and a book on the battle written to 

complement the monument. Any profit from 

the sale of the book will go to the maintenance 

of the permanent museum and printing 

costs. 

Any amount you can give will greatly affect 

the success of the Battle of Ising project. 

Your support will definitely be acknowledged 

in the book. The project team and I receive 

no salary for our work on the project. 

There has hardly been anything written 

on Mindanao during WWII although it had 

the largest organized guerrilla organization 

and the widest radio networks providing 

secret pre-invasion Leyte information to 

MacArthur. Photos of the exhibit will be 

posted on the Quan. 

If you have any questions, send an email 

or call me. You can send a check or money 

order to – 

Marie Vallejo, 900 Lafayette St. Suite 105, 

Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA. Thank you for 

your support. Marie Vallejo 

gowhenever@yahoo.com - (408) 660-7975 

needs help or support, please contact me 

at johnhoggins@aol.com. 

John S. Hoggins

Ken Hughes 

Banquet Speaker 

Kenneth D. Hughes, former 

chief of police in Cincinnatti, OH, 

was the keynote speaker at the 

ADBC Banquet Saturday, May 

10 in Louisville, presented an 

excellent audio-visual presentation 

before delivering a powerful 

speech in tribute to the 

POW’s of ADBC. 

Hughes said, “after 36 years 

in my profession and serving in 

undercover drug investigations, 

I am no stranger to the murderous 

acts of others including a 

few attempts on my own life. I 

also know the sadness of witnessing 

the deaths of others. For 

17 years I reviewed or conducted 

all of the death investigations in 

our community. 

Still, these events are only a 

small modicum of what some of 

you have endured. As such I 

can only fathom the depths of 

the horror and sadness you have 

experienced. It is to your experience 

that I hope to give tribute 

and honor. 

The ADBC maybe the first 

organization of its kind in the 

world to recognize a special 

group whose only requisite was 

to have suffered immeasurably 

at the hands of their captors. 

Passion and commitment are 

what sets men and women of 

great achievement apart from the 

rest of humanity. 

I am humbled and filled with 

humility in being chosen to speak 

to you this day. You are the essence 

and spirit of America and I 

am proud to be among you.” 

Our group is now official. We need your participation to make this a viable 

organization. Please consider joining today by completing this form and 

mailing in with your dues. 

Membership Form 

the Descendants’ Group 

an Auxiliary of the American Defenders 

of Bataan & Corregidor 

Please complete this form and submit to become a member of the Descendants’ Group 

Name (Please print) __________________________________________________ 

Address _________________________________________________________ 

City ________________________________ State ______ Zip code _________ 

Telephone __________________ Email _________________________________ 

POW Relative/Friend & Rank ___________________________________________ 

Service Unit (if known) ________________________________________________ 

Do you want to be included on DG email list? Yes No 

Annual dues: $25 (made payable to Descendants’ Group) 

Send dues to: Judy Pruitt, 25 Windsor Road, Brookline, MA 02445 

Descendants Group First Annual Meeting 

May 10, 2008 - Louisville. KY - ADBC 63rd Annual Reunion 

On May 10, 2008, the newly 

formed and official “Descendants 

Group, Auxiliary of the 

American Defenders of Bataan 

and Corregidor” held the first 

meeting of what we hope will be 

followed by many more annual 

meetings. The meeting was 

called to order and after the 

Pledge of Allegiance; Nancy 

Kragh greeted the gathering and 

explained the need for membership 

recruitment and committee 

membership to get the group established 

and to operate the conventions 

in the coming years. A 

treasurer’s report was given by 

Judy Pruitt. Joe Vater, Sr. who 

over the years has been so instrumental 

in the success of the 

ADBC, gave a brief history of 

the organization since its start in 

1946, well before many of the DG 

members were even born. He was 

followed by John Lewis who recalled 

the initial inception and 

growth of the Descendants 

Group since 2001. Legal issued 

were explained by Joe Vater, Jr. 

who has worked very hard for 

the last year to make sure that 

the DG is on firm legal ground 

with the charter and by-laws. 

Brief remarks were made to the 

attendees by Everett Reamer and 

Dr. Lester Tenney, past and current 

commanders of the ADBC. 

Introduction of the candidates 

running for the board of directors 

were made and ballots were 

marked and counted. There was 

one nomination from the floor. 

Questions from the floor were 

then taken. The meeting was adjourned 

after the election results 

were announced. 

After the membership meeting 

the newly elected directors 

met to elect officers The results 

are as follows.: Jan Thompson, 

President; Jim Erickson, Vice 

President; Nancy Kragh, Secretary; 

Judy Pruitt, Treasurer; 

Caroline Burkhart, Director of 

Communications; Jim Wright, 

Director of Development; and 

John Patterson, at large. 

This board of directors acknowledges 

the responsibility it 

has taken upon itself, welcoming 

and encouraging participation 

by all descendants and 

friends. 

Submitted by: 

Caroline Burkhart 

Daughter of Thomas F. Burkhart 

45 th Infantry (PS) 


Persons Eligible For Burial In Arlington 

National Cemetery 

Many requests have been received for eligibility requirements 

for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. 

The requirements for eligibility are as follows: 

Best thing is to have the DD214 and call the number listed (703- 

607-8585) for arrangements. The highly professional personnel will 

assist. Another way is to contact the funeral director to make the 

arrangements with Arlington. Still will have to provide the DD214. 

Persons Eligible For Burial In Arlington National Cemetery 

(a) Any active duty member of the Armed Forces (except those 

members serving on active duty for training only). 

(b) Any retired member of the Armed Forces. A retired member of 

the Armed Forces, in the context of this paragraph, is a retired member 

of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or a 

Reserve component who has served on active duty (other than for 

training), is carried on an official retired list, and is entitled to receive 

retired pay stemming from service in the Armed Forces. If, at 

the time of death, a retired member of the Armed Forces is not 

entitled to receive retired pay stemming from his service in the Armed 

Forces until some future date, the retired member will not be eligible 

for burial. 

(c) Any former member of the Armed Forces separated for physical 

disability prior to 1 October 1949 who has served on active duty 

(other than for training) and who would have been eligible for retirement 

under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1201 had that statute been in 

effect on the date of his separation. 

(d) Any former member of the Armed Forces whose last active 

duty (other than for training) military service terminated honorably 

and who has been awarded one of the following decorations: 

(1) Medal of Honor. 

(2) Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force Cross or Navy Cross). 

(3) Distinguished Service Medal. 

(4) Silver Star. 

(5) Purple Heart. 

(e) Persons who have held any of the following positions, provided 

their last period of active duty (other than for training) as a 

member of the Armed Forces terminated honorably: 

(1) An elective office of the United States Government. 

(2) Office of the Chief Justice of the United States or of an Associate 

Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. 

(3) An office listed in 5 U.S.C. 5312 or 5 U.S.C. 5313. 

(4) The Chief of a mission who was at any time during his tenure 

classified in class I under the provisions of 411 of the Act of 13 

August 1946, 60 Stat. 1002, as amended (22 U.S.C. 866, 1964 ed.). 

(f) Any former prisoner of war who, while a prisoner of war, served 

honorably in the active military, naval, or air service, whose last 

period of active military, naval, or air service terminated honorably 

and who died on or after November 30, 1993. 

(1) The term ‘‘former prisoner of war’’ means a person who, while 

serving in the active military, naval, or air service, was forcibly detained 

or interned in line of duty— 

(i) By an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile force, 


during a period of war; or 

(ii) By a foreign government or its agents, or a hostile force, under 

circumstances which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs finds to have 

been comparable to the circumstances under which persons have 

generally been forcibly detained or interned by enemy governments 

during periods of war. 

(2) The term ‘‘active military, naval, or air service’’ includes active 

duty, any period of active duty for training during which the individual 

concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred 

or aggravated in line of duty, and any period of inactive duty 

training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died 

from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty. (g) The spouse, 

widow or widower, minor child and, at the discretion of the Secretary 

of the Army, unmarried adult child of any of the persons listed above. 

(1) The term ‘‘spouse’’ refers to a widow or widower of an eligible 

member, including the widow or widower of a member of the Armed 

Forces who was lost or buried at sea or officially determined to be 

permanently absent in a status of missing or missing in action. A 

surviving spouse who has re-married and whose remarriage is void, 

terminated by death, or dissolved by annulment or divorce by a 

court with basic authority to render such decrees regains eligibility 

for burial in Arlington National Cemetery unless it is determined that 

the decree of annulment or divorce was secured through fraud or 

collusion. 

(2) An unmarried adult child may be interred in the same grave in 

which the parent has been or will be interred, provided that child was 

incapable of self-support up to the time of death because of physical 

or mental condition. At the time of death of an adult child, a request 

for interment will be submitted to the Superintendent of Arlington 

National Cemetery. The request must be accompanied by a notarized 

statement from an individual who has direct knowledge as to the 

marital status, degree of dependency of the deceased child, the name 

of that child's parent, and the military service upon which the burial 

is being requested. A certificate of a physician who has attended the 

decedent as to the nature and duration of the physical and/or mental 

disability must also accompany the request for interment. 

(h) Widows or widowers of service members who are interred in 

Arlington National Cemetery as part of a group burial may be interred 

in the same cemetery but not in the same grave. 

(i) The surviving spouse, minor child, and, at the discretion of the 

Secretary of the Army, unmarried adult child of any person already 

buried in Arlington. 

(j) The parents of a minor child or unmarried adult child whose 

remains, based on the eligibility of a parent, are already buried in 

Arlington National Cemetery. [42 FR 25725, May 19, 1977, as amended 

at 59 FR 60559, Nov. 25, 1994]

William Lafitte of Haughton, LA, WIns $100 

How Many? POW’s Who Responded to Questionairre 

These are the names and ages of the men who sent in on the 

request printed in the Quan. There were 331 names who were alive 

at the time. If your name is not on the list and you would like your 

friends to know that you’re still alive, send it in and we will list you 

in the next Quan. 

Adair, A - 89 

Aldrich, Jack H - 85 

Alexander, Joseph -82 

Alpuerto, Ben - 86 

Altman, Robert E. - 86 

Amos, Harold - 84 

Amato, Salvatore - 87 

Adrews, Austin L - 86 

Arnold, William - 90 

Aster, Karel - 86 

Ashwan, Donald C. Jr. - 87 

Bacon, Bobby T - 86 

Bailey, Joseph - 90 

Ballett, Alonzo - 

Balaza, Charles - 86 

Barker, Frances J - 86 

Barnes, Silar - 85 

Barruano, Angelo - 88\ 

Bell, Walter - 87 

Benini, Alcide - 86 

Beenett, Lee - 86 

Berest, Alfred - 86 

Bercier, Lyle - 83 

Bergquist, Earle - 87 

Berley, F.V - 95 

Black, Bill - 83 

Bilek, Anton - 87 

Bocksel, Arnold - 92 

Bollich, James H - 84 

Boone, Pat - 91 

Botthroyd, Own - 86 

Borruano, Angelo - 88 

Bostlan, Lester - 84 

Boushey, Hersheal - 87 

Bowling, Julian - 87 

Brady, Jack - 85 

Branch, Robert - 84 

Brasel, Joe - 85 

Brennan, James - 86 

Brown, Albert N - 102 

Brown, Robert - 81 

Brown, William - 87 

Browning, Wesley Jr. - 86 

Bryan, Charles - 86 

Buchner, Edward W - 86 

Buckles, Frank W - 105 

Buell, Earl E - 90 

Bulit, William - 88 

Burns, Crayton - 91 

Burroughs, Dallas - 90 

Bazewick, Casey T - 89 

Brooks, Howard - 88 

Bloom, Samuel Dr. - 100 

Caire, James - 87 

Camacho, Arturo R - 85 

Canapi, Eugene A - 90 

Cape, Jack - 86 

Caramon, Frank - 84 

Carringer, Wayne - 86 

Chamberlin, Henry - 83 

Chambers, Robert L - 84 

Chapman, Gerald S - 84 

Chartoff, Murice - 84 

Chovan, Edward E - 83 

Cicha, John R - 89 

Christie, Martin S - 94 

Colls, William K - 86 

Comeaux, Horace H - 83 

Cook, Ted - 88 

Cook, George S - 91 

Cornellisson, Henry H - 88 

Coulter, Frank H - 90 

Cowgill, John D - 86 

Cox, Gordon C - 84 

Crowley, Dan - 84 

Corral, Mauro B - 91 

Deller, Chester G - 89 

Difford, Floramund - 93 

Davidson, Eugene L - 87 

Davidson, Brown F - 85 

Davis, Hillman - 85 

Davis, S.B. - 84 

Debord, Paul S - 88 

DeMott, Joseph - 87 

DeVivo, Frank H - 84 

Dwin, Basil M.D. - 97 

Diaz, Roy L - 89 

Dragich, Charles - 89 

Dupuis, Charles F - 89 

Durgin, Stanley B - 

Dueller, Chester G - 89 

Easley, Cecil E - 85 

Edwards, Randall S - 90 

Eickenhorst, Walter E - 89 

Eichman, Martin D - 88 

Ellis, William T - 87 

Elliott, Leon - 90 

Emerick, John M - 88 

Thank you Joe Vater - 18 Warbler Drive, McKees Rocks, PA 

15136 

The name of the drawing for the $100 prize was William Lafitte of 

Haughton, LA 

Eldridge, Wm L - 86 

Feliz, Jack M - 96 

Filko, Joseph W - 86 

Fisher, Edward A - 88 

Flowers, James A - 84 

Fourtner, Russell R - 84 

Francies, Richard E - 83 

Friese, Roy E - 83 

Feliz, Jack M - 94 

Forinash, Cecil L - 

Frasier, James H - 88 

Gerola, Dario - 86 

Glasser, Michael - 84 

Golden, Glynn H - 83 

Golla, Nick - 87 

Gonzalez, Pedro A - 85 

Goodman, David - 83 

Goodnight, Hulen V - 91 

Graham, Clarence M - 86 

Green, Smith L - 91 

Greene, James R - 85 

Griffiths, Lloyd - 87 

Grubbs, Paul L - 82 

Grunwald, Darwin D - 86 

Griffing, John W - 92 

Haley, Philip R - 84 

Hall, Audry D - 86 

Hamilton, William A Jr. - 88 

Hammond, James Sr - 83 

Harper, Raymond J - 87 

Hayman, Ralph M - 91 

Hays, Roy E - 86 

Hazel, Lewis A - 88 

Heiliger, Howard - 86 

Helhowski, Walter B - 88 

Hettgar, Earl W - 89 

Hitchcock, William T - 87 

Hochman, David MD - 93 

Holderman, Don D - 83 

Holt, Edward W - 90 

Huff, James E - 87 

Huffman, Isaiah K - 80 

Hrupcho, Joseph S - 93 

Hylton, Isaac G - 87 

Heffron, Charles B - 89 

James, William L - 86 

Jenkins, Morgan - 90 

Johnson, Joseph Q - 80 

Kathman, Clemens - 97 

Kerchum, Paul - 86 

Kerns, James - 93 

Keys, Joseph P - 88 

Kruger, Courtney T - 83 

Kuskie, Glen E - 82 

Krebs, John A - 88 

Lafitte, William H 

Lauzer, Joseph D - 87 

Lambert, William H - 94 

Laursen, Eddy R - 89 

Leaming, Jack - 86 

Lecoure, Leonard - 87 

Ledbetter, Warren G - 88 

Lents, Robert W - 84 

Leonard, Oscar L - 88 

Locke, Arthur U - 91 

Locke, Henry C Sr. - 84 

Long, Donald E - 87 

Locarnini, Peter R - 85 

Lopez, Eliso - 89 

Lowe, Gene S - 85 

Long, Donald E - 88 

Leighton, Reginald B - 88 

Loss, Peter P - 91 

Lowry, Wm A - 87 

Manning, Mildred D - 92 

Martin, James L - 88 

Marson, Wallace R - 82 

Matheny, W.R. - 84 

Merritt, Joe D - 86 

Middleton, Talmage W - 87 

Miller, Andrew - 86 

Milne, William H - 88 

Mitchell, Herbert W - 83 

Mitro, Albert F - 89 

Montoya, Ernest - 89 

Moore, Charles W - 85 

Morey, Corwin R - 87 

Mosher, Francis - 87 

Murphy, James T - 87 

Muther, Frank - 

Morrett, John H - 91 

Morelli, Carmen H - 90 

Please see 

Remaining POW’s 

Page 15 


ADBC Descendants Group 

Brunch In Louisville, Ky 

By Nancy Blakeslee Wood 

For several years, this special event has been a highlight at the 

ADBC Conventions for the Descendants Group or Associate Members. 

After a plentiful and attractive buffet brunch was enjoyed by 

all, more cups of coffee were poured and we got down to what 

Descendants enjoy most—hearing the stories of the men we honor 

and revere. We had the pleasure of 16 former POWs visit the tables 

in a round robin fashion. The group included Malcolm Amos, Andy 

Andrews, Harold Bergbower, Gerald Chapman, Randall Edwards, 

Cecil Forinash, Robert Heer, Ed Jackfert, Warner Jorgensen, Oscar 

Leonard, Bob Phillips, Everett Reamer, Benjamin Steele, Joe Vater, Sr, 

Jim Collier and Abie Abramson. We thank each and every one of 

them. They must know by now that we never tire of listening to 

their incredible tales of horror, examples of human courage or selflessness 

and certainly those stories filled with irony, compassion 

and even humor. 

It is a wonderful opportunity to ask “that question” you may 

never had the chance to ask your own father who did not survive to 

come home or whose life may have been cut short due to the stresses 

of serving in the Philippines, of a journey on a Hellship or internments 

in the many Japanese prison camps. 

We look forward to assuming our new name The Descendants 

Group, An Auxiliary of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor 

when our new status becomes legally recognized. We intend 

to continue the mission to keep the legacy of this incredible 

group of former POWs who served us during WW II known to all 

and to preserve their rightful place in the history books. 

We hope to continue these conversations in San Antonio, TX 

May 26-30, 2009 at our next Convention. 


"The most engrossing and 

scholarly epic I have ever 

seen ... This is the most 

unique account ever written 

about the wartime ordeal of 

a Bataan Survivor. 

You may have read other 

journals and diaries, but 

never one like this." 

RAdm. Charles D. Grojean 

USN (Ret.) Exec. Director, 

Admiral Nimitz Foundation 

Send check to: WORTHINGTON BOOKS 

153 Lake Front Drive - Boerne, TX 78006 

$50.00 per book 

(plus $4.13 tax [if applicable] & $5.50 s&h), Total $59.14 

FAME to Restore Kilometer Markers 

FAME, the Philippine-American Memorials Endowment organization, 

which is charged with maintaining tangible reminders of 

World War Two, selected as its project for this year the restoration 

and standardization of the kilometer markers along the 142 km Death 

March route from Mariveles, Bataan, through Pampanga, to Capas, 

in Tarlac. 

In coordination with the Corregidor Foundation and the local 

government of Mariveles, and the National Historical Institute, a 

five-foot concrete obelisk type marker designed by the Historical 

Institute architect, serves as a model for Death March markers. 

The first model marker was placed at kilometer 00 in Mariveles 

last December, and will serve as a model for the others. Previously, 

the markers were left to the individual towns and barangays to preserve, 

with the result that they were all different, as was the setting 

and decoration around them. Now, FAME hopes to see the model 

marker available with proper signage along the entire route. Individual 

events that happened along the Death March are indicated, 

such as when Americans and Filipino prisoners were shelled by 

"friendly fire" from Corregidor at Cabcaben, when they received 

their first meal at Balanga. 

When prisoners were shot trying to get water at Limay. Where an 

American POW was beheaded at Luban, and where the prisoners 

were herded onto freight cars at San Fernando, to complete the 

journey to Camp O'Donnel, where two thousand died. Since FAME 

has no budget to cover more than the initial cost, interested individuals 

and companies are encouraged to "adopt" a marker at a site 

of their choosing, which will be duly credited. The markers cost 

US$750 each. FAME offices are located at the American Chamber of 

Commerce of the Philippines, Corinthian Plaza, Makati, Tel. 818- 

7911. 

Considering the personal history and dramatic importance involved 

in the Bataan Death March, this will be a vital adjunct for 

visitors from abroad and local people who are interested in Philippine 

history. 

It will also reverse the sad neglect of the past. Some of the 

original markers have disappeared completely and are reputed to 

have been sold off as souvenirs. The new design, of the five-foot 

concrete obelisk with its appropriate inscription carved (not attached) 

will preclude such vandalism in the future, and save the 

markers for posterity. At this point in time, FAME's plans are to 

install 20 markers at the most historically significant sites, which 

they hope to have in place for the April 9th 60th anniversary of the 

beginning of the infamous Death March at Mariveles. 

5th Air Base Group Reunion is Set 

The 5th Air Base Group reunion 

will be held from August 

19, 2008, (Arrival day) and August 

23, departure day. Any 

POW from the Philippine Islands 

is welcome. It will be at the Hampton 

Inns in Vacaville, CA. Phone 

number to call for reservations 

707-469-6200. Do NOT call the 

Hampton Inns 800 number and 

be sure to mention that you are 

with the 5th Air Base group, your 

rate will be $90. per night, plus a 

12% tax, for a total of $100.80 per 

night. Call Ray Heimbuch at 707- 

438-0222, or Email at 

raycheimbuch@gmail.com or 

rayheimbuch@msn.com for 

details.

ADBC Widow's Luncheon 

63rdNational Convention Holiday Inn Downtown 

Widows Luncheon 

It was a beautiful day in Louisville 

(Looavul, Luhvul, 

Loueville, Looaville. Looeyville) 

as the ADBC Widow's gathered 

for their annual luncheon. Most 

of the widows, who have faithfully 

gathered each year, were 

present and a few new faces 

joined us. There were 28 widows, 

8 daughters and special guests 

John Emerick, Father Bob & Sally 

Phillips and our guest speaker 

John B. Lewis, for a total of 40. 

We were served chicken 

salad, a fruit cup and "Derby 

Pic". The "Derby Pic", made with 

custard, chocolate chips and 

walnuts, is made as a special 

dessert throughout the world, 

but in Louisville it always tastes 

a little better. 

Our guest speaker was John 

GUESTS 

John M. Emerick 

John B. Lewis 

Rev. Robert & Sally Phillips 

WIDOWS 

Martina Aldred 

Widow of: John B Aldred 

Cecelia Ayres 

Widow of: Howard Ayres 

Annette Bloskis 

Widow of. Charles T. Bloskis 

Rose Bridges 

Widow of. Talmedge Bridges 

Julia Brittan 

Widow of Lewis H. Brittan 

Libby Cross 

Widow of. John D. Cross 

Lora Cummins ` 

Widow of. Ferron E. Cummins 

Mary R. Curley 

Widow of- Kenneth D. Curley 

Glenda M. Elliott 

Widow of. Lewis H. Elliott 

Marlene Ford 

Widow of. Jim P. Ford 

Judith Heisinger 

Widow of. Duane L. Heisinger 

Louisville, Kentucky Friday, 9 May 2008 

B. Lewis a member of the newly 

organized "Descendants Group, 

an Auxiliary of the American Defenders 

of Bataan and Corregidor." 

His father, John L. Lewis, 

was captured on Mindanao and 

was a Prisoner of War until his 

death aboard the "Hellship" Brazil 

Maru on January 25, 1945. 

He told us of his personal experiences 

as the son of a POW 

who was old enough to know the 

disappointment of not being able 

to accompany his father to the 

Philippines and as a Freshman 

at West Point of talking to a person 

who was with his father and 

knew how he died. These events 

and others made his talk very 

interesting and inspiring. He 

spoke of being informed about 

the ADBC and going to the 2001 

Convention in Hampton, Vir- 

Attendance 

Barbara P. Jacobsen 

Widow of- Gene S. Jacobsen 

Mary A. Jaggers 

Widow of. William Jaggers 

Esther Jennings 

Widow of. Clinton Jennings 

Dorothy McArdle 

Widow of. Scotty McArdle 

Gwen J. McGarry 

Widow of- Wendell H. McGarry 

Marjean McGrew 

Widow of. Al McGrew 

Pauline Mefford 

Widow of: Homer Mefford 

Louise Mihok 

Widow of. Joseph A. Milrok 

Charlie M. Mills 

Widow of. Lloyd E. Mills 

Mary Oleksa 

Widow of. John Oleksa 

Jean Pruitt 

Widow of: Charles S. Pruitt 

Mary Kay Schmeisser 

Widow of: Curtis W. Schmeisser 

Patricia "Pat" Thompson 

Widow of. C. A. Thompson 

ginia, and of being inspired by 

Duane Heisinger and his devotion 

to the organization. Since 

2001 he has been a dedicated 

volunteer to ADBC and, among 

other titles, is in charge of Pre- 

Convention Registration. 

Let's make plans, now, to attend 

the Annual ADBC Convention 

the last week of May 2009. 

Remember this will be the last 

Convention for which the members 

of American Defenders of 

Bataan and Corregidor are responsible. 

Let's make the 64th 

Annual Convention one of the 

best we have ever had. The Widows 

Luncheon will continue and 

you are an important part of the 

continuation. I'll see you in San 

Antonio at the 64th National 

Convention. 

Submitted By Lora Cummmins 

Wilma Trout 

Widow of- Ira Trout 

Alice Ward 

Widow of. Joseph A. Ward 

Ruth Wilber 

Widow of. C. 0. "Tod" Wilber 

Viola "Brocky" Wright 

Widow of. William R- Wright 

OTHERS 

Mary Molesevich 

Daughter of- Howard Ayres 

Elizabeth Ward Moore 

Daughter of. Joseph A. Ward 

Judy Pruitt 

Daughter of.- Charles Pruitt 

Darleen Shopes 

Cousin of.- Jean Pruitt 

Barbara Stanley 

Daughter of- Lewis W. Brittan 

Glenda Cummins Sutton 

Daughter of. Ferron E. Cummins 

Linda Wilber Van Skike 

Daughter of. C. 0. Wilber 

Mona Bridges Woodring 

Daughter of. Talmadge S. Bridges 

PNC Reamer 

Addresses DG 

It is a privilege for me to address 

this illustrious group of descendants 

of the american defenders 

of bataan & corregidor. 

Corregidor was the right flank, 

the linchpin for manila bay; 

bataan the left flank, with mountainous 

regions, was across the 

north channel from corregidor. 

One could not exist without the 

other. 

like the battle we fought, You 

descendants are our right flank. 

However, as descendants, you 

have the responsibility to carry 

on indefinitely and to remind the 

world of your loved ones who 

became prisoners of the 

japanese, and the brutality that 

followed. History is important 

and those who forget it will repeat 

it. 

I salute John B. Lewis., Judy 

Pruitt, Nancy Wood, Kris 

Dallsrom, Paul Ropp, Gayle 

Ropp, Jan Thompson, Joe Vater, 

Jr. And all of you descendants 

who have - and will in the futurelead 

and cary on our call for justice, 

not only for us, but for those 

who follow. God bless you all! 

‘Guerilla Daughter’ 

Book Available 

The book, "Guerilla Daughter" 

by VIrginia Hansen Holmes, profiled 

in the last issue of the Quan, 

is now available, acording to the 

author. 

The book chronicles the life of 

Homes and her family's struggle 

to survive the Japanese occupation 

of Mindanao during the 

war years. She tells of how the 

family survived in the jungle, hiding 

from the Japanese who had 

orders to execute Americans. 

The book may be ordered from 

the Kent State University Press 

Marketing Department; P O Box 

5190, Kent, OH, 44242-0001 Telephone 

330-672-8098 or 

kentstateuniversitypress.com.. 


Joe Sterner 

Page 12- The Quan 

Richard Winter 

Jim Hammond and Ed Jackfert, PNC, fold the flag at the Memorial Service 

Below, Past Commander Everett Reamer, Ken Hughes and Jan Thompson at Saturday’s banquet. 

Hughes presented a stirring tribute with audio visual aid and a heart felt speech. 

Jan Thompson served as the master of ceremonies and was elected president of the Descendants 

Group during the reunion.

Above, Hank Crnellisson 

Right, Bob Heer, Warren Jorgenson 

and his grandson. 

Dr. Albert Brown and SSgt. Nick Vrana of 

teh 100th Div. HQ in Louisville. Dr. Brown 

at 103 was the senior member in 

attendance. He and SSgt Vrana learned 

both were from the same town in Iowa. 

Above, Abie Abraham and Chris Wolf. 

Left, Mary Kay Wallace of the ADBC Museum with Col. 

John Olson record his contribution to the collection. 

Below, ADBC Museum displays and table for receivng 

contributed materials for the museum (Brooke County 

Public Library). 


Abbreviations Total 

P = POW 53 

A = Guerrilla 2 

C = Civilian Internee 1 

S = Spouse of P, A or C 28 

W = Widow of P, A, or C 28 

D = Descendant 144 

G = Guest 29 

R = Researcher 9 

Total = 294 

Abraham, Abie P 

Alcorn, Bernice A. S 

Alcorn, Ed E. P 

Aldred, Jackie D 

Aldred, James D 

Aldred, Jerome D 

Aldred, Kevin D 

Aldred, Martina M. W 

Alexander, Joseph L. P 

Alexander, Norma D. S 

Amos, Harold M. P 

Amos, Jr., 

Harold “Mick” D 

Andrews, Austin L. P 

Andrews, 

Austin Lamar D 

Ayres, Cecelia C. W 

Bates, Cynthia C. D 

Bates, Gary L. D 

Bekovac, Fran G 

Bergbower, Harold A. P 

Bergbower-Grunwald, 

Debra D 

Bergstrom, Oscar K. G 

Bingamon, Cheryl D 

Bingamon, Steve D 

Blair, Sarah W. G 

Blair, William P. G 

Blakeslee, Stephen P. D 

Bleil, Claudia B. D 

Bleil, Eugene E. P 

Bloskis, Annette L. W 

Boothroyd, Anna S 

Boothroyd, Owen P 

Borland, Thomas G 

Bothe, Lauren D 

Bothe, Valerie D 

Bowen, Bill D 

Bowen, Blanche D 

Bowles, Lorene Olsen D 

Bowles, Richard L. D 

Boyd, Shane K. D 

Bradford, Velma R. G 

Braham, Darren A. D 

Braham, Dena A. D 

Braham, Joshua P. D 

Braham, Kerisa N. D 

Braham, Kiera J. D 


ADBC National Convention, Louisville, KY - 

May 5-10, 2008 - Attendees List 

Braham, Tami D 

Braye, Geraldyne M. S 

Braye, William E. P 

Bridges, Rose H. W 

Brittan, Julia E. W 

Broadwater, 

Cecilia S. D 

Broadwater, 

Richard R. D 

Brown, Albert N. P 

Brown, David T. D 

Brown, Nancy T. D 

Brown, Tom D 

Brown, Wendy D 

Brown, Jr., Albert N. D 

Burkhart, Caroline E. D 

Campeau, Clara D 

Campeau, Fran S 

Campeau, Jarrid D 

Campeau, Lucien V. A 

Campeau, Margie D 

Campeau, Matt D 

Chapman, Gerald S. A 

Chapman, James K. D 

Chapman, Kathryn G. S 

Chapman, Veronica D 

Christie, Martin S. P 

Christie, Rosie S 

Collier, Carrie L. D 

Collier, James Cecil P 

Collier, Scott D 

Conzelman, Clair E D 

Conzelman, Maria D 

Cornellisson, Genie S 

Cornellisson, 

Henry J. P 

Corral, Mauro B. P 

Cross, Libby A. W 

Cummins, Lora M. W 

Curley, Mary R. W 

Dahl, Linda R 

Dahlstrom, Kris E. D 

DeVivo, Doris M. S 

DeVivo, Frank H. P 

Dodich, Nick D 

Doughty, Margaret L. D 

Dragich, Ann S 

Dragich, Charles P 

Du Sell, Adrienne E. D 

Edwards, Randall S. P 

Eldridge, William L. P 

Elliott, Glenda M. W 

Emerick, John M. P 

Englehart, Donnie D 

Englehart, James D 

Erickson, Jim D 

Erlanger, Debby Stahl D 

Felsen, Albert O. P 

Felsen, Dorothy S 

Ferrell, Davis M. D 

Ford, Marlene Ellis W 

Forinash, Cecil L. P 

Frasier, James H. P 

Frasier, Judy S 

Freeman, Heidi R. G 

Fry, Douglas C. D 

Frye, Mary L. D 

Frye (Eckstein), 

Larry R. D 

Gayer, Mary Evelyn G 

Hammond, James F P 

Harless, Kim L. G 

Harris, Bob G 

Heer, Karen S 

Heer, Robert B. P 

Heisinger, Judith E. D 

Higgs, Fely C. R 

Holder, Pat D 

Holmes, Ginger Hansen D 

Holmes, Kent E. D 

Holmes, Linda Goetz R 

Hughes, Charlene G 

Hughes, Kenneth G 

Ibuki, Yuka R 

Injerd, Wes R 

Ishimaru, Gaku G 

Jackfert, Edward P 

Jackfert, Henrietta S 

Jacobsen, Barbara W 

Jaggers, Mary A. W 

Jarosz, Stan G 

Jennings, Esther W 

Jorgenson, Brevan D. D 

Jorgenson, Loren G. D 

Jorgenson, Warren G P 

Kragh, Nancy D 

Kreyssig, Anne D 

Kreyssig, Bill D 

Kwiecinski, Marcia D 

Kwiecinski, Steve D 

Lane, Barbara G 

Leonard, Mary Ida S 

Leonard, Oscar L. P 

Leonard, Sarah D 

Lewis, Fran D 

Lewis, John B. D 

Lewis, John L. D 

Libby, Barbara M. R 

Lohman, Bendeict L. P 

Lohman, Frieda E. S 

Ludwig, Melissa D 

Macomber, Judy D 

Malikowski, 

Edward L. D 

Mansell, Roger R 

Matthews, Norman R. P 

McArdle, Dorothy C. W 

McCorts-Blaine, 

Mary Jane D 

McCorts-Bookwalter, 

Susy D 

McCown, 

Randi Leigh D 

McDavitt, Linda D 

McGarry, Gwen J. W 

McGrew, Marjean W 

Mefford, Pauline P. W 

Melillo, Stephen L. G 

Meredith, Rose Mary G 

Mihok, Louise W 

Miller, James Donald D 

Miller, Robin P. D 

Mills, Charlie M. W 

Minger, Dale P 

Molesevich, Mary V. D 

Moore, 

Elizabeth “Betty” D 

Moseley, Janie Angell S 

Moseley, John J. P 

Mossner, Barbara A. D 

Motosko, Thomas P. P 

Murphy, James T. P 

Murphy, Nancy A. S 

Nagasawa, Nori G 

Nelson, James L. D 

Northern, Jan D 

O’Loughlin, Arlene G. D 

Oleksa, Mary W 

Oliver, Dawn M. S 

Oliver, John H. P 

Olson, John E. P 

Overmier, Anna Lee S 

Overmier, William C. P 

Phillips, Robert W. P 

Phillips, Sallie S 

Pruitt, Jean W 

Pruitt, Judy D 

Ramsey, Linda G 

Rapp, Michael D 

Real, Alicia D 

Real, John M. P 

Reamer, Bernice C. S 

Reamer, Everett Clay D 

Reamer, Everett D. P 

Reuter, John D 

Reuter, Paul W. P 

Reynolds, Burrel J. P 

Rieken, Greg D

ADBC National Convention, Louisville, KY - Attendees List Continued 

Robinson, Harry A. C 

Roehm, Pat D 

Roehm, Rick D 

Ropp, Gayle P. D 

Ropp, Paul W. D 

Rosendahl, Elizabeth S 

Rosendahl, Robert P 

Ruff, Ruth M. G 

Saalman, Mark D 

Saalman, Richard D 

Saalman, Robert D 

Saalman, Steve D 

Scales, Millie D 

Scandrani, Pat D 

Schermerhorn, Jim D 

Schermerhorn, Leona D 

Schlab, Joe D 

Schlab, Vicki D 

Schmeisser, Mary Kay W 

Schnitker, Nanci D 

Schurtz, Gerald P. D 

Secor, Kevin G 

Shadoan, Juanita D 

Shadoan, Jr., Harley E. D 

Shively, Blythe A. D 

Shively, John D 

Shope, Darleen G 

Simmonds, Eleanor D 

Smith, John R. D 

Smith, Sherry D 

Stahl, Ruth R. W 

Stanley, Barbara D 

Stanley, Robert D 

Steele, Benjamin C. P 

Steele, Rosemarie D 

Steele, Shirley E. S 

Sterner III, Joe A. P 

Sutton, Glenda E. D 

Szczepanski, Gloria J. D 

Szczepanski, Richard A. D 

Szwabo, Earl M. P 

Szwabo, Mary E. S 

Templeton, Bill L. D 

Templeton, Sue E. D 

Tennant, Dorie G 

Tenney, Betty S 

Remaining POW’s Continued from page 9 

Miller, Jack - 

McClamma, Landys - 87 

McCandless, George C - 85 

McCrillis, Carl P - 82 

McDole, Glenn W - 85 

McGuire, Omar L - 97 

Naslund, Charles - 83 

Nelson, John V - 85 

Nesteby, Melvin H - 86 

Nielsen, Clare W - 85 

Nelson, Wayne A - 

O’Neal, Scott E - 88 

Onufry, William - 84 

O’Rorke, James R - 83 

Oliver, Glenn S - 87 

Olson, Joan E - 88 

Onacki, Albert U - 90 

Ohler, Charles E - 88 

Oberst, Mary J - 94 

Parsons, Franklin R - 84 

Pasurka, Carl A - 91 

Patton, Henry R - 86 

Paunil, Florentino A - 88 

Perlman, Jerome - 89 

Peterson, Magnor - 93 

Piccarreta, Carl A - 87 

Pike, Donovan S - 85 

Pilkington, Glen C - 85 

Ponder, Lloyd A - 86 

Porwoll, Kenneth J - 86 

Prewett, G.V. - 84 

Provost, 

Theodore F - 87 

Pack, Okey D - 89 

Poulin, Lawrence E - 86 

Quijano, Alfredo - 90 

Rayhel, Earl Dean - 85 

Raymond, 

Stephen E - 89 

Read, Louis B - 86 

Real, John B - 86 

Reamer, Everett D - 83 

Redl, John M - 86 

Regear, Walter J - 85 

Reynolds, Arthur C - 87 

Richwalski, 

Edward M - 86 

Ricotta, Joseph - 89 

Riley, James M - 85 

Rinas, Bruno S - 87 

Roberts, Daniel H - 86 

Rogers, Ernest G - 

Tenney, Lester I. P 

Thompson, Ed D 

Thompson, Gay D 

Thompson, Jan D 

Thompson, Patricia A. W 

Tokudome, Kinue R 

Topping, David A. P 

Topping, Jr., David A. D 

Traub, Daniel L. G 

Traub, Sylvie G 

Trout, Wilma A. W 

Turnbull, Lyn D 

Turnbull, Robert D 

Turner, Georgia S 

Turner, Houston E. P 

Vallejo, Marie S. D 

Van Skike, Linda D 

Vater, Joseph A. P 

Vater, Jr., Joseph A. D 

Versaw, Donald L. P 

Wallace, George G 

Wallace, Mary Kay G 

Wang, Ao R 

Rosendahl, 

Robert D - 85 

Roslansky, 

Marvin A - 83 

Roy, Carl W - 83 

Ryan, Mike - 81 

Ragland, James D - 88 

Reynolds, Burrel U - 86 

Reuter, Paul W - 87 

Saefke, Frederick E - 86 

Sandoval, Paul R - 84 

Schilperoort, 

Clarence - 88 

Schloat, Don - 84 

Schwartz, Solomar - 87 

Shrum, Robert - 84 

Silva, Duane J - 87 

Sirois, Louis S - 91 

Skinner, Zoeth - 82 

Smith, George H Jr - 88 

Smith, Warren M - 88 

Stambaugh, 

Clyde M - 83 

Stanley, Henry G - 87 

Starkey, Johnny W - 84 

Sterner, Joseph A - 83 

Stringer, Leonard O - 

Sumrall, Clyde - 83 

Steele, Ben - 90 

Stanley, Henry G - 87 

Sabotta, Quentin R - 88 

Slagee, Edward E - 90 

Stangl, Vincent R - 

Swimrall, Clyde S - 85 

Tannehill, Joseph C. -88 

Tapscott, Donald E.-85 

Taylor, Jasper G., Jr.-85 

Tazzani, John-88 

Templeton, Billy D.-85 

Tice, Leon A.-90 

Thaut, Rudy- 89 

Topping, David A. -86 

Tripp, Edward E.-88 

Turner, Elton B.-86 

Turner, Gerald A.-91 

Turner, Houston-85 

Underwood, 

Charles C.-88 

Underwood, 

Robert W.-84 

Vater, Joseph A.-91 

Vest, Richard L.-86 

Wang, Pat G 

Ward, Alice V. W 

Ward, Joseph A. D 

Warner, Jack D. P 

Wells, Bill C. D 

Wells, Patricia D 

Whitcomb, Edgar D. P 

Whitcomb, Patricia D 

Whitehurst, John C. D 

Wilber, Ruth E. W 

Winter, Richard T. P 

Wolf, Chris S 

Wood, 

Nancy Blakeslee D 

Woodring, 

David “Woody” D 

Woodring, Mona D. D 

Wright, James W. D 

Wright, Ruth D 

Wright, Viola F. W 

Zimbler, Shelly D 

Zimbler, Suzanne D 

Zobel, James W. G 

Vick, Harold J.-86 

Vick, Kenneth W.-87 

Vogler, Robert J.-86 

Vose, Clifford G.-86 

Wall, James R.-85 

Waller, Ralph-91 

Ward, Charles D.-86 

Watson, Stephen-90 

Weiss, Edward W.-84 

Wells, Wesley H.-85 

Winslow, Robert E.-85 

White, William O.-92 

Williams, Jack-84 

Williams, Ted R.-88 

Williamson, 

George H.-85 

Winston, Robert G.-88 

Wolfersberger, 

Robert G-86 

Wright, Guy G.-85 

jWray, Robert S.-85 

Wittfield, Carl J., Jr.-88 

Young, Alfred R.-89 

Zenda, John F.-85 

Zubay, John M.-88 

Zorzanello, Baselio G.-90 

June 2008 -Page 15

DEAT HS- 

T his Issue 

Beck, Richard P. 

Boudolf, Joseph 

Craigg Jr., Thomas A. 

Edwards, Douglas 

Gillett, Richard L. 

Lamm, Walter C. 

Lewis, LCDR John H. 

Mathews, Alexander 

Medina, Robert 

Redl, John M. 

Routt, Melvin L. ‘Mel’ - PNC 

Roseen, Everett C.. 

Thompson, Torvald (Toby) A. 

Trifilo. S. Samuel 

Richard P. Beck 

Richard P. "Dick" Beck, 87, husband of 

Norma Haun Beck, died Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, 

at Providence Hospital in Columbia. 

Born Jan. 31, 1920, in West Terre Haute, 

IN, he was a son of the late Hervey Marion 

Beck and the late Delia Frances Brown Beck. 

He was first married to the late Margaret 

Dahlquist Beck. 

Survivors besides his wife include a son, 

William Beck and his wife, Cherith, of Little 

ock, AR; a daughter, Jennifer Grace and her 

husband, Robert, of Pleasant Hill, CA, 

brother, James Beck and his wife, Mary Alice, 

of Prattville, AL.; a stepdaughter, Debbie 

Hudson and her husband, Frank, of Sumter, 

SC; three grandchildren; two 

stepgrandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. 

He was retired from the U.S. Air Force, 

served during World War II and was held as 

a POW of the Japanese in the Philippines for 

almost three years. He was awarded the 

Purple Heart, two Air Force Commendation 

Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, the Distinguished 

Unit Citation, the Philippine Defense 

Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal 

and the Prisoner of War Medal. 

He was a member of New Salem Baptist 

Church, American Legion Post 15, the Palmetto 

Chapter of Ex-POW in Columbia, the 

DAV and the ADBC. 


Abraham (Al) Berman, 

Abraham (Al) Berman, 93, a longtime resident 

of Malden MA and Lake Worth, FL 

entered into eternal rest on August 24, 2007. 

He was born in Johnstown, PA, where 

he was raised and educated. He enlisted in 

the United States Air Corps in 1936, and 

the United States Army in 1939 at Ft. 

MacArthur, CA.. He served overseas 47 

months in the Asiatic Pacific theater in 

Bataan, Philippines and Japan. A survivor 

of the Bataan Death March and POW for 

nearly 4 years, he served with the 93rd Bombardment 

Squadron. He was awarded numerous 

medals including the Air Medal for 

meritorious achievement while participating 

in the first mass flight of B-17's from 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Clark Field, 

Pampanga, Luzon, Philippine Islands, as a 

member of a combat crew, October - November 

1941. 

He was honorably discharged with the 

rank of Technical Sergeant on May 3, 1946 

at Ft. Devens, MA. Upon returning from 

military service, Abraham began his career 

as a lithographer. He was also an accomplished 

artist, and a member of the American 

Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. 

Abraham is survived by his son, Robert 

M. Berman of South Weymouth, and 

his wife Martha; three grandchildren and 

one great grandchild. He predeceased by 

his wife Gertrude, a son Edward, sister Jean 

Zide and brothers Harry and Joe Berman. 

He is also survived by Edward's wife, Andrea 

Brown Berman of Revere, MA. 

Joseph Boudolf 

Joseph Boudolf of Charleston, SC,.died 

February 21, 2008. 

Born September 1, 1915 in Charleston, 

SC, a son of Henry and Louise Albertz 

Boudolf, he was the widower of l’Duna 

Singletary Boudolf. 

Joseph served as a Lieutenant in the 

United States Navy and was a member of 

the American ex-prisoners-of-war of the 

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. 

He received the Silver Star Medal and 

Bronze Star Medal. 

A member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic 

Church and a retired school teacher, he 

was a life member of the Charleston Rifle 

Club and the Charleston Elks Lodge #242. 

Earlier in life, Mr. Boudolf served with the 

Civilian Conservation Corp. 

Surviving are two brothers, Henry A. 

Boudolf of Fort Walton Beach, FL and Albert 

Boudolf of Chicago, IL, and a sister Louise 

B. Withrock of Charleston, SC. 

Thomas A. Craigg Jr. 

Tom Craigg of Jacksonvile, NC, died 

March 2,2008. He was born in Sulpher 

Springs, Arkansas on January 20, 1918, the 

son of Thomas A. Craigg Sr, and Nancy Jane 

Barnes 

He had seven brothers and one sister. All 

but the youngest brother Joe, has preceded 

him. 

HE enlisted in the Marine Corps 17 September 

1940, more than a year before 

America’s official entry into WW II. On 7 

December 1941 he was stationed at 

Olongapo US Naval Air Station, Philippine 

Islands. He saw action on Bataan and Corregidor 

and was wounded twice. He was 

taken prisoner of war twice, the last time on 

Corregidor, and held by the Japanese in 

prison of war camps from 6 May 6, 1942, until 

the war’s end. 

Tom saw action again during the Korean 

conflict and received his third Purple Heart 

Medal during the battle for Seoul. 

He married Loyce Girrim in 1947. They had 

one son, Carroll Wayne and one daughter, 

Loyce Sue. They were divorced in 1952 and 

Tom married Allene Toler in 1960. They had 

one son, Thomas A. Craigg III, and one step 

son and two step daughters from Allene’s 

previous marriage. Allene died on January 

27, 1996. 

Tom retired in 1963 and was active in local 

and state veterans affairs where he served 

as the Local Commander of Chapter # 16 

DAV of Jacksonville NC; he was elected as 

3 rd District Commander, and in 1981 elected 

as DAV State Commander. He was a lifetime 

member of VFW Post 9133, and a Master 

Mason 32 degree Scottish Wright, and 

Shriners. 

He is survived by his sons and daughters 

Carroll Wayne, Tom, David Joan, Beverly, 

and son/daughter in-law Bob Parrish and 

Donna Craigg. He has sixteen grandchildren 

and two great-grandchildren.

Deceased - continued 

Douglas Edwards 

Douglas Edwards, 92, of Georgetown, died 

Thursday May 22, 2008 in Tuskegee, AL. 

A native of Opp, AL, Mr. Edwards lived 

in Albany several years before moving to 

Georgetown in 1979 after retiring from 

Dougherty County Environmental Health. 

He served his country in the U. S. Army 

during WW II; was a survivor of the Bataan 

Death March, and 42 months in a Japanese 

POW camp. 

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and working 

in his garden and was of the Baptist faith. 

Survivors include his wife Daisy Sketo 

Edwards of Georgetown, a son, Arnold 

Edwards of Ft. Gaines; two daughters, Gloria 

Jean Harrison and husband Jim of Kennesaw, 

GA, Glenda Strong and husband Bo of 

Suwanee; three grandchildren,Chalon Lea 

McCauley and husband Chuck of Powder 

Springs, Willis Walker III and wife Jennifer 

of Mt Pleasant, SC, and Kristy Marie 

Edwards of Bascom, FL, 3 great-grandchildren, 

Jonathon Smith, Bascom, FL, Morgan 

Taylor McCauley of Powder Springs and 

Carson Walker of Mt Pleasant, sister-in-law 

Elizabeth Edwards of Columbus and a special 

family friend Linda Smith of Albany. 

He was preceded in death by his parents 

Albert and Cora Edwards, brother Bishop 

Edwards and a sister Eleanor Edwards 

Granger. 

Richard L. Gillett 

Gillett, Richard L., of Buena Park died 

February 22, 2008. Born near El Centro, CA. 

in 1920, he was the youngest of 7 children. 

At age 20 he joined the Army Air Corps and 

was the youngest fighter pilot in the Philippines 

when WWII started. He was assigned 

to the 17 th Pursuit Squadron and on 

december 4, 191, the day the Americans were 

ordered to Bataan, Lt. Gillett shot down a 

Zero from his outdated P-35. 

He survived the infamous Bataan Death 

March and in the autumn of 1942 Richard 

was sent to Japan. Prior to liberation he 

was held in POW facilities in Osaka, 

Zentsuji and Rokuroshi. 

He retired as Lt. Col. from the Air Force in 

1964. For the next 30 years he worked in 

advertising. He was an avid traveler having 

been to all 50 states and over 100 countries. 

He was preceded in death by first wife 

Elinor. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, 

Vanola, sons Richard Jr. of Texas, Robert of 

Fiji, Ronald of Fullerton,CA; daughter 

Rebecca of La Paz, Mexico, and 7 grandchil- 

dren. 

Walter C. Lamm 

Walter C. Lamm, 89, died January 14, 2008, 

at Salem Veterans Hospital in Salem, VA. He 

was born November 24, 1918, in Allentown 

PA, the son of the late Charles and Louisa 

(Trinkle) Lamm. He was the husband of the 

late Ruth V. Lamm who passed away in 1997. 

Walter graduated from Allentown High 

School in 1936 and was employed by 

Everson Electric and Bethlehem Steel as an 

electrician. 

In June, 1941, he was inducted into the 

Army Air Corps 803 rd 

Engineer Brigade, Co. B, AVN, Det. In 

October, 1941, he was shipped to the 

Phillippine Islands. 

He became a P.O.W. of the Japanese in 

April, 1942 and survived the Bataan Death 

March to Camp O’Donnell Prison, then to 

Cabanatuan Prison. Walter was sent to 

Pusan, Korea via Hell Ship Tottori Maru. 

Then to Hoten (Muken) Prison in Manchuria. 

He was liberated in August 1945, discharged 

from the service in May, 1946, and 

was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. 

He was later employed by Muhlenburg 

College as an electrician and assistant superintendent 

of buildings and grounds. He 

also worked for the Diocese of Allentown as 

superintendent of building maintenance until 

he retired. 

He was a member of V.F.W. post 13, The 

American Legion Herbert Paul Lentz post, 

both in Allentown, The American Defenders 

In Memory of Walter Lamm by: 

Mr.& Mrs. Donald J. Belasco 

Raymond J. & Hannah Mihalik 

Elsie J. Leeser 

Gina Mihalik 

of Bataan and Corregidor (Mid Atlantic Region) 

where he served as Treasurer, and the 

American ex POWs. 

He is survived by sons, Walter, Jr. and 

wife Susan of Macungie, PA, Kenneth of 

Gaithersburg, MD; daughters, Linda, wife of 

Brian Mihalik of Blacksburg, VA, Judith, wife 

of Phil Kapun of Lake Havasua City AZ, nine 

grandchildren; two great grandsons;a 

brother Alfred and sister Edna Landis both 

of Allentown; daughter-in-law Carolyn Lamm 

of Manassas, VA. 

Final Survivors 

Reunion is Set 

The 45th and final reunion for Survivors 

of Bataan and Corregidor and other Former 

Prisoners of War of the Far East will be at 

Smoky Shadows, Pigeon Forge, TN, August 

24-26. Widows, children of POWs, and 

guests are welcome. 

Reservations—1-800-453-7121. 

Information — 1-828-479-6205. 

Joe, thanks for all you do for us. Note my 

slight change in address: 

Wayne Carringer 

220 Ford Street 

Robbinsville, NC 28771-7600. 

In Memorium 

Ken & Doug Rabert 

Mr.& Mrs. Richard Hontz 


In Memory of John M. Redl by the John Redl Family 

Gifts in memory of a loved one are accepted and will be acknowledged in The 

Quan. Checks should be made out to ADBC and sent to The Quan, 319 Charles St., 

Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591. 



Lt. Commander John H. Lewis 

Lt. Commander John H. Lewis was born 

in Mt. Holly, AK on August 17, 1918 and 

died March 4, 2008. 

He jined the US Navy iand served 

aboard the USS Lexington CV-2; the USS 

Chaumont and by mid-1939, he was serving 

aboard the USS Asheville fighting the 

Japanese as Allied troops went island-hopping 

through the Pacific. 

He then assumed command of PT-35. 

He married Lulu Whiting of Mindanao, 

Philippine Islands, and begana family during 

the invasion of the Japanese army into 

the Philippines. 

He commanded the PT-35 as it participated 

in some of the important battles of 

the South Pacific, including the Battle of 

the Philippine Sea, Corregidor, and 

Mindanao. 

During the Japanese invasion of the Philippine 

Islands, outstanding valor was displayed 

when John and the crew of PT-35, 

aided PT-34 and PT-41 to successfully evade 

an intense Japanese search while transporting 

General Douglas MacArthur, the allied 

commander of the South West Pacific and 

his family out of the Philippine Islands, thus 

facilitating the transfer of the South West 

Pacific headquarters to Austrailia, and enabling 

MacArthur to escape and to make 

his famous “I Shall Return” speech. 

During Japan’s occupation of the Philippine 

Islands from 1942-45, John distinguished 

himself by several acts of personal 

bravery, protecting his wife and daughter, 

Betty Jean, and serving as a member of the 

American Guerillas of Mindanao, Philippine 

Islands until the country’s liberation in 1945. 

For his service in the Philippine Campaign, 

John was awarded the equivalent of the 

“Gold Star” and the Philippine Liberation 

Medal, as well as the Philippine Defense 

Medal, the Philippine Independence Medal, 

the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit 

Citation Badge, the WWII Victory Medal, 

and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. 

Post WWII, Lt. Commander John Lewis 

continued to serve in the Navy during the 

Korean War through 1953 and he was honorably 

discharged in 1958 after serving over 

20 years. 

After retirement from the Navy, John 

moved to Tampa, FL, and in 1992 he and his 

wife Lulu celebated new wedding vows in 


a ceremony officiated by the future Arkansas 

governor and presidential candidate 

Mike Huckabee. 

He was an active member of the American 

Guerillas of Mindanao of the Philippine Island, 

a supporter of the Disabled American 

Veterans and a Shriner and a Mason. He 

was the author of “Missing in Action-An 

American Guerilla in the Philippines” which 

was published in 2002 

Lt. Commander John Lewis is survived 

by his wife Lulu Whiting Lewis, and four 

daughters, and two sons-in-laws, Betty and 

David Fowler of Texarkana; Wanda Lewis of 

Irving, Texas; Johnie and Richard Rhoades 

of Pearland, Texas, and Michelle Davis of 

Texarkana, Texas; six grandchildren, and six 

great grandchildren, a niece and several 

cousins. 

Alexander Matthews 

Cache, OK -- Alexander Matthews died 

Friday, March 14, 2008, in Lawton. 

He was born to William and Nannie 

(Curleychief) Mathews on May 11, 1919, in 

Pawnee with the Pawnee Indian name "Kootooks-Tah- 

Kah", meaning "White Bear". 

He graduated from Glencoe High School 

in 1938 .and received a business certificate 

in 1946 from Haskell Institute in Kansas. 

Mathews reported that his military background 

began with training with the Pawnee, 

OK., Company B , Infantry and eventually 

with Haskell Indian School's Cavalry 

Troop I. Eventually, he served at Fort Bliss, 

TX, and was then stationed with the New 

Mexico National Guard, where he trained with 

rifles, .50-caliber machine guns and 3-inch 

guns. By September 1941, Mathews was stationed 

at Clark Field. 

He was captured in April 1942, and was a 

survivor of the Bataan Death March survivor 

and prisoner of war until September 

1945. The survivors of Bataan and Corregidor 

are among the most highly decorated 

soldiers of battle in U.S. history: he was recipient 

of nmerous medals and citations including 

the New Mexico Special MacArthur 

Medal. 

A full-blood member of the Pawnee Nation 

of Oklahoma, Matthews was Pawnee 

Nation President from 1993-1995, and a Traditional 

Chief of the Chaui Band of Pawnee; 

a member of the Pawnee Indian Veterans As- 

sociation, a lifetime member of the American 

Ex-Prisoner-of-War Organization, State Commander 

Department of New Mexico, 2001- 

02; a member of the Defenders of Corregidor 

and Bataan, a member of the Bataan Veterans 

Organization. 

After completing studies at Haskell 

Insttute in 1946, he began his career with the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Jicarilla 

Apache BIA Agency in Dulce, N.M.; San 

Carlos BIA Agency in San Carlos, Ariz.; BIA 

Agency, Parker AZ; Rosebud Sioux BIA 

Agency in Rosebud, S.D.; Colville Confederated 

Tribes Agency, Nespelem, Wash.; and 

retired at Wewoka Agency, Wewoka, in 1974 

as a GS-12 finance loan officer. 

A former member of First United Methodist 

Church, Anadarko, he served as teacher 

for the Senior Citizens Class Sunday School 

for 12 years. 

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Joyce 

Mathews, of the home; two sons: William 

Mathews Curleychief, and John M. 

Robert Medina 

Robert Medina, 90, of Canon in Taos, died 

February 29, 2008. 

AWorld War II veteran and Prisoner of 

War, he was the founder and owner of Robert 

Medina and Sons Concrete and Sand, 

Inc. 

He was preceded in death by his children, 

Berlinda, Georgianna, Michael and Janice; 

granddaughter, Melissa Medina; sister, 

Manuelita Aragon; brother, Bonifacio Cruz 

Medina; and brother-in-law, Moises Aragon. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, 

Juanita Medina; children, Cipriano Medina 

(Teodora), Louie Medina, Annabel Medina, 

Adelmo Medina (Beatrice), Herman Medina 

(Karen), Manuel Medina (Theresa), Elizardo 

Medina, Efren Medina (Sandra), Sarah 

Martinez, Francis Medina (Paula), and George 

Medina (Julie). He is also survived by his 

sister, Maria Estela Robbins; daughters-inlaw, 

Patsy Medina, Sandra Montoya and 

Karen McCalister Medina; son-in-law, Mark 

Martinez, numerous grandchildren and 

great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews 

and other relatives.


John M. Redl 

John M. Redl, 87, of Cedar Falls, died 

Monday, December 3, 2007. He was born 

December 13, 1919, in Newcastle, NE, the son 

of Peter H. & Helen (Lukken) Redl. He married 

Mary Ellen Lloyd on June 9, 1947 in 

Newcastle. 

Following his high school graduation 

where he was valedictorian, he enlisted in 

the U.S. Army and was a Japanese Prisoner 

of War. 

After the war, he enlisted in the U.S. Air 

Force, served during the Korean Conflict and 

retired from the military in 1967 after 27 years 

of service 

He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in 

Cedar Falls for 14 years, retiring in 1981. John 

was a member of Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 

49, The American Defenders of Bataan & 

Corregidor, VFW, and St. Patrick Catholic 

Church. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen, of 

Cedar Falls; two sons, Peter (Jeanie) Redl of 

Cedar Falls and David (Sharon) Redl of 

Fairbank; three grandchildren, Christopher 

(Stephanie) Redl of Alexandria, VA, Laura 

(Jay) Sidels of Emmetsburg, IA, and Kathie 

(Kevin) Kane of Fairbank; ten great grandchildren, 

and three sisters, Margaret Paul of 

North Sioux City, SD, Lucille Overhulser of 

Cedar Rapids and Marcella (Ralph) Clark of 

Spencer, Iowa. John was preceded in death 

by his parents and a sister, Loretta Redl. 

Everett C. Roseen 

MSgt. Everett C. Roseen (Ret.) age 90 

passed away on March 29, 2008. Everett 

was born on January 15, 1918. He completed 

high school in West Hartford and joined the 

army on January 10, 1938 and was assigned 

to the 1st Division, 7th Field Artillery, stationed 

in various places and subsequently 

discharged on January 9, 1941. He reenlisted 

on March 3, 1941 in the US Army Signal 

Corps. In July 1941 he was shipped to the 

Philippines aboard the luxury liner President 

Coolidge, arriving there in August 1941. Prior 

to the start of World War II he and his squad 

were sent to very remote areas of the main 

Island of Luzon, to erect radar sets. When 

the war started they received orders to demolish 

their radar equipment and report back 

to their headquarters in Manila. The next 

day they were sent to combat duty on 

Bataan. They became prisoners of the enemy 

on April 9, 1942. Sgt. Roseen survived 

the Bataan Death March and was a POW for 

3-1/2 years. After the war he remained in the 

military and retired after 24 years. Everett is 

survived by his son and daughter-in-law, 

Craig and Yelena Roseen of Colchester, and 

his grandsons Nicolai and Rusian. He was 

buried in Fairview Cemetery, CT. 

Melvin L. ‘Mel’ Routt, PNC 

Melvin L. “Mel” Routt, 85, of Tracy,CA, 

died August 29, 2007. 

A member of the American Defenders of 

Bataan and Corregidor, he served as its National 

Commander. 

Born Sepember 26, 1921, he joined the 

Navy at age 18 and served machinist mate 

aboardthe USS Canopus, a submarine tender. 

He was in 

Manila Bay in December 1941 when the 

Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and invaded 

the Philippines. 

When the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon fell 

to the Japanese, the Canopus crew 

scuttled the ship and escaped in launches 

to Corregidor, the American underground 

fortress in the middle of Manila Bay. After 

the Japanese landed on Corregidor, Mr. Routt 

was captured on May 6, 1942. Mr. Routt survived 

the Bataan Death March and spent 

3½ years in captivity. 

He was held at three prisoner-of-war 

camps on Luzon in the Philippines, and later 

in Japan, after being transported there in an 

unmarked ship. In Japan, he worked in a coal 

mine in Omuta that was operated by the 

Mitsui Corporation and was forced to work 

barefooted in the mine even after an infected 

toe had been amputated. 

In August 1945, Mr. Routt said he saw 

an American B-29 flying high over Nagasaki, 

across the bay. That plane is believed to have 

dropped the second atomic bomb, which 

ended World War II. 

He was discharged as a second-class 

petty officer, received two Purple Hearts, 

three Oak Leaf Clusters and three Presidential 

citations. 

Torvald (Toby) A. Thompson 

Torvald (Toby) A. Thompson died June 

22, 2007. He was born August 28, 1918 in 

Fayette County, Wadena, IA, the son of 

Thore and Olive Gunderson Thompson. He 

married Eleanor L. Johnson October 8, 1949. 

Toby enlisted in the Army in May, 1941; 

was stationed on the island of Corregidor 

and was captured by the Japanese on May 

6, 1942. 

During his three and a half years as a 

POW, he was forced to work in various POW 

camps and spent his last year working in a 

coal mine. He was awarded three Bronze 

Stars. 

Toby resided in Waterloo, IA. He was a 

partner in the Video Center for 13 years and 

was the owner of Thompson TV Service for 

14 years. 

He retired in 1980 and enjoyed fishing, 

gardening and travel. 

He is survived by his wife Eleanor, two 

daughters and one granddaughter. 

S. Samuel Trifilo 

S. Samuel Trifilo was born March 8, 1917 

in Rodi, Sicily, and moved to Buffalo, NY at 

age 8. 

A graduate of Cornell University, He 

served in the US Army Corps of Engineers 

during WW II on Bataan in the 803rd, and 

then the 71st Engineer Batallion. A survivor 

of the Bataan Death March, he was a prisoner-of-war 

for 3 1/2 years. Six months were 

spent at Camp O’Donnell and Cabatuan. 

Then he was interned at Tanagaiva, Zentsuji, 

and Rokuroshi in Japan. 

He was a 1st Lt. and was awarded the 

Silver Star for gallantry in action. 

He earned his PhD. in Spanish from the 

University of Michigan in 1957 and for 28 

years was a respected professor of Spanish 

language and literature at Marquette University 

in Milwaukee. He retired in 

Scottsdale and in recent years lived at 

Westminster Village with his wife of nearly 

60 years Jo Moscato Trifilo. 

He is survived by his wife and best friend 

Jo; three daughters, Joanne (Gary), Judy and 

Donna; grandchildren Nick (Venicia), Marya 

and Matt and great grandson, Aidan; nieces 

and nephew. 

June 2008- Page 19

Salvador A. Abad 

Carl W. Abernathy 

Virgil L. Aimes 

Robert T. Anderson 

Jose S. Aquino 

Francisco Azares, 

Bobby T. Bacon 

Allen V. Beauchamp 

Richard P. Beck 

Abraham Berman 

Wade T. Bottoms 

Leroy W. Bowman 

Fredrico M. Brewer 

Harold Bridgeman 

John H. Browe 

William C. Bryan 

Edward W. Buchner 

Ed Buckner 

Douglas A. Bunn 

Don W. Butler 

Morris N. Capen 

Robert L. Chambers 

John Charnitsky 

Ethor Chaves 

Clyde C. Childress 

Horace J. Comeaux 

Thomas A. Craigg, Jr. 

Lee Davis 


Memorials List - May 2008 

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor 

William W. Davis 

Avril J. Davis 

Arlen M. DeBoer 

Harold S. Dennis 

Harold S. Dennis 

Salvador Deocampo 

J. T. Doss 

Manford H. Doucette 

Harry F. Douthit 

James F. Drake 

James F. Drake 

Alfred Dreher 

Geoffrey Dumaquit 

Walter E. Eichenhorst 

John C. Elliston 

Bernard E. Fields 

George Fox, Jr. 

Joseph P. Frederick 

Clarence A. Freeman 

Royce Fuhriman 

Howard L.: Gann 

James D. Gautier, Jr. 

Valentino F. Gavito 

Dario G. Gerola 

Carl H. Getz 

Richard C. Gilbert 

August F. Gillis 

Louis Goldbrum 

Clyde D. Gomez 

Julien M. Goodman 

Darwin D. Grunwald 

Odell C. Guess 

Dominador A. Guevarra 

James D. Haburne 

Harry A,. Hansen, Jr. 

Earlyn Harding 

Benjamin Higbie. Sr. 

Francis X. Hoctor 

Floyd W. Hodgens 

John E. Hood 

Gene S. Jacobsen 

David I. Johnson 

Harry V. Johnson 

Douglas C. Jones 

Nicholas R. Kalynych 

Alex R. Kelly 

Walter T. Kennedy 

Norman Larsen 

Daniel L. Ledda 

Macedonio B. Leyba 

Arthur J. Locke 

Joseph Maloy 

Clifford A. Martinez 

Leo J. Maselli 

Alexander H. Mathews 

Cecil E. Mauldin 

©Copyright 1981 by CDR Kelly Strong, USCG (Ret). 

The following poem was recited by John Emrick, PNC, at the Louisville 

Reunion Service memorializing his departed comrades. 

I watched the flag pass by one day. 

It fluttered in the breeze. 

A young Marine saluted it, 

And then he stood at ease. 

I looked at him in uniform 

So young, so tall, so proud, 

With hair cut square and eyes alert 

He'd stand out in any crowd. 

I thought how many men like him 

Had fallen through the years. 

How many died on foreign soil? 

How many mothers' tears? 

How many pilots' planes shot down? 

How many died at sea? 

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? 

No, freedom isn't free. 

I heard the sound of taps one night, 

When everything was still 

I listened to the bugler play 

And felt a sudden chill. 

I wondered just how many times 

That taps had meant "Amen," 

When a flag had draped a coffin 

Of a brother or a friend. 

I thought of all the children, 

Of the mothers and the wives, 

Of fathers, sons and husbands 

With interrupted lives. 

I thought about a graveyard 

At the bottom of the sea 

Of unmarked graves in Arlington. 

No, freedom isn't free. 

Web site: © 1994-2004 David Merchant 

Poem: ©Copyright 1981 by CDR Kelly 

Strong, USCG (Ret). 

Updated 26 May 2005 

Carl P. Mc Crillis 

John McCann 

Alfred C. McGrew 

Robert Medina 

Wilfred H. Mensching 

Richard W. Meyrick 

Ralph W. Middlebrooks 

Robert L. Miller 

Ben Montoya 

Elmer A. Morse 

Wilford A. Moss 

John J. Moyer 

David Nash 

Charles J. Nielsen 

Everett Oolman 

H,enry R. Patton 

Harold Penny 

Felix Peralta 

Simme Pickman 

Warren S. Quinn 

Jose L. Quintara 

Cipriano D. Ramirez 

Maston L. Rea 

John Redl 

Raleigh E. Rhodes 

Joseph Ricotta 

Virgil Robertson 

Noyle W. Rogers 

Edward L. Rollie 

Everett Roseen 

Melvin H. Rosen 

Donald Roulett 

Melvin L. Routt 

Roy D. Russell 

Ero Saccone 

Larry R. Sandoval 

LeRoy N. Schneider 

Agapito E. Silva 

George Small 

Wesley B. Tate 

William B. Thomas 

Raymond M. Tompkins 

Glenn E. Tripp 

Harry P. Tripp 

John L. Tuggle 

Edd Underwood 

Francis van Buskirk 

Hrold J. Vick 

Samuel Vlahon 

Gerald L. Wakefield 

Donald J. Watson 

John W. Whipple 

Jess J. VVhitted 

Jack Wilkins 

Lowell Winfrey 

William H. Wise 

SLEEP MY SON, YOUR 

DUTY DONE, 

FOR FREEDOM'S LIGHT 

HAS COME, 

SLEEP IN THE SILENT 

DEPTHS OF THE SEA 

OR IN YOUR BED OF 

HALLOWED SOD, 

UNTIL YOU HEAR AT 

DAWN, 

THE LOW CLEAR 

REVEILLE OF GOD

Father Bob Phillips 

ADBC Chaplain: Man of Letters, Science and the Cloth 

The Chaplain for the ADBC since 1989, 

The Rev. Robert W. Phillips, is truly a man of 

letters, science and the cloth. 

Born August 1920 in Duluth, MN, he was 

educated in the Public schools in Moorhead, 

MN, and Fargo, ND. 

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps May 

24, 1939, and was trained as an Aircraft and 

Engine Mechanic and Flight Engineer on B- 

10b, B-18 and B-17 aircraft. 

Assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron 

at Clark Field, Pampanga, Philippine Islands 

in July 1940, he also served at Del 

Monte Air Base, Mindanao from December 

15, 1941, until May 1942. 

Captured by the Japanese on May 10, 1942, 

he was a POW in camps at Malaybay, 

Bilibid, Kawasaki and Hitachi; and transported 

on the Tottori from Manila to Japan 

September to November 1942. 

Fr. Bob returned Stateside October 1945 

and reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force where 

he taught aircraft electrical systems and armament 

systems and served as Armament 

Systems Officer in Korea 1955-56. 

He retired Jan 31, 1963, as a Captain, USAF, 

Guided Missile Maintenance Officer. 

He was educated at Concordia College, 

Moorhead, MN. and Rollins College, Winter 

Park earning a Bachelor in Math and MS 

Degree in Physics, 1971. 

Fr. Bob received his Certificate 

for Ordination from the Seminary 

- Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, England. 

Following retirement from the 

military, he worked at Martin- 

Marietta Scientific Programming 

and laser research and development. 

While working in the aerospace 

industry, he felt the call to learn 

more about the Christian Faith. 

Reared a Presbyterian, he relied 

upon his faith during his years in 

captivity. The opportunity to seriously 

study the Christian Faith 

came along in 1973 while still employed 

at the Martin-Marietta Co.. 

He trained for the Priesthood at 

Wycliffe Hall, which is a part of 

the University of Oxford in Oxford, 

England. 

After being ordained Priest in 1979 he was 

called to be the Rector of All Saint’s Episcopal 

Church in Enterprise, FL (1979-1984). 

Fr. Bob served Church of the Good Shepherd, 

Maitland from 1991 to present. 

Since 1986, he has served the Church of 

England, Diocese in Europe in France, Germany, 

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, 

Sallie and Fr. Bob 

Reunion Audience Thrilled By Musical Tribute to ADBC 

A highlight of the 2008 Convention was 

the Wednesday evening production of 

Stephen Melillo's "That We Might Live", 

his thrilling tribute to the POW's who are 

the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. 

A group in New Mexico paid him for a 

six-minute production, but he told them he 

couldn't adequately honor the survivors in 

that amount of time. For the same fee, he 

wrote a 65-minute opus for large orchestra 

and choir. 

After hearing the stories of many New 

Mexico ex-POWs, Melillo, an accomplished 

composer was compelled to compose and 

record this music while Bataan's survivors 

are still alive. 

Unlike many audio-visual productions, 

in his, the music came before the graphics. 

It is first and foremost a musical composition. 

"The 2003 production itself is a piece 

of history," Melillo said. 

The score was rendered by a culmination 

of 143 world-class Japanese military musicians. 

After months of negotiations, Melillo 

inspired Japanese musicians to offer a statement 

of healing in the form of music composed 

as a tribute for the Survivors of Bataan 

& Corregidor. Melillo convinced Colonel 

Junichiro Eguchi of the Japanese Ministry 

of Defense that the piece would be an "olive-branch-statement" 

about reconciliation, 

and not a musical attack on Japan. He agreed 

to change the title ("Kakehashi" is a Japanese 

term referring to a "bridge to the future") 

and to end the work with "God Bless 

America" and his arrangement of a Japanese 

children's song, "Furusato," about the love 

of homeland. "When they were recording 

'God Bless America' " Melillo says, "I was 

looking over my shoulder at the two Americans 

in the recording booth, and with my 

face I was saying. 'Do you believe this?" "The 

reason 'God Bless America' appears here is 

Poland, Morocco and (on loan to) Diocese 

of Egypt. 

He has been a member of the Society of 

the Holy Cross (SSC) since 1983. 

He was married in 1946 to Audrey Murray 

and they had two children, three grandchildren 

and three great-grandchildren. 

Widowed in 2006, he married Sallie Hadley 

in August 2007. 

because American soldiers were bayoneted 

for singing it on Bataan. Now we had a Japanese 

ensemble playing it - and not just playing 

it as a job, but pouring their guts into it. 

It was a connection, like they were extending 

a hand, in music, to Americans because 

they know how important that song is to 

us." 

Since completing the piece, Melillo, a 

Smithfield, VA, resident, has traveled the 

nation getting the emotional tribute into the 

hands of as many veterans as possible. Now 

re-recorded by multi-national ensembles, the 

Music has been "visually scored" from over 

40 hours of Historic film. The result is the 

DVD, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE: Then. Now. 

Always. A Documentary in Music. As "That 

We Might Live" concluded and the lights 

came up, the hushed audience burst into an 

emotional tribute of its own to the piece and 

the man who invested so much of his own 

life into this thrilling production. 


Young Book WIth 

Rosters Available 

Al Young Studios has announced the first 

installment in its Internet publication of original 

historical materials for My Father’s Captivity, 

the World War II experiences of a Japanese 

prisoner of war. 

The book, now scheduled for publication 

later this year, represents the culmination of 

more than 25 years of research. 

The collection includes various lists 

of prisoners at Kawasaki Camp 2B; rosters 

for the 28th Bombardment Squadron stationed 

at Clark Field, Philippine Islands, at 

the outbreak of World War II; and a roster 

for prisoners at Casaisang, a prison camp on 

the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. 

Subsequent installments in this online 

publication effort will include more than 250 

photographs including aerial pictures of the 

bombing of the Yokohama industrial area; 

more than 150 documents associated with 

POW radio broadcasts, as well as censored 

letters and photographs. Digital images of 

artifacts in the collection will also be added 

to the site. 

Al Young Studios al@alyoung.com 

Online art gallery - www.alyoung.com 801- 

221-0351 

Steeles Meet, Dine 

With Japanese Friend 

Ben and Shirley Steele of Billings, Montana 

had dinner recently with Toshiko 

Donlavy. Toshiko lived as a small child in 

the village near Omine Machi where Ben 

mined coal for the Japanese during World 

War II. She remembers vividly the prisoners 

as they walked through her village to the 

mine and back to their camp, and how thin 

and black they were. 

Michiko Conklin, a long-time friend and 

former student of Ben's, introduced the 

Steeles to Toshiko. Both Michiko and 

Toshiko married American Servicemen' after 

the war and have lived in Montana for many 

years. Michiko is an artist and Toshiko is a 

seamstress. 

It was a most enjoyable visit. 


ADBC Merchandise - Showing Your Pride 

Lapel Pin 

Small 

Tie Clip 

Earrings 

Bo-Lo-Tie 

w/ Logo 

Decals (2) 

4 1/4 “ X 3 1/2” 

Not Depicted - Ball Cap and License 

Plate 

& WIndow 3.1/2 X 2 1/4 Descendants Membership - $25.00 /Year. 

For Descendants Dues 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 _____ Last POW Camp _____________________________ 

Bo-Lo-Ties - W/Logo ........................12.00 License Plates ...................................4.00 

Tie Bar ..................................................7.00 Decal -W/Logo . ..................................2.00 

Decals - Window ( 2) ..........................2.00 Lapel Pin.......................................7.00 

Charm for Necklace.............................. 7.00 Earrings ................................................ 7.00 

Caps, Blue W/ Logo ..........................8.00 Overseas Caps -only 

sizes 6 1/2 & 7 .................28.00 

Items Shipped Require 15 % Postage - 

Please Make Checks Payable to ADBC 

In Memorium 

Donation made to ADBC in memory of John M. Redl by John Redl Family. 

Gifts in memory of a loved one are accepted and will be acknowledged 

in the Quan. Checks should be made out to ADBC and sent to 

The Quan, 319 Charles St., Wellsburg, WV 26070-0591.

Deceased Members 

No Details 

PEDO C. AQUINO 

4500 38th Avenue South 

Seattle, WA 98118-1612 

WILLIAM T. TALLANT 

200 E. Wishart Street #1 

Monett, MO 65708-2030 

GEORGE W. WINGET 

PO Box 4279 

Bisbee, AZ 85603-4279 

JAMES O. WISE 

114 Otis Street 

Chula Vista, CA 91910-4820 

RAYMOND J. PROVENCHER 

4009 W. Ashland Avenue 

Visalia, CA 93277-5838 

DAN RAYE 

1129 Willow Lane Apt. #4 

Grants Pass, OR 97527-6285 

ESTEBAN F. JUGO 

15534 Legend Springs Drive 

San Antonio, TX 78247-5556 

DEAN A. MACY 

610 E. 17th Avenue 

Post Falls, ID 83854-9111 

RAYMOND E. PORTER 

6874 South Lakeview 

Littleton, CO 80120-3746 

JENNINGS B. PITTS 

27005 Wapiti Drive 

Evergreen, CO 80439 

From Linda Holmes 

“You Inspired us. You set a standard 

for us to live up to,” Vietnam ex- 

POW Orson Swindle told ADBC members 

in a noontime meeting on Saturday, 

May 10, following the Memorial Service 

at the Annual Convention in Louisville. 

Mr. Swindle, a close friend and fellow 

POW with Senator John McCain, spoke 

of how he thought of the Bataan and 

Corregidor defenders as he walked up 

the hill from the train station toward the 

prison camp in Hanoi, following many 

days of beatings and torture. “I thought 

to myself, “If so many of those guys from 

Bataan and Corregidor could make it, I 

25th Mukden Survivors Group Reunion 

Set Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 in Hannibal, MO 

Fellow Mukden Survivors Group, We are in the process of planning our 25th 

Anniversary Reunion in Hannibal, MO. Sept.30 through Oct. 4, 2008; home town of 

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, (thanks to Mark Twain – population 18,000) 

We have a block of 50 rooms reserved at the Quality Inn (newly built – very nice) 

120 Lendsey Rd (Rt. 36 West) phone number – (573) 221-4001 (no toll free number) 

E-Mail gm.mo179@choicehotels.com; Fax# 573-248-0395. 

Call for your reservation and tell them you’re with the “Mukden Survivors Group” 

The price is $71 plus tax and a hot breakfast is provided with a very nice eating area. 

There is a nice restaurant next door called “Fiddlesticks” (lunch and dinner.”) We do 

not have all the events lined up yet, but plan on having transportation to all of them. 

Registration fee will be $50 for banquet and expenses. Please register early so we 

can get an idea of how many to plan on. Cut off date is Sept. 1st 2008. 

Any questions – you may E-Mail us at ralphremg@aol.com. Or call (573) 248- 

0886 after April 1st. (We are in Texas till then.) Looking forward to seeing you! 

Ralph & Mary Griffith And Shirley Jones 

Registration Form 

Name ________________________________________________________ 

Address ______________________________________________________ 

E-Mail Address_________________ ________phone #_________________ 

Make check out to: Mukden Survivors Group and mail to: 

Ralph E. Griffith 

56862 Rivere Au Sel Place 

New London, MO. 63459-3202 

P.S. Please send your e-mail address, phone number, and address corrections 

even if you choose not to attend the reunion. Thank you. 

‘You Inspired Us’Vietnam Ex-POW Tells ADBC Members 

have to make it, too.” 

“We may have had a longer captivity, 

but no one had it worse than you², he told 

his listeners. ³We sometimes got bored in 

our long isolations, but you were never bored 

-- you were doing slave labor every day.” 

The appreciation on the faces in the room 

was noticeable. 

After his remarks, Mr. Swindle took a few 

questions. One concerned Senator McCain¹s 

opposition to the proposed extension of the 

GI Bill for education. He explained that Senator 

McCain believes the new bill as written 

is “Way too complicated and way too 

costly”, saying that the Senator preferred to 

build on the original bill, which is simpler 

and more do-able to extend. 

Mr. Swindle was also told that efforts in 

Congress to enact compensation for Pacific 

War POWs had been sidetracked after September 

11, 2001; he was asked if perhaps 

under a new Administration, those efforts 

might be revived. When he suggested that 

foreign policy considerations might get in 

the way, he was reminded that both houses 

of Congress had agreed that our government 

has never done enough for survivors of 

Japanese captivity, and that should be the 

focus of renewed action by Congress. 

“I will remember this conversation,” Mr. 

Swindle said. 


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 


Symbolism of the ADBC Logo Design 

Many have asked about the symbolism of the ADBC logo. 

FOllowing is a description of the elements and the meanng for each: 

The white ghecko on the blue field is the insignia of the Philippine Department 

(U.S. Army component responsible for the Philippines. 

The ribbon on the shoulder of the ghecko is the Philippine Defense Ribbon. 

The four gold stars on the gold edge of the shield represent the four battle 

stars for the Defense of the Philipines. 

The seven gold stripes - 3.5 years overseas 1941-1942 - years of Combat 

On the ADBC banner are also the names in gold of the islands defended by 

the Army, Navy, and Marines: Bataan (Luzon), Corregidor, Marianas, Guam, 

Wake, Midway, and the Dutch East Indies (current-day Indonesia). 

The ship symbol represents the Asiatic Fleet . 

Three blue streamers attached to the flag pole represent the three Presidential 

Unit Citations won by the Defenders. 

The red, white, and blue stream on the flag pole represents the e 

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. 

Source: "The Return to the Philippine Islands, ADBC 25th Anniversary, 

1942-1967” booklet. - Provided by Paul Ropp. 

24 - The Quan 

American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor, Inc. 

Joseph Vater 18 Warbler Drive 


*Change Service Requested* 

Please Use Form 3547

June 2008 - Philippine Defenders Main

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