IamA 94 year old WWII veteran and Bataan Death March survivor, AMA!

Thank you for your service. If you are willing to talk about it; what was the worst thing that you had to endure? If you're not willing to talk about it; how about the best experience?

The worst thing was the death march itself and the food in the camp. Just rice and salt. We used to try and get the leaves of edible plants and cook it. Some people were so hungry they would sweep up grass hoppers and eat it!

The best part of it is "now". There was nothing good about the war.

Do you still hate the Japanese?

Of course at the time. Now I am neutral.

My ex-inlaw grandfather was also a survivor of the Bataan death march. He passed a few years ago. His name was Charlie Amos- did you know him?

He had some amazing stories- and surprisingly had no ill will toward the Japanese.

He does not remember any names, hope you have luck elsewhere.

Do you feel that the Philippines was abandoned at the time; i.e. thrown to the Japanese?

We had no support or good weapons, just rifles and artillery. The United States was justified in not coming to help sooner, there were more strategic reasons.

Thank you so much for serving our country. What was your initial reaction once you heard World War II had ended? Did that reaction change when you heard about the atomic bombs?

I was happy at the time that the war had ended. I felt that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were justified. It saved many lives, and it ended the war.

What was the life lesson you took from WWII?

Be in good health, it is important to survival.

Did your feet hurt after the march?

He smiled.

Of course.

[deleted]

He did not feel comfortable answering this one.

When you joined the force, what was the mentality? For your country or is.it a us vs. Them mentality?

For the country.

What's the best part about being alive in 2014?

The best thing about being alive right now is receiving compensation from the U.S. government. (Smiling)

I see (in the bill's text) that the payment is set as follows:

"The amount of a payment under subsection (a) to an individual shall be $4 for each day during which the individual was held in captivity by Japanese forces during World War II, compounded annually at a 3 percent annual rate of interest."

What does this actually work out to be today? How much do you get in compensation each month/year/whatever?

Complete layman's workings here, but assuming 2 years in captivity, that's $2,920. Compound interest at 3% p.a. for 50 years brings it to $12,801 in 1995. I guess that's annually for life? So in 2015 he'll get $23,120? Assuming the compound interest continues.

EDIT: 3 years in captivity would extrapolate to $34,681 in 2015.

EDIT 2: OP says he was in captivity for 3 months. So more like $2,767/year. (Thanks /u/HaloZero)

EDIT 3: Also, kind of rude to be working all this out here. We shouldn't be thinking about the money, just thanking OP for his service and wishing him the best. Sorry OP.

He was in captivity for three months.

What is your best advice to someone who is currently serving in the military?

Just be a simple soldier. Don't lazy, sleepy or aggressive. Follow the orders of the day.

Hi, I'm Filipino and from the Philippines. What's your opinion about the current state of our country?

It's so over populated now. It's hard to progress. So many typhoons each year. The government is corrupt, and companies won't let people work.

Thank you for doing this AMA. Did you interact with the Filipino prisoners at all?

I was a Filipino prisoner. I was with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry.

What was your ranking in the military? Do you know or keep in touch with anyone from back then? Which country were you enlisted in?

I was a Staff Sergeant. I can't remember anyone else from my unit, and I never saw them after I was released.

What was the first thing you wanted to do after going home?

The first thing was to get my health back. Then, I wanted to have a simple life. Just eat. Rice and fish!

Thank you for all you did and endured.

Are you still able to eat rice after having such a bitter memory attached to it?

I eat rice every day.

Thank you for doing what you did. Did you ever meet any of your guards later in life? Were you able to forgive them?

I never met them or saw them again, but I forgive them.

What was your closest call to being killed in action?

Yes I did. When the Japanese bombed us, I was under a mango tree. I looked and there was a big hole near me!

What was the kindest thing you saw in the camp/on the march? What were the circumstances of your capture (i.e. battle/campaign)? Appreciate your service greatly!

Along the way, people sometimes threw food wrapped in banana leaves at us.

Did you ever hear Tokyo Rose?

I heard about it but I could not tell you what our was about.

I showed him a broadcast of Tokyo Rose and he said something to the effect of, "The discipline of the Japanese was unrivaled. It was difficult to think about."

Thank you for your service and your example. What did you eat on the march?

I had a teacher who was in the march. His name was Bob Elliott and was a great guy. I'm not sure what unit he was in.

On the march the Japanese government did not give us food. We ate what we could pick up. At night they allowed us to sleep in a field. When we woke up we found a plantation of Jicama. That's what we ate, but that was just our group.

How were you captured? Was the treatment you got at the camp horrendous? We're you delighted to hear about the A-bombs being dropped?

Edit : Meh, not the best of answers. Great to see a world War 2 legend on reddit but would have been better with some decent answers.

We surrendered in Bataan. We were not mistreated at the camp. I was unable to see or hear others being mistreated.

what pow camp were you in? were you kept on Luzon or were you sent somewhere else?

how were you liberated and what was that like?

thanks for your service and for doing this ama sir.

I was in Luzon, Capas Tarlac for three months.

There was a ruling there that those were sick could go home. I had malaria, dysentery and other illnesses. My health was failing. When they saw how sick I was, they released me.

Thank you so much for your service sir. Having been on the death march, interacting with both your captors and fellow prisoners of war and facing your own mortality at that time, what is the greatest lesson you learned, the greatest truth about life and living as a result of your experience?

If you're able to resist the hardships of life as a prisoner of war, while it's hot and you are without food, it's a lesson that it is hard to survive without your health.

Thank you sir, I agree completely. If you do not mind, may I ask -- what activities have you practiced in your life since your time during the war that have proven essential to maintaining your health and wellbeing?

Have plenty of rest, sleep well, and eat everything that is given to you. If you see plants or things that are edible, eat them!

Were there any good moments during WWII? If so what was it?

The good moments for me were when there was no fighting.

I've met you before! At last year's memorial Bataan death march in white sands new mexico. How tiring was it for you to sit there and shake everyone's hand? Thank you so much for being there though, it made the experience a lot more meaningful!

He says he's never been to New Mexico, only old Mexico (again, smiling).

Did you ever interact with Douglas MacArthur? what was the view of him by the Filipinos? Did you feel abandoned by him when he escaped to Australia after the Japanese invaded?

I do not feel like MacArthur abandoned the Philippines. He was sent there for strategic reasons.

How do you feel about the U.S conflicts since WWII?

I have only been in Philippine campaigns. I only know that what I fought for was justified.

While in the POW camp did you see signs the war was coming to an end? or Was it a surprise?

I was already out of the camp when the war had ended.

I am so sorry that I missed this. My grandfathers brother William Burns was in the 192nd Conpany B tank battalion out if Maywood, IL. He actually drove a surrender jeep. He passed away in a POW camp after surviving the March but I have thankfully been taught a lot of information about the March and the camps both in the Philippines and later in Japan.

From the very bottom of my heart I just want to say thank you for doing this AMA and I am sincerely regretful that so many people have no idea what you and your brothers in war went through. I have read many biographys of survivors (POW: Tears That Never Dry and My Hitch In Hell: The Bataan Death March are two that come to mind first) and I am so sorry what happened to you, your country, your friends, and everyone who suffered. I have always been told that due to the resilience of the Philippine and American soldiers prior to their surrender despite no supply lines, as well as the drive to not give up life occupied the Japanese Army long enough to keep them from advancing on to the next mission and eventually America. I don't really have a question, I just hope you do see this and know that you are part of the reason America is still free and the allies won the war.

Edit: Actually I do have questions although I understand the AMA is over.

I know you said you understand why the American army didn't come to liberate the Phillipines sooner due to strategic reasons but was this always something you knew and understood or did it take time and hindsight to understand/come to terms with that?

My second question would be how you kept your spirit from being broken? I understand from Lester Tenny's My Hitch In Hell (I hope I'm not mixing up biographies) that he had been part of a group that had created playing cards while in the camps and that if I recall correctly they would try save a small portion of rice each day so that every 5th day or whatever the amount was they'd have somewhat of what would seem they had more food that day.

A third question I have is, what you did your first day or week not being a captive prisoner.

Again, thank you.

I'll make sure I get this one to him tomorrow morning!

I knew it at the time; it was tactics. According to the news, he was going to Australia to set up.

We could not save or ration. There was barely enough food to begin with.

What do you think about current political/military state of affairs?

I feel like there are a lot of things not being done by the government. Helping Chaing Kai-Shek. They should have helped him drive out the communists.

I have spoken with a former death march survivor before. He said he really hates Koreans and still do today. He said the Japanese were cruel, but the Korean who were forced to work under the Japanese were the cruelest of them all. This was because they were so oppressed by the Japanese soldiers and took their anger and frustration out on the POWs. Do you feel the same?

I did not notice at the time. We did not know that they were Korean or Japanese.

Being former military myself, I've read and been told a lot of stories about the Bataan death march. Is it true you would walk in groups of 3, with the outside two supporting the innermost person so they could secretly sleep, and then rotate to let another person get rest? How did you stay strong mentally, not knowing how far you were walking, or knowing when / if it would end?

Words cannot express my gratitude for your service. Young men like me joined the Marine Corps because of men like you, from the stories passed down. Semper Fi from a young vet, to the old breed.

Yes we normally walked in groups but they were larger. It you were in smaller groups you were more vulnerable.

I am currently serving, my father served in the military, and my grandfather was First Marine Raiders during WWII. Before I ask my question, let me say thank you for holding the watch and paving the way for all of us now in uniform, we have you and your fellow service members before to thank for that.

Ok, question time, during the battle, and afterward, how did you fight through what I can imagine would be an overwhelming feeling of helplessness that was there, what did you use to steel yourself to put one foot in the front of another? And afterward, how much did it effect your outlook on life and how much people take for granted?

Thank you again for your service, and for taking the time to field our questions. I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday.

I was depressed, and it felt hopeless to save the Philippines. I could only follow the orders I was given.

On the battlefield, I discovered that not everybody will fight. They will just sit there and occupy their position. The commander can ask for support from behind. You must do what is good, and must work to earn.

Do you have any proof of this? We've had many fake WWII AMAs in the last year where they just had their relative hold up a sign (seemingly not having any idea what/why they're holding it up) and turned out to just be bored kids faking the whole thing.

We were all given medals.

Granddaughter: we'll take pictures later.

Ok great, once those pictures are posted we'll reinstate the post.

http://imgur.com/1oLWvwn http://imgur.com/j6JG15o http://imgur.com/SaxVqEq

Here are some photos with his American Legion cover.

Awesome! I've reinstated the post. Also, if you can edit your post and pop those in the description so they're easily seen by everyone that'd be appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks! Additional pictures and a video were added to the main post. We're done now but I think he had a good time.

How does it feel to be so old? How much worse do you feel than when you were 25?

I feel better now than when I was 25.