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.
TheBRADLeyB54 karma
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.
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