Books, old and new …

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Cliff Mills

The War Diary of Jane Doner tells the story of “a 17-year-old high school senior, born in Cebu City and living there on December 8, 1941 . . . She fled from her home and hid in the jungle during the early days of the war but was betrayed and forced to surrender to the Imperial Japanese Military. Thereafter, Jane was interned in four prison camps before her eventual rescue and liberation in 1945 by the armed forces of the United States. During captivity she endured fear, starvation, disease and the death of many of her friends, but survived to tell the story.” Published in May 2021, the book can be purchased through Lulu press.

In January 2021, Joe Huber published Rescue Raids of Luzon!, which chronicles the liberation of the civilian and POW camps. Here is the publisher’s description: “Between January 26th and February 23rd of 1945 on Luzon in the Philippines, America made its greatest rescue of civilians and military prisoners from deep behind enemy lines . . . This book summarizes these raids and describes the prison camp experience of the author and his family [who were first interned on Mindanao]. Photos, drawings, and old documents help tell the tale. In the largest raid on the prison at Santo Tomás in Manila, his family had “ringside seats . . .”

The book includes numerous family photos and diagrams of the camps and is available on a variety of sources including Amazon and authorHouse.

War and Resistance-Philippines, 2021, Morningstar- According to the publisher’s writeup, War and Resistance in the Philippines, 1942-1944, published March, 2021, “repairs the fragmentary and incomplete historiography of the events in the Philippine Islands between the surrender of Allied forces in May 1942 and MacArthur’s return in October 1944. Chronicles by politicians and guerrilla leaders reflect limited points of view and personal and political agendas. No academic study has comprehensively examined the Filipino resistance with a critical interdisciplinary approach. As a result, this book provides the first coherent narrative of the protracted fighting by 260,000 guerrillas in 277 units across the archipelago.” Book includes index and bibliography.

James Kelly Morningstar is a retired U.S. Army armor officer and decorated combat veteran with degrees from West Point and Kansas State University, a master’s degree from Georgetown University, and a PhD from the University of Maryland. He currently teaches military history at Georgetown. He is the author of Patton’s War: A Radical Theory of War.

Francis C. Gray is a retired bishop in the Episcopal Church and has served in congregations and dioceses in Florida, Indiana and Virginia. He was born in the Philippine Islands in 1940, where his parents were missionaries, and had a lifelong commitment to world mission. He was interned, with his parents, at Camp Holmes, Baguio, in 1942. The photo on the cover of For Thou Art With Me shows the Gray family, after liberation from Old Bilibid Prison. The book is based on the diaries of his father and was published in 2010.

It can be ordered directly from the author for $13, which includes postage. You can contact him directly at Karenandfrank@comcast.net.

Frank Gray also published a small book of poetry in 2020 titled Released. A few of the titles are:

Prison Food

Death Warrant

Homecoming

The Sacrament of SPAM

This book can also be ordered directly from the author for $13, which includes postage. You can contact him at Karenandfrank@comcast.net.

“Covering both the strategic and tactical aspects of the campaign through the participation of its soldiers, sailors, and airmen, as well as its commanders, James P. Duffy leads readers through a vivid account of the nearly year-long, bloody campaign to defeat over a quarter million die-hard Japanese defenders in the Pacific theater. Return to Victory: MacArthur’s Epic Liberation of the Philippines, is a wide-ranging, dramatic and stirring account of MacArthur’s epic liberation of the Philippines.” Published in March 2021, the book includes maps, photos, an index and bibliography. However, it has little information about the civilian camps.

Interrupted Lives is a short book with perspectives by four American women who were interned in the civilian camps: Margaret Sams, Jane Stoll Wills, Sascha Jean Jansen and Karen Kerns Lewis.

Last printed in 2018, it is an excellent introduction to the struggle for everyday life in the camps during the War. The book includes several photos and illustrations.

Margaret Sams also wrote Forbidden Family: Wartime Memoir of the Philippines, 1941-1945.

Amazing Grace: The Unbroken Spirit of a Japanese Prisoner of War, was published in 2015. “In early 1942, Grace Brown was taken a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines along with her husband Caldwell and their three-month-old son Iain [first on Cebu and later at STIC]. Their ordeal lasted three and a half years during which time they were starved and at the mercy of their captors.
For most of that time, Grace had to care for her son alone after Caldwell was taken from camp by the Japanese. She endured the next two years not knowing if her husband was alive or dead.
At her lowest point, Grace started keeping a secret diary, which she hid in her son’s teddy bear. Finally, back at home in Scotland, she wrote this dramatic account of all they had been through, which is being published for the first time to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day.” Son, Iain A. C. Brown reports that the book is available in Kindle format on Amazon.com. You can also contact Iain at brown@carlton-brown.eu.

Disclaimer: The inclusion of any titles in this list are intended to benefit the interests of our readers and do not imply any endorsement.

Huber family Philippine saga

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Cliff Mills

The story of the Huber family in the Philippines is told in a recent Akron Beacon Journal article titled Raised in the jungle, Cuyahoga Falls man recalls Goodyear rubber plantation. In the article, Joe Huber Jr. recounts growing up on a rubber plantation, on Mindanao, and being interned in Davao and later in Santo Tomás.

The Huber family included Joseph C. Huber Sr., Thelma Thompson Huber, Joseph C. Huber Jr. (born 1934), Barbara Jean Huber (born 1935) and Stephen Lewis Huber (born 1936). Joe Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, while Barbara and Stephen were both born in Zamboanga, Mindanao.

The article spans the family’s story before, during and after the War and includes several family photographs, including some that show the rubber business on Mindanao. The family was repatriated on the S.S. Klipfontein leaving Leyte in March 1945, arriving in San Francisco on 21 April 1945. For more, link to the full article.

The Joseph and Thelma Huber family in 1945, after liberation. (photo courtesy of the Akron Journal)

Australian War Memorial photos

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Cliff Mills

This week, I’m posting a small collection of photographs from the Australian War Memorial, at Canberra, Australia. These photos are in no particular order but relate to the Battle of Manila and the liberation of Australian internees in the Philippines. I am not posting descriptions of these photos, as most of them are self-explanatory.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge, but unfortunately, these are not high-definition photos. For print quality images, prints, or for commercial uses please contact the Australian War Memorial. If you reuse these photos, please reference AWM as the source.

On their website, the AWM also has a feature article on VP Day: Victory in the Pacific, and an article on the Japanese surrender at Morotai, on 9 September 1945.

Please use the comment form if you have any comments, corrections, questions or if you recognize any of the unnamed people in the photos.

Making History with Music…

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Today’s featured article has connections to the Philippines, WWII and music. It’s a brief story of a young serviceman who signed up with the 746th Far East Air Force Band to perform in the Philippines during the War. In fact, PFC Richard Burt’s group performed for the “Angels of Bataan” when they were awarded Bronze Stars after being liberated from Santo Tomás.

Making History with Music appeared on the History News Network on 13 September 2020. Written by Jason Burk, it details the creation of the band, which was composed of mainly professional musicians. It also describes the efforts to product a modern release of the group’s WWII music. It is an interesting read.

For more information, link to the complete article at the History News Network, or visit the 746th FEAF Band Facebook page.

More photos from Fred Hill WWII collection

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Fred Hill near Dulag, Philippines

This week, I’m continuing to show from a collection of photographs from the Pierce Library, at Eastern Oregon University, called the Fred Hill World War II Photographs. Fred served during the War and took many photographs during his service. He also collected photos from others, so some of these may have been published before in books, articles, websites, etc.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge. Unfortunately, these are not high-definition photos. For print quality images, prints, or high resolution tiff files, or for commercial uses please contact the Library Director at Eastern Oregon University. If you reference any of these photos, please cite Pierce Library, Eastern Oregon University, as the source.

Please use the comment form if you have any comments, corrections, questions or if you recognize any of the unnamed people in the photos. Thanks to Patty Gene Croft Stevens for identifying Beulah Schechter and Patricia Chittick in last week’s listings.

I am still looking for people to view a short Japanese propaganda video shot at Santo Tomás early during the War. I am hoping to annotate a version of the video with comments and identify any of the recognizable internees.

	Aerial view of Old Bilibid Prison, 1945
	Young boy sits inside STIC shanty, 1945
	STIC shanties, 1945
	Aerial view of STIC, 1945
	Manila Hotel damage, 1945
	U.S. military model of Corregidor, 1945
	Baguio rental cottages, 1945
	Samar Street cleared of mines, Manila 1945
	Aerial view of Baguio, 1945
	Japanese "Sally" bomber being shot down, 1945

Another collection of Photographs

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Cliff Mills

This week, I’m showcasing a collection of photographs from the Pierce Library, at Eastern Oregon University, called the Fred Hill World War II Photographs. Fred served during the War and took many photographs during his service. He also collected photos from others, so some of these may have been published before in books, articles, websites, etc.

Please use the comment form if you have any comments, corrections, questions or if you recognize any of the unnamed people in the photos. I am also looking for people to view a short Japanese propaganda video shot at Santo Tomás early during the War. I am hoping to annotate a version of the video with comments and identify any of the recognizable internees.

	Fred Hill near Dulag, Philippines
	Santo Tomás Internment Camp (STIC) shown from street, 1945
	Beulah Mae Schechter and Patricia Muriel Chittick at STIC after liberation, 1945
	U.S. Captain Price with two internee children, 1945
	Two young women handling mail at STIC after liberation, 1945
	Indoor mail call at STIC, 1945
	View of Manila from the tower at STIC, 1945
	Aerial view of Corregidor on 16 February 1945
	U.S. infantryman near the mouth of Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor, 1945
	Fred Hill and pals taking a break, 1944

Another batch of NARA photos

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Following is but another set of ten photographs downloaded from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are all in the public domain and can be freely printed, downloaded, or circulated. Many of these photos have been used before in books, magazines and websites. The description for each of the photos is to the right of the photo. Photos in this, and future, series will include STIC, Los Baños, Baguio, Old Bilibid, the Battle of Manila, Liberation, etc. If you publish any of these photographs, please cite the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as the source.

Because there are so many photos, I will continue to post them in weekly batches of ten. Eventually, they will be collected into various photo albums on this site. Click any of the photos to enlarge. Please use the comment form if you have any questions or if you recognize any of the people in the photos.

Many thanks to Lexi Zotomayor for identifying last week’s photo of some former internees in the shade of an Army transport plane as that of Chief Nurse, Laura Mae Cobb, and the rest of the liberated U.S. Navy nurses from Los Baños.

Next week, I will begin publishing photographs from other sources.

	Liberated Los Baños internees, Albertina Janssens and Mary Martha Brown, talk with U.S. liberators, February 1945
	Some newly liberated Los Baños internees during evacuation, February 1945
	U.S. bombing raid on Cebu City, 1945
	Captured Japanese soldiers, 1945
	Carabao amunition-train on Leyte, 1945
	Filipino guerrilla unit on Luzon, 1945
	Three liberated POWs from Old Bilibid Prison being fed, February 1945
	Ex-POW Arthur Raynolds visiting Old Bilibid Prison graveyard, 1945
	U.S. tank-destroyer outside Manila Legislature Building, February 1945
	Repatriation of STIC U.S. Army nurses, 1945

Yet more NARA photos

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Following is yet another set of ten photographs downloaded from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are all in the public domain and can be freely printed, downloaded, or circulated. Many of these photos have been used before in books, magazines and websites. The description for each of the photos is to the right of the photo. Photos in this, and future, series will include STIC, Los Baños, Baguio, Old Bilibid, the Battle of Manila, Liberation, etc. If you publish any of these photographs, please cite the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as the source.

	Liberated Los Baños internees lining up for meal at New Bilibid Prison, February1945
	Liberated Los Baños internees being fed in meal hall a New Bilibid Prison, February 1945
	Liberated Los Baños internees being checked into New Bilibid Prison, 1945, with the Red Cross giving out cigarettes and chocolate.
	Baguio bombing damage, 1945
	Filipino guerrillas conferring with American GIs, 1945
	First helicopter in the Philippines, Leyte 1944
	American paratroopers landing on Corregidor, 1945
	American pilot walks away from his crashed P-38 Lightning
	U.S. Navy nurses wait beneath aircraft on the way to being first of the former Los Baños internees to be evacuated in 1945. Chief Nurse, Laura Mae Cobb, can be seen on the right conversing with a U.S. serviceman.
	Civilians bombed-out by the Japanese in Tacloban, Leyte 1945

Still more NARA photos

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Following is another set of ten photographs downloaded from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are all in the public domain and can be freely printed, downloaded, or circulated. Many of these photos have been used before in books, magazines and websites. The description for each of the photos is to the right of the photo. Photos in this, and future, series will include STIC, Los Baños, Baguio, Old Bilibid, the Battle of Manila, Liberation, etc. If you publish any of these photographs, please cite the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as the source.

	Three young former Santo Tomás internees speak with U.S. Army personnel, 1945. Elizabeth Lautzenhiser, later known as Liz Irvine, is the third person on the right.
	Newly liberated Los Baños internees enjoying a meal at New Bilibid Prison, February 1945
	Newly liberated children from Los Baños eating at New Bilibid Prison, February 1945
	The rescuing of two downed American pilots, a former San Francisco banker, and a guerrilla leader on a lake on Luzon, 1945
	3-year-old Robert Tangen with U.S. Air Force personnel after Bobby's liberation from Old Bilibid Prison, 1945
	Elmer Mocklin and Charles Bradfield pushing a cart with the caskets of two other internees killed in Japanese shelling of STIC, February 1945
	Allied troops advancing past Manila's heavily damaged Post Office, February 1945
	American actor Lew Ayres, aka "Dr. Kildare," serving in the Philippines in 1944.
	Former Los Baños internees clean their meal kits at New Bilibid Prison, February 1945
	U.S. Army troops with newly liberated Japanese beer, found on Luzon,1945

Even more NARA photos

Posted on July 26, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Following is another set of ten photographs downloaded from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). They are all in the public domain and can be freely printed, downloaded, or circulated. Many of these photos have been used before in books and magazines. The description for each of the photos is to the right of the photo. Photos in this, and future, series will include STIC, Los Baños, Baguio, Old Bilibid, the Battle of Manila, Liberation, etc. If you publish any of these photographs, please cite the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), as the source.

	A wounded Los Baños internee being evacuated after liberation, February 1945
	Archibald and Nicholas Mathews taking shelter at STIC during February 1945 Japanese shelling
	Mexican pilots serving in the 201st Fighter Squadron in the Philippines, 1945
	A U.S. B-25 bomber attacking a Japanese destroyer in Ormoc Bay, Leyte, 1944
	The Bowie family, with new baby Lea, after 1945 Los Baños liberation
	"To relieve the nursing problem of Santo Tomás University camp, recently liberated by our forces in Manila, Luzon, P.I., a shipment of U.S. Army nurses arrive in the compound and are immediately put to work in 1945."
	G.I.'s cooking meal for ex-Los Baños internees, 1945
	Bomb damage to the Yokohama Bank, Manila 1945
	Invading Japanese troops crossing river on Luzon, January 1942
	Newly liberated Los Baños internees en route to New Bilibid Prison, February 1945