Elizabeth Lautzenhiser Irvine, 1927 – 2020

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Courtesy of the Express-News, 26 July 2020: Elizabeth Lautzenhiser Irvine died peacefully on July 16, 2020 in Nacogdoches, Texas, at the age of 93.

Elizabeth, known as Liz, was born July 5, 1927 to Roscoe and Mamie (Norton) Lautzenhiser in Baguio, Philippine Islands, where her parents were teachers. They lived most of the time in Manila, until the outbreak of WWII in 1941 at which time they were imprisoned by Japanese forces in Santo Tomas Internment Camp for the next three years. After the war ended, she and her parents moved to the United States. Liz attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In August of 1949, she married Walter Irvine (who, after spotting her playing in a women’s softball league and telling his friends “that’s the woman I am going to marry,” proceeded to start visiting the Whitman Library where she worked and, according to her, he checked out way more books than he ever read!) Together they raised four children while Walter’s career took the family to Seattle, Portland, Houston and San Antonio, and finally to Nacogdoches after his retirement.

Liz participated in numerous activities: troop leader, camp counselor and adult sponsor on many national/international trips with the Girl Scouts; docent at the Houston zoo; teaching swimming and life-saving classes for both the Red Cross and the San Antonio Police Department; PTA member and board member; several outreach programs with the Presbyterian church; San Antonio Citizens Police Academy; square dance club; canoeing club; camping outdoors; and travelling all over the world.
Continue reading →

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.

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 can supply additional information for any of the photos.

	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

More NARA Photos

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Cliff Mills

	Internees wounded in the taking of a prison camp at Los Baños, Luzon, Philippine Islands, await evacuation.
	Mr. & Mrs. Michael O'Hara, and children, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, liberated from a prison camp at Los Baños in February 1945, are interviewed by an Army representative before boarding an Amtrack. The O'Hara family, from left to right: Kathleen, Michael, Michael Jr., and Lorraine, February 1945 after liberation.
	"A happy nun, Sister Mary Alphonsa held prisoner by the Japanese in Los Baños Internment Camp, Luzon, tells of her deliverance, to Cpl. Vick Campbell of Schenectady, New York."
	"Joyous internees as they arrive at New Bilibid Prison, Luzon, where they were to receive medical attention, food and clothing. The Japanese did not respect the clergy; the priest had been interned at the Los Baños."
	Members of a tank corps listen intently as an internee, Bernard Herzog, who lost 78 pounds and is suffering from Beri-Beri, talks over the days he spent In the Santo Tomás Camp In Manila.
	U.S. Liberation forces oversee cleaning of Old Bilibid Prison, 1945. All furniture and bedding were burned and buildings were cleaned and fumigated and cleaned for housing of prisoners until they could be moved to a rear area.
	A simple ceremony is held within the compound of Santo Tomás as our honored dead are laid to rest. A group of liberated internees witness the ceremony conducted by the Rev. in former prison camp garden.
	A destroyed Japanese plane, a Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally," 1945, San Miguel airfield.
	Cavite, in Manila Bay, after Allied bombing, 1945

STIC liberator passes

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Cliff Mills

“George Mark Fisher Sr., age 100, longtime resident, of Walkersville, MD, passed away July 11, 2020, at Montevue Assisted Living in Frederick MD. Born in Bedford, PA, on June 21, 1920, he was the son of John M. Fisher and Edith G. Fisher. He was a graduate of Bedford High School, Bedford PA. George joined the United States Army May 1, 1941 and served 21 years as a career enlisted soldier. He was a combat veteran of World War II serving in the Pacific Theater with Co. “B” 44th Tank Battalion and later in the aftermath of the Korean War.

George received numerous awards, decorations and citations for his exemplary service including the Purple Heart. He was honored to have participated in the Philippine operation known as “The Flying Column” that resulted in the rescue of 3800 allied civilians held prisoner in the Japanese internment camp for three years at Santo Tomas, Manila. His tank “Georgia Peach” and its crew were among the first arrivals to rescue these civilians. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he worked 15 years in civil service at East Coast Relay Fort Detrick and Flair Armory 558 Signal Co. US Army Reserve Unit Frederick MD.”

Click to link to the entire Frederick News-Post article.

Photos: STIC, Los Baños, Baguio, Old Bilibid, etc.

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Cliff Mills

Following are some photographs I recently 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.

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

	At New Bilibid Prison, on Luzon, liberated Los Baños internees are served their first meal after liberation.
	Mrs. Bertha Palmer, Manchester, England, and her two sons, John and Ronald, eat their first meal after being liberated from the Los Baños Internment Camp, Luzon, Philippine Islands.
	Civilian internees, living in the Prison Compound at Santo Tomás, Manila, Philippine Islands, were subjected to intense shelling by firmly entrenched Japanese in the down-town Manila sector. Here they are shown as they sought shelter beside the main building.
	"The huge tanks of the conquering G.I.'s caused much excitement among the internees of the Santo Tomás compound in Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Here, a group of "tankers" show off their beauty to several girls and lads. February 1945."
	"This is Joe Price and his family, head of the underground movement in Tacloban. He was educated at Lehigh University and at one time was pianist with Fred Waring's orchestra. Before the war he was owner of a prosperous department store."
	"The civilian internees, living in the Prison Compound at Santo Tomás, Manila, Philippine Islands, were subjected to an intense shelling by Japanese firmly entrenched in the down-town Manila sector. This girl, who later died, is shown receiving plasma."
	Aerial view of Santa Tomás Internment Camp, February 1945.
	Members of the U.S. 1st Cavalry guard Japanese prisoners as they bury the dead at the Santo Tomás University.
	Aerial view of Manila and the Pasig River after the Battle of Manila.
	Four U.S. Navy players at the Army-Navy Game, 4 July 1945, Rizal Stadium, Manila