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He had always wanted to return
to Corregidor but his health was too poor and he couldn't make
the trip. We saw a notice in the Quan a while back about the
dedication of the General Wainwright Memorial that was to occur
on May 6th, 1999. Mom wanted to go so I encouraged her to make
the trip. We will never forget the experience and will always
cherish the memories. Many survivors from Bataan and Corregidor
attended as did several who helped liberate the island and
Bataan from the Japanese. I was quite honored to help these
veterans, climbing hills and walking the length of the Malinta
tunnel. One question kept coming up - "Which part of the
4th Marines was dad with?" Well, we didn't have the answer,
so we decided to do some digging. When we came back home (Yuma
Arizona) Mom started digging through every old box of papers she
could find. At the bottom of the Cedar Chest she found a letter
from my Father, it is dated September 14th, 1945 and was
addressed to his mother and step father. It answered many of the
questions and has given us a much better idea of what he went
through and where he was during his captivity. I have re-written
the letter nearly verbatim below.
"Dear Mother and Dad. The dates and dope below please
don't put out before I get home, because there might be a order
not to tell anyone as yet.
Served in Shanghai China until May 28th, 1941 when the 4th
Marines left for Subic (Olongopo)
Dec 3rd, 1941 arrived at Subic
Dec 8th, 1941 - received news of bombing of Pearl Harbor,
transferred the same day to Marivelles by boat.
Dec 12th, 1941 - First casualties suffered by the 4th Marines
Dec 29th, 1941 - Landed on Corregidor at 0300, First bombing at
10:20 in the morning 'till 4:54 in the afternoon with 126
planes.
Jan 2nd, 1942 - Manila fell
Apr 9th, 1942 - Bataan fell
Apr 29th, 1942 - Artillery Battle between Corrigedor and Japs on
Bataan.
May 5th, 1942 - 10 PM, Japs made invasion of Corregidor.
May 6th, 1942 - Corregidor fell.
May 23rd, 1942 - Left Corregidor for Manila.
May 24th, 1942 - Bilibid Prison May 25th, 1942 - Left Bilibid
for Cabanatuan.
May 26th, 1942 - Cabanatuan
May 27th, 1942 - Arrived at Camp #3, (1) one died on the way.
Oct 5th, 1942 - Detail of 2000 prisoners "healthy" was
taken out to a unknown destination "Japan we hoped"
Oct 6th, 1942 - Arrived Manila at Pier Seven
Oct 7th, 1942 - Loaded on prisoner boat Totori Maru.
Oct 9th, 1942 - Torpedoe'd by Americans, we thought.
Oct 15th, - At Formosa off and on.
Nov 8th, 1942 - Arrived at Choesen, boarded train same day.
Nov 11th, 1942 - Arrived Mukden, Manchuria(Spelling?) at 11:00.
Many men had died on way and many were to sick to walk.
June 21st, 1943 - Corporal Victo Paliotti USMC, Frederick
Merringola USN and Sgt Joe B. Chastain all escaped.
July 12th, 1943 - Re-captured and brought back.
July 28th, 1943 - Moved to new barracks Hoten, Mukden.
July 31st, 1943 - The ones who escaped were shot, for what I'll
tell later.
Dec 7th, 1944 - Main Camp was bombed by B-29. 19 killed, one
later died making 20. 27 were wounded.
Dec 21st, 1944 - Bombed again, no damage done to camp.
Aug 16th, 1945 - 6 Americans parachuted into the camp area.
Aug 17th, 1945 - General Parker told us war was over.
Aug 20th, 1945 - Russian Army returned our freedom after 3 years
and 10 months (So it reads, actually was 3 years and 3 months)
Sep 11th, 1945 - Left Mukden for Port Arthur
"God bless you, I love you all.
Hope to see you soon.
Love Andy."
I know a few other details about dad's experiences with the
Old China Marines in Shanghai. He fed "Sooch" Soochow
a few times and really liked the dog. He lovingly referred to
him as "a Heinz 47 variety mutt". Dad also played Oboe
in the Marine Band in Shanghai, after the war he couldn't play
anymore, he had a large scar through his lip from a beating at
the hands of the Japanese guards at one of the camps, he carried
that scar until his death. Dad seldom spoke about the war, even
when he was debriefed by the military he said he wouldn't say
much. He had lived through the years in Prison and he didn't
feel like talking about it would change anything.
He had 3 sons, I am the youngest and I spent more time with
him listening and trying to understand when he would speak a
little about what had happened to him. I do know that he was a
Platoon Sergeant when he was Honorably Discharged at Treasure
Island on July 31st, 1946 and that he enlisted at Portland
Oregon, 01 Sept., 1938.
I am really interested in trying to find out more about what
he went through and more history on the old China Marines. Maybe
a few of his Marine friends will have information to answer our
questions.
Thank You, Andy C. Campbell
Email Address: [email protected]
(USMC too! 1975-1980)
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