WWII American Civilian POWs 65th Anniversary of Liberation

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Bay Area Civilian Ex-Prisoners of War (BACEPOW)

Apr 06, 2010, 01:19 ET

Civilians imprisoned by Japan reunite to share memories

FREMONT, Calif., April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year marks the 65th anniversary of liberation for U.S. civilians imprisoned by Japan during WWII in the Philippines. For the national organization, Bay Area Civilian Ex-POWs (BACEPOW), the anniversary has special meaning and is being celebrated with reunions and other events, which provide a forum for survivors to tell their stories of imprisonment, survival and liberation. It's a time for continued healing and reconciliation.

Few know that 14,000 American civilians were held as prisoners by Japan during WWII, 11% of them dying or disappearing from inhumane camps. Half were in the Philippines, a US Commonwealth where large numbers of Americans lived and worked, some second and third generation families. Their lives changed forever when Japan invaded in 1941.

"Many of us were children", says Sascha Jansen, who now leads tours to the sites of the POW camps. "We didn't understand why we were imprisoned, had to live in unbearable conditions, were poorly fed, and watched as many parents and friends starved to death".

"We are the forgotten POWs, largely ignored by our own government, and still seeking an apology from Japan", said Angus Lorenzen who authored a book about his childhood experience as a prisoner of the Japanese. "By the fourth year, starvation dragged us down, and prisoners died at an increasing rate." Those who survived lost more than 3 years of their lives.

Liberation came to the three camps in Manila during February of 1945. A 1st Cavalry Flying Column dashed 100-miles to rescue the 3,800 hundred prisoners at Santo Tomas, and two days later, 550 civilian and 800 military POWs were rescued from Bilibid prison. The 11th Airborne's air, land, and amphibious attack liberated 2,200 prisoners at Los Banos. These raids made military history, and were illustrated by Life Magazine in a photo spread showing emaciated men, women and children celebrating their liberation.

"These people have an incredible story to tell," said James Zobel, archivist for the McArthur Memorial Museum in Norfolk, Virginia. Zobel has been documenting the survivor experience. Descendents and friends are active in BACEPOW. "It is important to preserve this history while we still have first-hand accounts," said Suzie Reynolds, granddaughter of former Santo Tomas prisoner, William Reese.

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SOURCE Bay Area Civilian Ex-Prisoners of War (BACEPOW)