Home Sweet Home

We were never told us officially about the end of the war.  The Japanese commander deserted in the days that followed. (H. Montoya, p.295) Life changed dramatically for the men in the camp. We were filling up on rice from the abandoned Japanese warehouse. Two or three men who had worked in the kitchen broke into the Japanese warehouse, took over several bags of lime, and in ten foot letters wrote " P O W" on the parade ground. A few days later, a B-29 flew over the camp in a usual low level. A small object fell right in front of us. We ran to investigate. (H. Montoya, p.207). We found a metal wrench tied to a piece of heavy cardboard. On it was inscribed that the camp would be supplied with food, medicine, and clothing by parachute in three days. (H. Montoya, p.208)
On September 17th, the senior U.S. Army officer of the camp told us that the next day we would be boarding a Japanese tap rain at Omuta for Nagasaki. The next day, there were 430 Americans, including the ones hospitalized. We were the survivors of the orginal 500. Several yellow buses were used to carry the hospital patients, the rest walked. However, Omuta was just walking distance away. (H. Montoya, p.211) We traveled north for about 65 miles. We the headed south. Our destination was Nagasaki, 35 miles around the bay. Nagasaki was in total ruin. There was no humans around. (H. Montoya, p 213) I left Nagasaki on the British warship. We arrived in Okinawa on September 20th. (H. Montoya, p216). After a week on the island, I was told to report to the B-24 bomber hanger at 2 o'clock to be flown to Manila. We landed at Nichols field, outside of Manila.p, around noon. (H. Montoya, p.218-219) on October 29th 1945, I was taken to an army airport for my flight to San Francisco. (H. Montoya, p.221) When I got on American ground I began tearing up. I had never been so happy to be standing American ground. I was free from the Japanese; I was no longer a prisoner.
We were treated so inhumanly, but this really reminded me of how happy and proud I was to live in a country where I was free. The whole time I tried to never show that I was scared or weak and it brought me back to home. I live through some of the worst things, but I lived. 

Horace H. Montoya was one of the strongest men I've met (besides my grandpa). World War II made him and my grandpa the wonderful and strong men I got to see before they died of natural causes. Horace died in 2009 and Ben (my grandpa) died in 2007. It was hard for me to do this I see what both have them have been through but it was a learning moment. 

Works Cited
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

Fukuoka Camp #17

After days and days of sailing, in early august we finally arrived at the seaport of Moji on the northern tip of Kyushu. This was deep in enemy territory and there was no way to escape (H. Montoya, p. 167). We were then loaded into the train one by one. We traveled south from Moji for about 2 hours. We arrived at Omuta on the western shore, about 35 miles across the bay from Nagasaki, in the late afternoon (H. Montoya, p. 169). We were met at the train station by squad guards. As we marched down the street in commons of four, the squads of Japanese soldiers flanked us on both sides (H. Montoya, p. 170). We arrived at Fukuoka Camp #17 tired and hungry. We counted off our numbers in Japanese and that was our identification number as a prisoner of war in Camp #17 for the rest of our internment. Fukuoka Camp #17 was about 17 miles northwest of Kumamoto (H. Montoya, p. 172). On the second day at the camp, we were informed that we were going to be paid in Japanese currency to work in the Japanese mining camp (H. Montoya, p. 175). One of the first few days we were given work assignments. Some were ordered to work as blasters and shovelers. I was inducted into the coal blasting squad. Others were assigned to build wood frames that would secure the ceilings (H. Montoya, p.177). The coal mines were unsafe and everyday we worked our lives were in danger. Caveins were fairly common. 
  On August 9th, 1945, my crew of 150 prisoners were exiting the main mine entrance. We looked up for fresh air.but on this day, thousands of feet up, there was a cloud of silvery dust hover above — the aftermath of "Fat Man,"  the first atomic bomb. The next day we were given the day off. (H. Montoya, p. 194) 
One day I was punished for having my number tag hanging on the inside of my door instead of the outside. My punishment was kneeling on the ground in front if the gaurdhouse and being kicked in my ribs and groin. 

Works Cited 
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

Leaving For Japan

In July 1943 we were scheduled to leave Camp Cabanatuan. We were lined up in several columns alongside the fence (H. Montoya, p. 157). Every one of us was search thoroughly for passions such as pencils, mirrors or anything that could be used in an escape. The group of 500 was ready to leave Cabanatuan and head for Manila. We were all given a ball of steamed rice for lunch on the trip. It was 6 when we left and we arrived 12 hours in Manila (H. Montoya, p. 158). We walked 200 yards down the Peru ti a staircase the lead to a loading area. We were guided like cattle into a hatch ahead of us. We came to a 10 ft square hole on the metal deck. There was a twenty foot metal ladder dropping down into a dark bottom of a lower deck (H. Monyoya, p. 161). We were all loaded up and it was packed so tightly we could not sit and could barely stand. The had packed 500 men in an area more suitable for 100 or fewer (H. Montoya, p.163). It was much too crowded in this lowers deck and there was little room to move around, but what could we do about it? Control was out of our hands. At about midnight, the Japanese guards opened the hatch above us. Our next destination was japan, although we took some stops before. I was hoping this place would be better then Camp Cabanatuan. (H. Montoya, p.164-165)  however, I was wrong. Intact It just might have been worse. 

Works Cited
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

Camp Cabanatuan

We arrived at Camp Cabanatuan with 475 men (H. Montoya, p. 145). Camp Cabanatuan was much more clean and spacious then Camp O'Donnell. There were bamboo-constructed barracks with thatched roofs and a high barbed wire fence was built around the camp. We were lined up in attention counting off every man in Japanese. There were 3 prisoner of war camps in Cabanatuan. They were identified as Cabanatuan Camps #1, #2, and #3. They were opened around May 1942 and located 12 miles from the city of Cabanatuan (H. Montoya, p. 146-147). In the years that I was there, 1942 and 1943, Camp #1 was the main prisoner of war camp. It was made up of almost exclusively Americans (H. Montoya, p. 148). By the end of 1942, the deaths were averaging 180 to 200, which wasn't as bad as the deaths at Camp O'Donnell. And the quality care was better (H. Montoya, p. 150). However, we were given jibs like we were given at Camp O'Donnell. These jobs were transporting water to the kitchens, collecting firewood, burying the dead bodies. (H. Montoya, p. 149).Diseases became widespread in Cabanatuan in 1942 an 1943. Beriberi was getting to many of the Americans,it was caused because of the lock if vitamin B1. It's symptoms were pain, an inability to move, and swelling. It was common to see prisoners in the early early morning to be soaking their hands and feet to ease the pain. Pellagra (rough skin in Italian) was caused by lack of vitamin b-3. Victims would develop diarrhea and severe cases of dermatitis. The skin cracked and bleed which eventually turned it to multiple scabs. This disease would also cause the gums to bleed (H. Montoya, p. 152-153). Malaria was another one of the diseases that was very common in Camp Cabanatuan. Malaria was transmitted by the bites of the Mosquitos that were around the camp. Victims would have violent attacks of chills, fever, and excessive sweating. Cerebral malaria was one of the worst. It affected the mind of the victim. They would swing their arms and imaginary hints as if they were fighting them. We would have to tie their hands and feet to keep them from hurting themselves (H. Montoya, p. 154). The biggest goal when living in Camp Cabanatuan was staying alive and away from disease so we could go home safe to our families. And that was my goal to go home to my family, no matter what was around me

Works Cited 
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

The Travel to Camp Cabanatuan

The day we left for Camp Cabanatuan was a clear memory for me. We were in groups of 50 and 100 men with 2 to 4 Japanese armed guards in charge.they were poking and pushing their rifle butts against the ribs and behinds of stragglers (H. Montoya, p. 140). The first group of American POWs to leave the camp that first day numbered 600 men. We ended up walking all day. Later that evening, we were fed a baseball sized rice ball and nothing else. We supplemented this "meal" with some if the weeds around us. Then we slept underneath the stars with the question of what the next day would bring us (H. Montoya, p. 142-143).

Works Cited
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

Camp O'Donnell

Camp O'Donnell was located at Capas, in North Central Luzon. We were housed in Nipa shacks that were firmly used by Philippino Army training units (Report on American Prisoners of War Interned by the Japanese in the Philippines). On the American side we were losing from 80 to 150 prisoners per a day to amoebic dysentery (H. Montoya, p. 123). Amoebic dysentery is an infection in your bowels caused by a type of germ called an amoeba (BMJ Group, Amoebic dysentery - What is amoebic dysentery?). Since there wasn't much water it was harder to clean them, thus resulting in their deaths (H. Montoya, p. 123). We were fed only twice a day and only one small bowl of white rice per meal. There were no veggies or meat in the watery rice. Some of them men were kind enough to supplement their rations with leftovers for the sick or dying (H. Montoya, p. 124-125). We were put to work at the camp. Some of the jobs were gathering wood from alongside the river, hauling water in fifty-gallon barrels for our kitchen, and digging graves for the burial of the dead; which I was assigned to along with some of the other men.mIn return for our days of work, we were rewarded with an additional half portion of rice. (H. Montoya, p. 125). However, this job was particularly difficult in the jungles weather. It was known for raining and bodies were difficult to bury in the wet mud. But we had to or else wild animals would eat the dead body's if they saw a single limb coming out of the ground. Practicing religion, particularly Christianity, was forbidden buy the Japanese commander. To be caught kneeling in prayer was basically suicide. If someone wanted to have religious devotions it was done at dark and in an area away from the guards (H. Montoya, p. 127). It was hard to live in these conditions. We all suffered from lack of food and medicine, but those of us who kept positive thought survived (H, Montoya, p. 135). About 2,200 Americans and 22,000 Philippino prisoners of war died from starvation, disease, and the cruel treatment they received. (H. Montoya, p. 139) At the end of the month there was a rumor going around that they would be transferring the able prisoners to another location (H.  Montoya, p. 136) and by June 2nd, 1942 the rumor was proven true. Able POWs would be moved to Camp Cabanatuan, located northeast of Camp O'Donnell. (H. Montoya, p. 139)

Works Cited

"Digestive health centre." Amoebic dysentery. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://www.webmd.boots.com/digestive-disorders/tc/amoebic-dysentery-what-is-it>.

Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

"O'Donnell Provost Marshal Report." O'Donnell Provost Marshal Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/philippines/odonnell/provost_rpt.html>.

The Bataan Death March

We later found out that we were walking the Bataan Death March. It was around 63 miles of pain (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March). We were treated unfairly by our enemy solders. Were were given little water and food and beaten when we didn't understand what they were commanding us to do (H. Montoya, p. 52 & p. 55) (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March). This horrible treatment had estimated 7,000 to 10,000 deaths (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March). The point of this march was to get the 75,000 captured American and Philippino POWs from Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell. We marched 55 miles to San Fernabdo, we then traveled by train to Capas, we then walked the last 8 miles to Camp O'Donnell (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March). The POWs were beaten if we attempted to get water and some of the local Philippino civials would throw rice balls to us, but the Japanese enemies killed those civilians. Not to mention the heat was almost unbearable. (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March).  Once we reached San Fernando, we were rushed into boxcars. There was so many of us in one boxcar there was standing room only. Finally we reached Capas, the remaining of us walked those few miles to Camp O'Donnell. Only 54,000 of use made it. Our treatments at the camp was no better then the treatments we had received before. That lead to even more deaths. (Rosenburg, The Bataan Death March). By the end of April, there were only 5,000 to 6,000 American prisoners of war in Camp O'Donnell (H. Montoya, p. 106)

Works Cited

Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.

Rosenburg , Jennifer . "What was the Bataan Death March in World War II?." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/qt/Bataan-Death-March.htm>.