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>.