1941 - Prisoner of War for 3 1/2 years

 

 

Fred Allen Douglass was a Japanese prisoner in World War II.  He was captured in Corregidor in the Philippine Islands.  My Grandma says, “We didn’t hear from him for about one year.  We hoped he was alive because there was no verifications of his death. Finally we received a form card from him.  He was a prisoner for 3 and1\2 years.”

Fred was captured in 1941 because the troops couldn’t all be evacuated when the Japanese attacked, only top Military were able to leave the country.  General MacArthur didn’t want to leave the troops he said, “ I shall return.” 

In 1941 the Japanese rounded up Americans and made them march in the terrible Baton March.  Fred survived, but not many survived this terrible march.

We don’t know if Fred stayed in the Philippines or if he was sent to Japan but we do know that he was forced to work very hard with little or no food.

Fred said that he and others would have died if it hadn’t been for a young boy about 7 years old that would sneak in and give them 7 or 8 grains of rice.  Other children fed them grasshoppers.

Fred was a big man around 6 feet and weighed about 220 pounds when he left for the war.  When returned he weighed 89 pounds.

He was in bad health because of his experiences and later died of a heart attack.

Fred had a hard time talking about his experiences so we don’t know a lot.  He was a good strong man who wanted to serve his country.