Evening star., 1943-04-24
ear their sources and drank and

IicdI IIiclT SOuTCcS ana drank ana
drank.
The lack of food didn't worry me
so much. found I was not hungry.
1 only wanted to get out of there
and could feel my strength going
down. In fact, after I got back it
took four days for my appetite to
become normal again."
Stayed Overnight on Island.
1t. Harmon kept to the east and
on the third day was crossing large
swamp. He didn't feel that he could
make 1t across so he stayed on an
island he found in the center.
He resumed his crossing the fourth
day and stepped into a deep portion
of the swamp.
Il went down twice." he related.
Il thought I was gone. I still had
my leather jacket ONT helped keep
me warm even if it was wet-and the
second time down struggled to get
it of. I came up quickly, got a
breath of air, and went down and
found firm footing but lost the
jacket.
AVN eiAoiC oll ledptQ Clle
swamp from one footing to another" ;"
On he went. Vines clung to his
legs, bit his flesh at every step. They
snapped his face, sprang back when
he cut at them with a knife.
Il wanted to fight back at those
vines" he said. When I thought
had them cut they came back at me
and I got mad. But I had to hold
my temper. knew if ever lost my
head I was a goner.
1T was the greatest lesson in pa
tience ever had
1t. Harmon said he kept a regular
schedule. At 5 every morning he
hit the trail.
About $50 each night would
try to make the top of a hill before
dark. Then I would cut long
branches and leaves to make a bed
and cut other branches for a lean-to,
to try to keep off the rain. It rained
continually and I was always wet.
Unable to Sleep Soundly.
L made cross of two sticks to
put my head on and hung a mos
quito net over the sticks so it was
over my face, but I couldn't sleep.
l would get snatches of sleep and
wake up shaking like a leaf from
the cold.
I'm the morning my legs were
so sore that for the first half huor
I could hardly move"
About noon of the fifth day he
came to a swamp about 10 miles
across.
Il lost heart" he said. II felt
I just couldn't make it so decided
this once I'd move northeast to see
If I couldn't 60 around. After a
while found some pieces of glass
from broken green bottles, then
there was a path marked by slashes
on trees.
Il followed this for four and a
hall miles and came to hut.
Inside were Francois, his wife and
two kids. They were very scared
OF me. Here I was, bearded. sore,
tired, coming through the woods
with that knife looking like I was
coming for bear"
1t. Harmon said one thing that
worried him was his parents.
Prayed to Get Out,
They are getting along in years
and I hoped they would not give
up hpoe. I prayed and prayed to
get out, and prayed that the shock
OF me missing would not cause them
serious illness.
One thing had with me was
my prayer book and used it eyery
night. I must have said a mil
lion Hail Mary's.'
1t. Harmon said it was a great
thrill to talk by telephone with
his family the other night.
Il am about the luckiest guy that
ever walked the face of the earth,
but the one thing that really hurts
is the other fellows. Those guys
were like brothers to me.
If have the opportunity am
certainly going to see or write every
one OF their families and tell them
not to give up hope.
They must believe and believe
II they are alive. they can get out"
1t. Harmon said he hoped his
experiences would enable the Gov
ernment to give training, equip
ment and aid to others caught SIM
llarly, to take better care of them
selves and to get out as well.