Evening star., 1943-01-22

came to feed at the discarded shells.
1 crept up and killed several with
my sheath knife.
At the first kill the survivors
scampered away, but apparently
they laughed 1t off among them
selves because they came back. I
killed again. ,....
1t was our first meat since the
night of October 20 at Hickam Field
I recrossed the island and filled
life jacket with water from the de-
preSsionS in the coral. Itwas dark
now and we bedded down, turning
the raft over us for shelter. But
rain poured down and flooded eJr
bedroom. We got no sleep, but we
rested, although the island seemed
to pitch, roll, and heave all night
just as our raft had done.
On the morning of November II
Johnny found more coconuts and
We ate again. AS a matter of fact.
we ate at intervals all day. I killed
more animals. Their flesh wasn't
the most appetizing in the world,
but it was strengthening. Johnny
and I felt much improved. Jimmy,
however, continued to look very bad.
I worried.
Sight Plane Formation.
Because of him we decided against
trying to move. 1t wouldn't do any
harm. Recuperate for a day, we
decided. During the morning the
Navy Kingfisher scout plane roared
over, just as 1t had the evening be-
fore. AT pm. we saw five planes,
flying in formation. I assumed they
were looking for submarines.
On the contrary they were looking
for us and for Capt. Rickenbacker,
his military aide, Col. Hans Adam
son, and Pvt. Johnny Bartek. our
young engineer on the Flying
Fortress.
We learned later that Capt. Will
liam T. Cherry, pilot and COM
mander of our plane, had been
picked up on the afternoon before.
He had been alone in a tiny two
man raft, which originally had been
occupied by Johnny De Angels and
Sergt. Alex Kaczmarzyk, who died
on the 18th day.
The five-plane searching party
failed to see us. When night came
on we ate again. This time we
abandoned the boat and slept on the
sand. 1t rained intermittently and
we had cold, miserable night.
AT sunrise we thanked God again
fan .Ntr lae
of the water. When went for more
I found the incoming tide had pol
luted the rain holes with salt. A
single plane crossed the island a
mile or two south of us and we de-
cided to move in that direction.
Spy Native Hut.
We had roWed about half a mile
when we spied a native hut on the
beach. I thought We had struck a
village. 1t was just a thatched hut,
but it looked like lower Manhattan
to me. 1t proved to be deserted
and contained only partly finished
boat. Though knew this might be
Jap island, I was beyond caring.
Fresh water had collected in de-
pressions followed out at the bases
of cocoanut palms and we drank.
The water was full of wigglers, but
they tasted fine. I would have
drunk anything smaller than me
at that writing.
At 1890 pm. on this 23d day of
wandering plane passed right over
us very low. 1t was only 200 feet
up. 1t went over at such an angle,
however, that it would have been
impossible for the pilot to see us.
began to wonder If they ever would
see us. I went into the hut and fell
asleep on the floor. I don't know
what awakened me, but little later
I sat up, fully aroused. Looking out
over the shimmering water 1 saw
what first appeared to be task
force, with destroyers close In and
something else farther out.
l shook Johnny. He raised up
and took look, but apparently the
sight didn't register. He lay back
down.
They're just barges," he said.
Natives Come to the Rescue.
7 stumbled out to the raft and
launched 1t. was beginning to see