Milford chronicle., 1945-12-21
Four Unusual
Christmas Seasons
In The Philippines
CONTINUED from First Pagel


ey Boulevard watching Cavie burn
ing. looking at our huge ships iii
Manila Bay being bombed and a
blaze. and at the same time, trying
to compose what | thought might
be the last letter to my people back
in Milford. Yes, this was my
Christmas Eve letter in which |
vividly expressed my intense con-
tempt and hatred for those sneaky
double-crossing Japs, who had
rained so much terror and de-
struction on our forces left to make
their last stand in defense of our
American Flag. And l mailed the
letter in the post office 50 soon 10
be captured by our enemy. Any
way. my message never reached
America. and many times | shiver
ed in terror when reminded of
what might be the consequences
should complete analysis be
made of those captured letters.
Christmas of 1912 arrived We
made the best of what We had in
Santo Tomas and a few of us even
gave presents to our closest
friends. We tried to be cheerful.
thinking that it was the last cele-
bratiOn of this type we'd spend in
captivity. But we faced even hard
er times just a year later with little
food. few clothes. and again being
most certain that the end of our
long confinement was no where in
sight.
The latter part of 1943 was in
deed a time of great rejoicing for
us because it was at this time our
first American Red Cross relief
supplies came through. These were
our first kits TO arrive and all
others were never allowed to reach
us. 1t was worth every effort of
the Red Cross to make any attempt
to see that things reached us he
cause this one vast supply UNI
doubtedly saved the lives of hun
dreds of us.
When life hung much in the bal
ance for us. Christmas of 1914. and
every internee was putting forth
his greatest effort to keep living
American planes flew over our camp
and dropped the most wonderful
christmas message to us anyone
could ever hope to receive:
THE CommandCr-in-C Chief Off
GERS and the Men of the American
Forces of Liberation in the Pacific
wish their gallant allies. the peo-
pie of the Philippines, all the bles-
sings of Christmas and the reali-
zation of their fervent hopes of the
New Year" Christmas. 1914.
This message like all commune
cations dropped to us. infuriated
the Jap cOmmandant and his staff
Immediately he gave orders to all
guards to gather up any pamphlets.
Should any more come into camp,
we were to take them directly to
his office. His warning came much
too late. Those who had received
these messages kept them and from
the original copies most everyone
III our camp made Il copy for him
self. tucking it away where it
wouldn't be found in case of a
sudden search by the Japanese.
christmas of last year found ev-
for dinner that day. joined three
friends who assisted me in making
our meager meal for that day-a
meal which to us who were starry
ing. seemed better than any feast
of steak or chicken. 1t was food
doctored up into famous Santo To-
mas recipes. Here is what our din
ner consisted of
Meat loaf made of canned corn
ed beef, rice. meal and casSava
flour. To make rice flour. | put the
rice kernels into sack and beat
them on the stone step. Really |
thought for sure | had reverted
back into the Stone Age. our i'm
plements and way of working were
so crude.
Gravy made from small cans of
ham and eggs, thickened with dark
cassava flour, and favored with
plenty of garlic.
Fried rice-only few had Puri-
co. kind of vegetable shortening.
Others were trying to fry pan cakes
with no lard to grease the pan.
Talinum. d kind of weedy vege-
table that grew in our camp gar
den and something tlike spinach.
Native Coffee made it by roast
ing the green coffee beans and af-
terwards chOpping these in a bag
before boiling for coffee. Needless
to say. this drink was stimulating
even though it gave us indigestion
afterwards.
Biscuits made from all mixtures
of the last of any of our flour and
baked in native oven over a
small charcoal fire.