The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-10-18

AoiioNAiA6 iipti ItiOa1 ~ Ritl q u dP "a 10
on camp.
A long-distance call from San
Francisco to Mrs. John Rubard from
her son Jim was completed Monday
evening upon his arrival at The
Letterman General hospital there
One feels the meaning of celebrat-
ing another birthday when they
realize how close to death they
have been number of times as is
revealed in the following letter
written by Jim September 81,
Sept. 81, 1915
Dear Nom:
After 3k years it's pretty nice to
be able to write a letter and say
what you want to. I'm now in a
prisoner recovery camp Is miles
south of Manila, where we are get
ting medical attention and getting
our records straight before leaving
for home. | arrived here the 18th
from Yokohama, having left there
the 18th aboard the USS Goodhue,
navy transport. Ever since we
were first contacted by the Ameri-
cans, we've been treated like kings
by everybody. I've gained 20 lbs.
so far on the Stateside chow, and
am still putting it on. Weigh 100
lbs. now Everything here's free
movies, cigarettes, beer there's
plenty to read and the Red Cross
has recreation set-ups. We've al
ready been issued our uniforms, etc,
had a complete physical going over,
had shots, and got most Of our
records straight. Date Of departure
is as yet unknown. Probably with
in week
It's been rough time ever since
the war started-I've come SO close
to death so many times it doesnt
seem possible it's all over. My old
outfit from Manila is pretty slim
noW--out Of officers. and 18 men,
only officers and 5 men are now
alive.
A week after the war started |
was transferred from Fort Santiago
to General MacArthur's staff head
quarters, doing the same kind of
work. On December Is, Manila was
evacuated and we went to Corregi.
dor, setting up our headquarters
there. Four days later we under
went heavy bombing and STRAIT
ing and our headquarters were de-
stroyed. We moved to a new spot
on Corregidor, remaining there I'M
til the end of the war. | also spent
quite a bit of time on Bataan on
business. After Macarthur left, !
continued to work in General Vain
wright's headquarters. The day Cor
regidor fell ! went with Vain
wright party to Bataan to surrender.
The next ten days were the big
gest sweat of my life. Immediately
after the surrender, the Nip CO
started the Bird degree on all head
quarter personnel We were beaten
around, threatened etc. when we
didn't give them the dope they
wanted. We were finally released
and sent to Cabanatuan In Novem-
Der, 1912. we were shipped to Japan,
going to place called Tanagawa
! where we remained 2l2 years On
the ship to Japan | contacted dysen-
terry, dropping down to 80 lbs. We
had no medicine, lived in shacks
with no heat, and had practically
no food--a little rice and carrot-top
soup. I was sent to the zero ward, Z
a little shack you were taken to die.
Out of 20 men there, only 2 of us
lived. | guess / was gust to stub
born to die. OF 500 men in camp,
los died the first months, We did
pick and shovel work, evacuating
for navy dry dock.
This April we moved to a sea-
port on the Japan sea, called Tsu-
ruga, where we remaied until the
end of the war. We were 3 times
bombed out by the Yanks while
there.
The end of the war was a com
plete surprise to us, we figured on
at least 6 months more. None of us
expected to get out alive as it was
getting hotter" every day
Ten days after the surrender, the
BIOS and dive bombers found us
and dropped food, clothes, and med
icine by chute until we left for
Yokohama.
We still hadn't seen an American
soldier yet, SO it was really a thrill
when we pulled into Yokohama sta
ton, to be greeted by band, hun
dreds of Yanks, Army nurses, etc
1t. General Eichelburger was there
to shake each of us by the hand as
we left the train.
We were loaded into trucks anc
taken to the docks for a medica,
exam, new clothes and a hot meal
The sight of our first white WON
en- in years left us all speeches.
we couldn't say word.
I'm hoping for mail from you
soon, many Of the fellows already
have received some. I've only re-
ceived 4 letters since being taker
prisoner and am anxious to know
how you all are. | should be home
within month and will have plen
ty of time to talk things over. ST
long for now, lots of love, and hope
to hear from you soon.