Evening star., 1945-11-18

| Traced here are the move
his imprisonment at Tarlac to
later. He was interned in six
talked to my wife by phone in
Skaneateles, N. Y, grateful to hear
her voice again after more than four
years.
spent Sunday morning, Septem-
ber 9, on my sons fine new ship,
and then met the Mayor and rode
with him in the great parade which
jointly celebrated the anniversary of
California's admission to the Union
and my own return. 1t was a tre-
mendous occasion, an indelible thrill
Gen. Marshall had instructed me
to arrive in Washington at exactly
1890 pm, Eastern war time, the
following day. We took off from
Hamilton Field in our same C-54 at
pm. Sunday and flew over land I
have always loved-the Sierra Ne
vada Mountains. Late that night
we landed at Omaha for gas.
We were ahead of schedule Short
ly after dawn, so Perkins flew us over
the beautiful Tennessee Valley and
the Big Smokes, gave us look
at the big Marine base at Quantico,
Va, and put the C-54 down on the
IDIOT of 1890 at the National Airport
/ in Washington.
AS I stepped from the plane a
Guard of honor presented arms and
the band played the appropriate
f1ourishes and ruffles and then the
Generals March" Standing at
attention, as was every one else, I
kept my eyes on my wife, who stood
there at Gen. Marshalls side. Gen.
Marshall let my wife come to me
| first. .
1t was busy day. Mrs. VAIN
wright and were. taken first to the
Pentagon Building to meet that
fine old gentleman and statesman,
Col. Stirnson, in his Office in the fan
tastic building, the existence of
which I~had learned only a week
before.
On reception committee at the
Pentagon were 80 or 40 officers
and men of my former command in
the Philippines, among them Col.
Howard, the Marine officer in COM
mand of Corregidor's beach de-
fenses; Brig. Can. Romulo of the
Philippine Army and number OF
other Filipino officers and men, and
Brig. Gen. Maxon Lough, who had
suffered an almost killing blow over
| the head with baseball bat during
the Bataan death march.
We were driven across the bridge
into Washington and on nearly every
lamppost was picture of myself
in my sun helmet, and the warming
legend. Welcome Skinny"
Cheers Here Bring Tears.
More than 100000 persons had
gathered on the Monument Grounds
and when I took my place on the
fag-draped reception stand they
gave me a cheer that, I guess
brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you, all of you I"
I finally said. II still find it hard
to believe that I am really here
back among my own people.
"We lived in blacked-out world
during our prison days. One Of
the least, and the greatest, of the
cruelties practiced by the Japs was
to keep us from frequent contact
with home. We seldom knew what
had happened to our loved ones.
From the poverty of our exist
ence out there we have returned
to find American strong and great
Even before we first set foot or
the American continent at Sar
Francisco last Saturday we knew
how this country had rallied from
our defeat at Corregidor.
'The tables are now completely
turned. No humane person coulc
desire that the Japs be forced tt
endure what many of our mer
went through. Yet I know thai
Americans will insist that the full
meaning of Japan's surrender bt
brought home to every subject oi
the Emperor. These truculent mer
must be forced to realize the foil,
of their ambition. Until the Japa.
nese people display sincerely a de.
sire for peaceful ways. we must no
abandon our watch.
That moment of surrender il
Tokyo Bay was bought with tn,
blood of more than a million Amer.
leans who died or were wounded il
the struggle. Billions of dollars ane
countless hours of work by Amer.
leans at home had been required
to bring that little party of beater
Japs to the Missouris deck. AL
because for a while we were care
less of the Nations safety. w,
let down our guard.
), Remember Bataan! Remembel
Corregidor"
Capitol Steps Filled.
!, The steps of the Capitol wer,
filled with cheering men, wome,
and children when we arrived tner
from the Monument Grounds t,
address the houses OF Congress
Speaker Rayburn and members O
. the House Military Affairs Commit
tee met me and escorted sme to tn
| assembled House, where spok
briefly.
4 Senate President Protein Nc
Kellar and members of the Senat
Military Affairs Committee took m
into the Senate chamber, where
again thanked the representative
!, OF the American people for maxim
!. possible this moving occasion. Fol
lowing my short address wa
introduced to each Senator.
But the great day was not done
. My wife and / and our group wer,
[ldriven through streets lined will